This season opener is worth seeing. The German Sailing Team got off to a strong start to the pre-Olympic season in the picturesque sailing arena of the Bay of Palma. "There are obviously a lot of people at work here who know what they're doing," said Nacra 17 helmsman Paul Kohlhoff with a smile as he looked at the good results of the national sailing team. He had just driven his own crew up to fifth place after a bumpy start with 1st, 4th and 2nd place.
German 470 mixed teams on the wave of success
This means that Olympic bronze medallists Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer from the Kieler Yacht-Club are well on the way to regaining their old form after a lengthy knee injury to the foresailor. Alica Stuhlemmer was just as impressed as her helmsman when she looked at the intermediate results of her team-mates in the other classes: "What's happening in sailing Germany?"
The German benchmark at the Spanish sailing classic was set by the 470 mixed teams with three teams in the lead at the halfway stage. Simon Diesch and Anna Markfort (Württembergischer Yacht-Club/Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) led the world-class field at the end of the main round. This is particularly remarkable because Simon Diesch had dislocated his shoulder and only underwent surgery in January. With consistent work and a strong will to return to the boat as quickly as possible, he has since made a stellar comeback.
World champions Buhl and Kördel in command
In fourth place in the new Olympic 470 mixed discipline were the reigning world champions Luise Wanser and Philipp Autenrieth (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein/Bayerischer Yacht-Club). They were closely followed by Malte and Anastasiya Winkel (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein/Schweriner Yacht-Club). In seventh place, Theres Dahnke and Matti Cipra (Plauer Wassersportverein) are also within medal range going into the second half of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía.
Two German world champions - Ilca-7 helmsman Philipp Buhl (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein/Segelclub Alpsee-Immenstadt) and iQFoil ace Sebastian Kördel (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein) have both successfully completed their qualification in second place. Both top players have shone with three daily victories so far, showing themselves to be in top form in the picture-book Balearic Islands.
Young skiff sailors from Hamburg surprise
The surprise team of the series so far, with a historic record participation of 1,259 athletes, 976 teams and 419 coaches from 66 nations, are the 49er FX sailors Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille from Hamburg, who are just 21 and 22 years old. After six qualifying races, the young crew from the Mühlenberger Segel-Club will enter the main round in second place behind Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz from the Netherlands.
Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille should enjoy the view of their pursuers: Five places behind the up-and-coming Elbe sailors were the Brazilian double Olympic champions Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze. Nineteenth in the field of 60 women's skiffs: the 49er FX world champion, circumnavigator and Olympic fourth-placed Tamara Echegoyen with Paula Barcelo.
Into the main round in the blue jersey
Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille have been sailing together in the 49er FX for five years. They have known each other since second grade. Last year, they decided to go "all in" with a view to the 2024 Olympics. Since then, the duo, along with team-mates Inga-Marie Hofmann and Catherine Bartelheimer (Düsseldorfer Yachtclub/Segelclub Inning am Ammersee, seventh after six races), have been focussing on the chance to take part in the Olympics. Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille will start the second half of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in the blue jersey after red the day before.
In the men's 49er, Jakob Meggendorfer and Andreas Sprager (Bayerischer Yacht-Club) were in tenth place after five preliminary races. They were only six points off third place with a tight standings in the top ten before the start of the main round. The Olympic kiters were even closer: The top ten were separated by a total of just nine points after qualifying. Jannis Maus from the Cuxkiters was in seventh place after eight races.
Why do regatta sailors love the bay of Palma? This could be seen at the halfway point of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía on Wednesday in champagne conditions:
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