The 23rd edition of the leading German match race classic has to be postponed: Match Race Germany sails back to its regular date over Whitsun. The next Duel Sailing Festival will take place over Whitsun from 24 to 29 May 2023 off Langenargen. The extremely low water level in Lake Constance and existing planning uncertainties for the autumn have left the organisers with no choice but to postpone their crowd-puller once again. "We are a sailing festival that lives for the audience and with the fans. With uncertain pandemic prospects and conditions for the autumn and without enough water in Lake Constance, we cannot deliver the show that defines Match Race Germany and that our audience and our partners deserve," says Event Director Harald Thierer, explaining the difficult step.
Close to historic low water levels: "We haven't experienced this ourselves in two decades"
The dangerously low water level in Lake Constance is currently approaching its historic low ( YACHT reported >> ). Little snow and the early melt in winter, as well as extreme heat and almost no precipitation this summer have contributed to the tense situation. The water level is less than 20 centimetres away from its historic low. With no prospect of heavy rainfall in the near future, Lake Constance in the border triangle between Germany, Austria and Switzerland is losing another four centimetres a day. Many harbours in the region have already dried up completely, while others are no longer accessible due to the lack of water depth.
There is also a sense of alarm in the home port of Match Race Germany: ships with a draught of more than 1.20 metres can no longer call at Langenargen Gondelhafen. "We assume that this year we will reach the historic low that we have not yet experienced in two decades of operating the harbour master's office in Langenargen," explains Harald Thierer.
Under these circumstances, hosting a spectator event close to the shore in early autumn is inconceivable. The match race boats would have to be accommodated in the neighbouring Meichle + Mohr Marina, but then the fans in Langenargen would not be able to experience them. The races could only be held far out - which is also not an option for the organisers from Match Center Germany in view of their typical visitor flows.
Sports director Eberhard Magg: "We are not a team for half measures"
"If you add the currently increasing planning uncertainties and possibly growing corona requirements for the autumn, which are also keeping our very loyal partners busy, then you can only come to a reasonable conclusion: We have to postpone the 23rd Match Race Germany," says Harald Thierer with a heavy heart. "A small positive side effect is that the 23rd edition will then take place in 2023 and the number of editions of Germany's oldest duelling sailing series that have taken place will be very easy to determine in future based on the years in which it was held," says Thierer with a wink.
As organisers, Harald Thierer, sports director and founder Eberhard Magg, the team from Match Center Germany and the organising Yacht Club Langenargen are postponing their Grand Prix with a heavy heart. Eberhard Magg says: "The memories of the last Match Race Germany 2019 in front of a full house are still very vivid. We would love nothing more than to finally get going again. The rousing victory of the New Zealanders around helmsman Nick Egnot-Johnson, the exuberant atmosphere in the harbour, the joy of sailing and the joint celebration on land are unforgettable. On the other hand, we are not a team for half measures. We firmly believe that the conditions in May 2023 will finally offer us all a much better stage for the comeback."
The World Match Racing Tour, under whose umbrella Match Race Germany is one of the oldest and most prestigious events, has had to cancel the German classic once again in its comeback season after a series of Corona-related cancellations last year. Tour Director James Pleasance said: "As organisers of the World Match Racing Tour, we are very sorry that one of our oldest and most popular events cannot take place this year due to an exceptional weather phenomenon and circumstances. We know how much work Eberhard, Harald and their team have been putting into Match Race Germany for decades. That's why we are sure that they will be back even stronger in 2023. Until then, we will continue to develop the World Match Racing Tour as we did recently with the addition of the Women's World Match Racing Tour. We are very much looking forward to the comeback of Match Race Germany next year."
The World Match Racing Tour is sailing into the future under full sail. The organisers last presented the new Women's World Match Racing Tour in May with four regattas in 2022. The final of the match racing world championship for women will take place in November in the New Zealand America's Cup area off Auckland.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
