Les Sables-Horta: Burke injured, Fink starts stage two with a replacement
Tatjana Pokorny
· 05.07.2023
It is well known that Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink had to abandon the first leg of their debut in Les Sables-Horta-Les Sables with a broken oar. Likewise the successful repair in Porto including a lightning detour to Brest and the continuation of the leg outside the classification in the stage harbour of Horta on the Azores. The German two-handed crew is expected there on the night of 6 July.
I thought, if I grit my teeth, I'll be fine" (Lennart Burke)
It was not previously known that 24-year-old Lennart Burke had injured his back shortly before breaking his oar. "We had just passed Cape Finisterre when a wave hit the boat in winds of between 30 and 40 knots. I hit a bulkhead with my back first. That was a shock, but I thought that if I gritted my teeth I would be fine," says Lennart Burke days after the accident.
With a sore back, the man from Stralsund had even flown to Brest via Paris after arriving in the repair harbour of Porto to get the necessary spare parts for the "SignForCom", some of which had been removed from a Class 40 lying there. After arriving back in Porto, Burke's back hurt even more. He could barely lift a sail bag during stowage. Nevertheless, Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink sailed off again after successful repairs in order to make it to the half-time harbour in the Azores in time for the start of the return leg from Horta to Les Sables-d'Olonne.
The project is bigger than me" (Lennart Burke)
After intensive dialogue with a doctor, Burke and Fink are still hoping that it is "only" a severe bruise. However, the consequences are so serious that Lennart Burke has decided with a heavy heart to disembark for the return leg. "Melwin currently has to do everything on his own during the transfer to Horta. I can barely pull a sheet tight. I can't sail a regatta like this. The project is bigger than me," says Burke, who already has an appointment for an X-ray in Horta tomorrow.
According to Burke at sea, he currently feels like a "guest on board" who cannot help, but can only watch. However, he wants the new Pogo 40 S4 to continue to be tested and optimised at the highest level. To this end, the Next Generation Sailing Team has now found a replacement for Lennart Burke for leg two in Les Sables-Horta-Les Sables: Frenchwoman Estelle Greck is coming on board. She was recommended to Burke and Fink by their experienced French Class 40 coach Tanguy Leglatin.
We wanted someone who could help us move forward" (Melwin Fink)
The 32-year-old Estelle Greck is considered a "veteran from Lorient" and brings a lot of Class 40 experience from the Globe 40 and Figaro expertise to the boat. "We wanted someone who could help us move forward," says Lennart Burke, explaining the choice. His 21-year-old co-skipper Melwin Fink is looking forward to the reinforcement. With provisions running low, Melwin Fink looked forward eagerly on Thursday to a well-earned two-day break from the demanding mission before the return leg starts off Horta on 8 July.
On the duo's plus side are the apparently successful rudder repair and the realisation that the Class 40 "SignForCom" is a fast boat. "We were able to put the rudder repair to the test immediately after casting off in Porto in 40 knots of wind and 20 knots of boat speed," says Melwin Fink with a smile. Together, Lennart Burke from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and Melwin Fink from the Schaumburg-Lippischer Seglerverein are proud that they managed to complete this complex rudder repair in less than 24 hours.
"SignForCom" should also be at the forefront with a new mixed crew
The goal for leg two remains ambitious, as Melwin Fink also explains for the new mixed crew: "Of course we have to see how everything goes in the new constellation. But we want to give it our all again and sail forwards." Lennark Burke smiles and says: "I'll keep my fingers crossed and wait in Les Sables-d'Olonne." He wants to be fit again for the upcoming season highlights: The 50th Rolex Fastnet Race starts on 20 July. The Transat Jacques Vabre starts on 29 October.
After an intense race, Alberto Bona and Pablo Santurde won the first leg of the Les Sables-Horta-Les Sables in 5 days, 8 hours, 22 minutes and 26 seconds. The "Ibsa" crew set a 24-hour record for Class 40 yachts with 430.47 nautical miles. Compared to the new 24-hour world record set by Team Malizia in the Ocean Race (641.13 nautical miles), the 20-foot smaller boat achieved a similarly formidable result.
