Opti-WMYoung sailors fight for the world's best off Bodrum

Max Gasser

 · 28.06.2022

Opti-WM: Young sailors fight for the world's best off BodrumPhoto: DODV/Müller-Genrich
Leif Kähler and the rest of the team during the first sessions in the World Championship area
286 sailors from over 60 different countries: The World Championship of the youngest up-and-coming talents is coming up, and the German team is already on site

After today's opening ceremony, the highlight of the year in the Optimist class starts tomorrow in Bodrum, Turkey. Sailing for the world championship title and the team race world championship will continue until 6 July.

Last Wednesday, two fathers set off from Germany with the complete regatta equipment. The team itself has been on site since Sunday to explore the area and has already completed several training sessions. And in dream conditions, sunny 30 degrees and almost 20 knots of wind. "It's a sailing paradise here," enthuses 14-year-old Constantin Streicher about the world championship area.

  In addition to team training, the first international comparisons were also made in training regattas with up to 200 participantsPhoto: DODV/Müller-Genrich In addition to team training, the first international comparisons were also made in training regattas with up to 200 participants

Coach Riccardo de Felice and his team qualified for the World Championships at this year's qualifying regatta in Warnemünde. In addition to Clara Bonhagen, Leif Kähler is also taking part for the second time since last year. Back then, the Brazilian Alex Di Francesco Kuhl came out on top, while Marco Gradoni from Italy won the title three times in a row before the coronavirus break.

It remains to be seen how the young German talents will perform on the international stage this year, A report after each day is available from the class association (please click!).

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Max Gasser

Max Gasser

Editor Test & Technology

Growing up just a few metres from the shores of Lake Constance, Max Gasser found himself on board the family's 15 dinghy cruiser at an early age, which was later replaced by a 30 dinghy cruiser from 1932. In the meantime, Gasser had already achieved his first successes in the Opti and switched to the Laser as part of the Baden-Württemberg state squad. After graduating from high school, he realised a childhood dream by buying a foiling Moth, which he now lives out in a newer boat. After freelancing for a local water sports magazine, he completed an internship at YACHT, which led to his traineeship and then to a job as an editor in the Wastersports Digital editorial team. As a representative of Gen Z and foiling, he feels particularly at home in all areas of sporty sailing.

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