Transat Jacques Vabre: Flatmates and Atlantic stormers - Burke and Fink ready
Tatjana Pokorny
· 18.10.2023
A year ago, the young professionals Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink joined forces to form a team. Since this month, they have even been living together, forming a dynamic flat share in Hamburg's Portugiesenviertel neighbourhood not far from the Elbe. Now their biggest challenge to date is on the agenda: on 29 October, they will start the anniversary edition of the classic Transat Jacques Vabre as Team Next Generation Sailing on their Pogo 40 S4 "Sign for Com".
Two of 77 "rookies": Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink ahead of Transat premiere
In contrast to the other three German starters, Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink will be competing in the smallest class in the transatlantic endurance test. However, of the 95 Transat boats with 190 sailors from 17 nations, Class 40 has the largest field with 44 starters. Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink are the only German sailors in the Class 40 out of a total of 77 Transat "rookies".
They transferred their boat to Le Havre last week with Berlin-based Hendrik Witzmann. On 19 October, Burke and Fink will get into their car in Hamburg and drive to Le Havre via Bonn, where they will visit their title partner Sign for Com. Stage fright before the Transat premiere? "Yes, a little. We're a little intimidated by the huge field and the many big names," says Melwin Fink.
We think it will be a tough test" (Melwin Fink)
The 21-year-old Mini-Transat third-placed rider from 2021 continues: "We think it will be a tough test. But if we sail well, it can be good. Finishing in the top ten would be a mega result. We could be very happy with that in view of the very strong competition."
The last test with the Pogo was very promising. "It was a nice test with 40 knots of wind directly behind the Channel Islands. The boat stayed intact, everything was great," says Fink. Lennart Burke knows why: "We took the boat completely apart once in the summer and put it back together again, redoing every lashing and every line. Fortunately, our vibration problems with the keel have also been resolved."
Our boat has never done a transat, whereas others have done it three or four times" (Lennart Burke)
The keel of the "Sign for Com" had previously always started to vibrate at seven or eight knots of speed. Markus "Porky" Mehlen took care of the problem. "The keel is now as smooth as a child's bum," says Melwin Fink with a grin. The internationally extremely experienced boat builder Markus Mehlen has just signed a contract with the young sailors who could be his children. Together, they want to make it to the top in international offshore sailing. "We are his boys," says Melwin Fink. The sailors consider themselves lucky to have such an accomplished technician on the team.
25-year-old Lennart Burke and his 21-year-old sailing partner Melwin Fink are looking forward to the Transat Jacques Vabre with awe, anticipation and some ambition. "Our boat has never competed in a transatlantic race before, whereas others have done so three or four times. So this is new territory for us," explains Lennart Burke. The team is preparing for the endurance test very close to Boris Herrmann's racing stable.
There is no second chance in this race" (Melwin Fink)
"Boris lent us his team rib for a photo shoot last week. That was extremely nice, because it saved us some money. We were also allowed to store our stuff in his hangar," enthuses Lennart Burke about Team Malizia's support for the young German crew. Burke and Fink are hoping and counting on not having made any mistakes in their meticulous preparations. Melwin Fink knows: "There is no second chance in this race."
Technically, the German Class 40 duo has nothing to hide in the 4,600 nautical mile test for the Class 40. Lennart Burke explains: "The new designs are all pretty much on the same level. Technically, no boat is far superior to us. In the Class 40, they are all so close together in terms of performance. The first 15 boats are very strong. That's why it's so important that the boats are well maintained. We have attached great importance to this."
The first milestone has been reached
For Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink, the Transat Jacques Vabre marks the end of their first year of sailing together. "We are making very good progress and want to continue like this for the next few years. We joined forces almost exactly a year ago, on 1 November 2022. Our medium-term goal was to reach the Transat Jacques Vabre. That's where we are now. That feels really good," says Melwin Fink.
One Transat, four classes, four courses! The routes for Ultims, Ocean Fifties, Imocas and Class 40:
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Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
