Lennart BurkeClass 40 new build nears completion

Tatjana Pokorny

 · 11.08.2022

Lennart Burke: Class 40 new build nears completionPhoto: Pogo Structures
Lennart Burke in the initial phase of the new building in France
After the Mini-Transat is before the Class 40 entry: Lennart Burke's new-build project is entering its final phase. The christening is expected to take place in October. At a meeting with YACHT online, Burke spoke about his goals, the good spirit in the Class 40 and his own career

Since March of this year, Lennart Burke has been quietly but efficiently pushing ahead with his Class 40 new build at Pogo Structures in Sainte-Marine near Combrit, France. The Pogo 40s4 commissioned there by his supporter Joachim Wünning is nearing completion. "The deck and cap are on," reports Burke, who regularly monitors the construction on site. There is currently a summer break in France. The final spurt for the German boat in the French shipyard begins in September.

The "marriage": the deck and hull of Burke's future Class 40 were united in JulyPhoto: Pogo StructuresThe "marriage": the deck and hull of Burke's future Class 40 were united in July

It was always clear that the new Burke building would be too late to take part in the Route du Rhum, which starts on 6 November. "The preparation time would be too short. We want to take the project in good, small, safe steps and not rush it," says Burke, explaining his plans. The christening of the new forty is expected to take place in October in Bénodet, where most of the creations will be launched by the Pogo Structures shipyard. After a few tests and training sessions in the waters off Lorient, where the launch of Boris Herrmann's new "Malizia - Seaexplorer" has just taken place, Burke plans to take his new build to Cascais in the south of Portugal, where it will undergo intensive winter training in better conditions than in the stormy and icy Breton waters. The first regattas are due to follow in 2023.

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Lennart Burke is a remarkable young man. The 23-year-old young professional is no loudmouth. He pursues his goals with quiet perseverance and has not only found engineer Joachim Wünning to be a strong and sailing-enthusiastic sponsor. A small, powerful team supports the Stralsund native, who has lived in Hamburg since this year and joined the North German Regatta Club on the Alster in spring when he moved to the Hanseatic city in addition to his membership of his home sailing club in Stralsund.

The new Class 40 building is already more advanced herePhoto: Pogo StructuresThe new Class 40 building is already more advanced here

Burke and his land team are still struggling to find further partners for his Class 40 project, which is intended to bring him into the top international group in the coming years. With the aplomb of an old hand, the still young man reflects on the question of whether he needs to worry if further potent project partners fail to materialise: "No, I always reassure myself with the many opportunities that the project offers. Of course, we would like to find another major partner who recognises the project's potential and gets on board. We are currently in talks with two large companies. But even if that doesn't work out this year, I'm not going to throw myself on the sofa crying or go to university. We'll go through with it and make it. I believe that in the long run, fortune favours the brave."

Lennart Burke: "The people in Class 40 are like this: open, friendly, almost familiar"

Where does Burke see himself in five years? "I would love to be in the top five of the Class 40. That's at least a goal I'd like to pursue. We'll see what I make of it." Just how much international classmates already have the likeable German on their radar can be seen from the fact that someone like Mini-Transat winner Ambrogio Beccaria recently approached him. The Italian is also looking forward to his Class 40 new build and asked Burke if they would like to meet up and talk about their boats, technical details and plans. "The people in the Class 40 are like this: open, friendly, almost familiar. It's a little different to the Figaros, for example, where there is very tough competition, at least at the top end, and people tend to socialise less."

Lennart Burke, here before his mini premiere in 2021 in the French offshore cradle La Base in front of the oversized likeness of France's sailing legend Eric TabarlyPhoto: tatiLennart Burke, here before his mini premiere in 2021 in the French offshore cradle La Base in front of the oversized likeness of France's sailing legend Eric Tabarly

Burke has reached the next chapter of his still young professional career. The 2021 Mini Transat participant has climbed the next rung. The new Hamburg resident also earns a modest living with regatta commitments as a navigator, such as on Michael Grau's "Guardamagi II" at the ORC World Championship off Sardinia in July. Burke is increasingly making a name for himself as an experienced sea sailor and navigator. He is also supported by a fan and supporter of the first hour: Dirk Weißendorn from the boat and accessories dealer Bootspunkt appreciates Burke's calm but determined approach. Burke himself, who will charter the new Class 40 from autumn for "a fair sum" from client Jochaim Wünning, rewards his supporters with appreciation and joy at what has been achieved so far: "It's the first new build that I've been able to accompany so intensively and then sail as skipper. That is so amazing."

Burke in dialogue with Melwin Fink: "We are happy with our training"

Lennart Burke was in Lorient at the beginning of the yearPhoto: Lennart Burke SailingLennart Burke was in Lorient at the beginning of the year

Burke also regularly discusses their respective paths and careers with Melwin Fink. Together with Austrian Christian Kargl, the two young German aces made their mini-Transat debut. While the 20-year-old Melwin Fink is still fighting for a second Mini-Transat start in 2023 after his accident with the second Mini new build Burke has already made the leap from the Mini class to Class 40. "We are both happy with our training so far. We are technically good and can sail well. That puts us in a good position on the market. That's the world in which we want to earn our money," says Burke, describing the positive feeling of the newcomers.

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