The active members of the German Sailing Team would have liked a slightly better overall result for the World Cup regatta in the former and future Olympic area of Enoshima. Although the top performers at the World Championships - Laser helmsman Philipp Buhl (Segelclub Alpsee-Immenstadt) and the 49er sailors Tim Fischer and Fabian Graf (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein/Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) - were able to shine with a world-class result in Japanese waters off Enoshima after finishing fifth at the World Championships in Aarhus, But apart from them, only one other team - the 470 duo Frederike Loewe and Anna Markfort (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) - managed to finish in the top ten. The team was helped in the final sprint by 49erFX headsailer Anika Lorenz, whose series alongside Victoria Jurczok was already over. Lorenz was able to spontaneously stand in for her team-mate Anna Markfort, who had to pull out with knee problems. Together with Frederike Loewe, Anika Lorenz sailed to two impressive sixth places and helped to secure the same place in the final classification - the third-best German result in Japan.
Laser Radial helmswoman Svenja Weger from the Potsdam Yacht Club only just missed out on the final in Enoshima in eleventh place. The 470 sailors Simon Diesch and Philipp Autenrieth (Württembergischer Yacht-Club/Bayerischer Yacht-Club) also sailed to 11th place in a total of eight races, tied on points with tenth place. The 470 crew Nadine Böhm and Ann-Christin Goliaß achieved 12th place. Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer (Kieler Yacht-Club) achieved 13th place in the Nacra 17 ahead of Johannes Polgar and Carolina Werner (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein/Kieler Yacht-Club, 14th). The two catamarans of the German teams had been damaged in collisions at the start of the series. Polgar/Werner had even missed an entire day of racing due to the necessary repairs following serious damage.
For the German Sailing Team, the World Cup regatta in Japan offered a good opportunity to get to know the area where they want to compete for Olympic medals from 27 July to 6 August 2020. However, the sailing conditions now in September are not really comparable to those in July and August off Enoshima. "We've always had offshore winds now, which won't be typical for the Olympic Games," said 49er helmsman Tim Fischer, explaining one of the differences. The World Championship bronze medallist continued: "We are very happy with our result and are delighted that we were able to finish the season like this. Solid results with very good downwinds gave us this result."
Philipp Buhl also ended his intensive season convincingly. After World Championship bronze and fifth place in Enoshima, Buhl said: "Fifth place in the last big Laser event of the year: that's not a phenomenal performance, but a solid one considering the chance of a medal I had before the final. But then came a painful gate rounding! I'm delighted for and impressed by Elliot Hanson, who had an outstanding week." Buhl praised the Briton, whom he had beaten in the thrilling battle for bronze at the World Championships. In Enoshima, the Englishman put in a furious performance and won the series after nine races and the medal race with an impressive 38-point (!) lead over second-placed Australian Matthew Wearn. "You can see," said Buhl, "how focussed someone can be who came here with the most anger and the highest motivation after the World Championships to do better. That shows what determination and the right mindset can do." Buhl also had high praise for the Olympic venue: "I really like it so far. The water is warm and clean, the conditions are promising so far and the people are very nice."
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
