"After the start, the aim will be to stay in front and position ourselves perfectly for the upcoming wind after the Bay of Biscay," says Lennart Burke in an interview with YACHT shortly before the start. The two young sailors, Just on board with a new sponsor the German telemarketing specialist Sign for Com, remain down-to-earth for their second important regatta in their first Class 40 year. "Even though the good result in the Normandy Channel Race of course made us totally happy, we stay on the ground. The field may be smaller than in the last race, but it's just as high-class. We want to sail a good race, we'll see where we end up," says Melwin Fink.
Both hope that they will be at the front with their Class 40 until they reach the first stronger wind after the Bay of Biscay, because after that it will be "a pure speed race downwind to Horta", says Burke. They were fast there recently, even if the course doesn't quite hit the absolute sweet spot for their Pogo S 4. "In the last race, we were one of the fastest downwind VMGs in the field, i.e. from a wind angle of 130 degrees. Now it will probably be a bit more acute, so we'll have to see how fast we are compared to the competition. But you can do a lot wrong beforehand, so we have to be on our guard."
Burke and Fink want to christen "Sign for Com" in Germany
After the start of the Les Sables Horta race, this seems to be going well, with the two Germans in third place, and even second at times, after initially positioning themselves at the very north of the field.
Even before the start, the pair revealed that fans will even get to see them in Germany this year. "After the Fastnet Race in July, we will bring the boat to Fehmarn, where it will go to the shipyard for a refit so that everything is perfectly prepared for the Transat Jacques Vabre in autumn." The boat will then be officially christened together with the new sponsor. Fans of the duo will of course be able to attend.
But now it's time to keep calm in the light wind poker after the start in the Bay of Biscay. For the almost 300 miles to Cape Finisterre, it's important to keep in touch with the leaders, as it's no secret that the first to reach the wind can race away with them if they manage to put an hour or even more between themselves and their pursuers. Given the speed potential of the boats, an hour can easily mean a lead of ten miles or more. As the sporting level in the Class 40 is very high, such a lead is difficult to make up later on unless the boat's speed is increased.
Click here for the Tracker of the race.
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Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
