The organisers themselves explain on their website how the new regatta came about:
"The current restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic mean that regular regatta operations are currently (as of May 2020) not possible. The 'RügenRudder' is not a regatta event, but rather an appointment for a PRIVATE joint tour around Rügen. It is therefore neither a regatta in the classic sense nor a boat parade. Motto: 'Safe and simple!
The RügenRudder started on Friday, 12 June at 18:00 south of the Rügen Bridge, the destination was the Citymarina Stralsund. It was possible to sail single-handed or double-handed.
The course was anti-clockwise around the islands of Rügen and Hiddensee.
There were no course marks.
The field of participants was a colourful mix, ranging from a cruising yacht to a Dehler 30 od and a Pogo 40. 36 teams had entered for the double-handed classification, 20 of which crossed the finish line. There were three single-handed entries, two of which made it through.
The overall victory went to a duo that nobody had expected. Oliver Schmidt-Rybandt and Peter Schulz were not only sailing together as a duo for the first time, but also on a Hanse 400, which is not exactly a thoroughbred racing yacht.
Schmidt-Rybandt describes how the victory came about in the following lines:
Rund Rügen is cancelled and a Rügenrudder is created. I heard about this from a distance. Then the crew of the "Asia de Cuba" asked if I could fix a few things on the boat. This led to the question of whether I would join them.
It wasn't clear until Friday afternoon whether it would work. But then it did. Completely exhausted, I allow myself a quarter of an hour's sleep in Neuhof before we set off. We, that's foreship man Peter and me. We've never sailed together before, but we know the boat well.
"Asia" is a hulk of a boat. 9.3 tonnes of measured weight become well over 10 tonnes of fighting weight, propelled by a measly 88 square metres of working wardrobe. The centre of gravity is no less than twelve centimetres above the waterline. That is simply too high. But the teak deck, aluminium mast and excessively thick halyards take their toll. To sail, she needs weight on the edge. Not that Peter and I are lightweights, but we are too light for the fat "Asia".
The start is chaotic. My countdown ends with the minute signal. Somehow we cheat our way over the line and have a clear wind. The full course suits the heavy boat. So we take the lead around the Deviner Haken and can easily pull away in the sound. It gets slightly bumpy in the Bodden. This also suits the heavy boat. The competition, which I had categorised as faster, stays astern for the time being. The first tack is made north of Lubmin. The next beat is close to the entrance to the land depression. We cheat our way past the southern perd uncomfortably close, but this allows us to get close to the northern perd and estimate the layline well, which makes it easier to position the tacks. "Black Pearl" and "Wild Card" cross behind us. My prediction to Peter: they'll catch us now.
The poor visibility has given way to fog and darkness. With no points of reference at all, steering in the waves is more than modest. The sea washes over the deck time and again, finding its way into the cockpit and, as we later realise, even into the forecastle. The inoperable autopilot clearly proves to be a handicap.
Seasickness develops. The invisible horizon may be a strong catalyst for this, but we certainly feel like shit. But we are still travelling at eight knots and, despite all the nausea, I resolve to sell our skin for as much as possible against the faster competition.
At Stubbenkammer we go quite close under land. The feared windward jam does not materialise. Now we definitely have to change the headsail for the first time. So far we have been happy that the 13-year-old main and the 10-year-old genoa have held up well. Changing the genoa would have been complicated and time-consuming.
Now we set course and check how she feels. "Asia" would like the code zero. Peter is more affected by seasickness than I am. So I go forwards and hoist the sail. A few minutes later, the genoa is on deck and the code is pulling us towards Cape Arkona with open sheets. We round it around half past two. Before that, the first spinnaker has to be made ready. I go below deck and wrap the top half in wool. The nausea is no fun. But it's no use, the spinnaker has to come out of the bag. So just before the cape I head forwards again and clear the bag. The code stays right on top. We will certainly need it.
The spinnaker now used is the A2. An asymmetrical runner that is actually much too heavy. But we don't dare to use lighter cloth without another crew. The runner pulls well, but requires concentrated steering and trimming. As daylight returns, we manage this and get the seasickness under control. The jibe to the north-east of Hiddensee sits well and to lee of Dornbusch the gusts typical of easterly winds rush down. The big coach is travelling at a constant speed of over ten knots at times, but also gets out of control at one point. Then a perfect switch from kite to code. The 140 square metre spinnaker goes willingly below deck.
With the flat furling sail, we sail quickly southwards along the gusty leeward coast of Hiddensee. Every now and then we check out the competition. Only now do we realise that we can actually see them at any time via active AIS. Previously, nobody wanted to spend any longer than necessary below deck looking at the plotter. We are actually in the lead. We were expecting a lot, but not this. The lead melts a little in the decreasing wind, but we are the first boat to cross the line after 13 hours and 3 minutes.
I feel like a zombie and am already asleep while Peter steers the boat through the bridge to Neuhof. A great race. Looking back, I don't even know what we could have done differently. The strokes were optimal and the headsail changes were almost perfect. "Asia" impressively proved that she can run. Considering her weight, this is still a mystery to me, but I am very grateful for it.
A far-fetched comparison comes to mind: in the 89/90 Whitbread race, the heaviest boat in the fleet also won. Peter Blake won with "Steinager2". But we are as far removed from Sir Peter Blake as "Asia" is from "Steinager". Nevertheless, he can serve as a role model.
Our thanks go to the organisation team. A very nice event was created. It makes us want more.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
