ClubSwan 50 European Championship: World Champion Müller-Spreer helps out on "Hatari" - Silver!
Tatjana Pokorny
· 18.09.2023
When two well-known owners help each other, the crew is happy. This is what happened at the ClubSwan 50 European Championship off Mahón on Menorca. Marcus Brennecke's "Hatari" crew was already sailing a good course when the owner and helmsman had to pull out for the last day. The replacement was none other than TP52 world champion and "Platoon" owner Harm Müller-Spreer.
World champion Harm Müller-Spreer can also do ClubSwan-Racing
The strict rules in the well-organised one-design success class stipulate that the helmsman or helmswoman must be a sailor with amateur status. Which is why not every professional crew member can step in if a helmsman is unavailable. Harm Müller-Spreer was on his way to Puerto Portals on Mallorca anyway. The season finale of the 52 Super Series is taking place there this week. A fierce duel is expected between Ergin Imre's Turkish "Provezza", which is leading the season standings, and the newly crowned world champions around Harm Müller-Spreer on "Platoon".
Harm Müller-Spreer added another one-day victory to the already good "Hatari" record at the ClubSwan 50 European Championship. "He did a good job," said "Hatari" tactician Markus Wieser, paying tribute to Harm Müller-Spreer, who quickly switched from TP52 to ClubSwan 50, after his successful shooting assistance. However, August Schram's crew on "Stella Maris" had three points less on their account after seven European Championship runs - that was worth European Championship gold.
It was a great experience to grow together" (August Schram)
August Schram said: "When we started this class, we decided to build our own crew. I'm incredibly proud of them. A lot of these guys, like me, had never been on a boat this big before they got on the ClubSwan 50. So we learnt together. It was a great experience to grow together. "Hendrik Brandis and his "Earlybird" crew sailed to third place at the European championships in Mahón. Sönke Meier-Sawatzki's "Niramo" came seventh. Mark Bezner's "Olymp" sailed to tenth place off Menorca.
In changing wind conditions, including a day with a sea breeze of 18 knots, August Schram's "Stella Maris" was able to hold on to her lead until the final day. Although the Austrian boat came under fierce attack from the strong German duo "Hatari" and "Earlybird" in the final sprint, in the end "Stella Maris" was not to be denied victory despite weak results on the final day. The series of 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 9th and 8th places was enough to secure a lucky leap to the top spot on the podium.
"Hatari" and Team Germany lead the Nations League
Nevertheless, Marcus Brennecke's "Hatari" continues to lead the individual ranking of the Nations League in the ClubSwan 50. In the Nations League, Germany remains ahead of Italy after the two podium finishes by "Hatari" and "Earlybird".
