Interview with the 21-year-old: Her own sailing school and the dream of the Olympics
How did you get into sailing at the age of 21?
I've been sailing since my early childhood. As a schoolgirl, a friend took me to Lake Plau, where he worked as a sailing instructor during the holidays. That's how I got to know the owners of the sailing school at the time, Gerd and Monika Menning. They gave me such a warm welcome that I started working there.
How did the school come to be taken over?
Last winter, Gerd announced that, at the age of 78, he would have to give up the sailing school for reasons of age. I suggested that I take over the school. After all, it's my second home, I grew up here and slept in a cabin by the lake every summer.
And then you made a deal?
Gerd was worried that I was getting a bit carried away at the age of 21. Because I sail 470s in the national squad and also study at the same time. Instead, he handed over the marina and the school to two men: Oliver Wallmüller, who runs a charter fleet, and Martin Doller, a lawyer and the chairman of the inclusive sailing club Hai-Life e. V. here on Lake Plau.
But you didn't want to give up. What happened next?
I plucked up all my courage and asked them for an appointment to talk to them about the sailing school. I didn't know them yet and was a bit nervous.
How did they react to your offer?
The two were primarily interested in the marina. They also wanted to continue running the sailing school, but neither of them had the capacity for it at the moment. So it was a good fit.
Have you never been afraid of overdoing it?
Never. But I also have a great family that I can rely on, who have my back. My father always used to say: "If that's your dream, then go for it. If you do it with enthusiasm, then it will work out. We'll manage everything else too." Now he's caretaker 2.0 here, repairing the boats and everything else and sacrificing his weekends for it.
What does your sailing school offer?
We started small, with inland and sea sailing licences, SRC and Ubi. Next year, we are planning to organise school class projects with an educational background, as well as children's sailing camps and a beginner's regatta course. In winter and spring we want to offer long-distance destinations, a week sailing in the Seychelles and Easter around Ibiza.
What are your plans for the future?
The dream is to one day become the most important water sports centre in the region. We have all the prerequisites for this: the marina and a great lake on our doorstep.
With all the plans and projects: Do you still get to sail yourself?
I have to plan this very carefully, because regattas abroad always take up a lot of time. But my goal is and remains the 2028 Olympics.
About Laura Pukropski
The 21-year-old sports management student from Fürstenberg an der Havel sails 470s in the national squad and recently started running a sailing school in Plau am See. Balancing all these tasks is not always easy for her
