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YACHT Speeeed Challenge 2022Brave record attempts, new best value: 22.5 kn!

Jochen Rieker

 · 30.05.2022

YACHT Speeeed Challenge 2022: Brave record attempts, new best value: 22.5 kn!Photo: Kassian Jürgens/Baltic 500
Still without a spinnaker, with a small sheet. Martin Buck (at the tiller) and Mathias Müller von Blumencron in front at the start of the Baltic 500. Later they really let the Class 40 "Red" off the line
It was in the air at the Baltic 500. Several other crews also went on the hunt. Among them, but no longer at the front: Wolle Heibeck on "Black Maggy"

It looks like the YACHT Speeeed Challenge will be a battle of the Class 40s, with the offshore racers at least currently in the lead: Simon Koster on his "Banque du Léman" just broke the 20-knot mark in solo training off Lorient.

Selfie in full glide: co-skipper Martin Buck from Speedsailing and "Red" owner Mathias Müller von BlumencronPhoto: Martin Buck Selfie in full glide: co-skipper Martin Buck from Speedsailing and "Red" owner Mathias Müller von Blumencron

Now Mathias Müller von Blumencron and his co-skipper Martin Buck have upped the ante in the Baltic 500. The pair saw up to 23 knots on the B&G displays. Their Adrena navigation programme, on the other hand, recorded "only" 22.5 knots, as a screenshot shows - the new reference value. The "Red" howled and lifted the hull cleanly out of the Baltic Sea, making it splash.

It was not the only boat report we received in the past few days. Michael Hoefgen from the JPK 10.30 "Lightworks" achieved an equally impressive 21.4 knots with co-skipper Max Gurgel. The Dehler 30 od and the other JPK 10.30 in the field, the ORC-winning "Hinden", also logged values of around and over 20 knots. Jocky Christophers on his Archambault A 35 "Fliege 3" clocked up 19.5 knots.

They let it rip until four sails flew out of the moorings: Michael Hoefgen and Max Gurgel on the "Lightworks"Photo: Kassian Jürgens/Baltic 500 They let it rip until four sails flew out of the moorings: Michael Hoefgen and Max Gurgel on the "Lightworks"

However, other, comparatively more mundane attempts should not be overlooked. Andreas Grasteit and Thomas Panten, who hardly ever miss a double-handed regatta, achieved a respectable 16.2 knots between Kiel and Langeland on the somewhat older X-332 "Grace" with a single reefed main and small spinnaker. They didn't have a hand free for a video. Fortunately, Tim and Thomas Katscher had the camera running on their Elan 350 "Smile" next door, so that this ride was also captured on film.

Incidentally, Wolle Heibeck was also out on Sunday, the first to take up our challenge. His "Black Maggy" almost broke 19 knots in 6 Beaufort. At least 18.9 knots are now in the books. But there's certainly more to come. Cool video from an unusual angle: André Engelhard filmed from the large dredger "Nordsee".

And then we got some mail from Jens Thuesen from Switzerland. His all-time high is around 24 knots. Last Saturday he reached 21.7 knots over ground with a small spinnaker, which is also documented. Jens drank a cup of coffee in all-soul calm. He spoke of "cosy passage sailing", because on a trimaran like his Dragonfly 40, 20 plus knots is "daily business". He also believes that 25 knots is possible at top speed. We are eagerly awaiting that!

Easy warm-up pace for a tri: Jens Thuesen's Dragonfly 40 in transfer modePhoto: Jens Thuesen Easy warm-up pace for a tri: Jens Thuesen's Dragonfly 40 in transfer mode

By the way, before the search for the season's highlight disappears completely into nirvana, we will split the YACHT Speeeed Challenge by popular demand. We will announce how and in which groups this week. We don't want anyone else to quickly build a boat into the regulations. Although that would undoubtedly have its appeal.

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Jochen Rieker

Jochen Rieker

Herausgeber YACHT

Aufgewachsen in Süddeutschland, hat Jochen Rieker das Segeln auf Bodensee, Ammersee und Starnberger See gelernt. Zunächst war er auf Pirat, H-Jolle und Tempest unterwegs, später auf Hobie Cat, A Cat und Dart 16. Aber wie das so ist: Je weiter entfernt das Meer, desto größer die Leidenschaft danach. Inspiriert durch die Bücher von Bobby Schenk und Wilfried Erdmann, folgte in den 90ern der erste Dickschifftörn im Ionischen Meer auf einer Carter 30, damals noch ohne Segelschein. Danach war’s um ihn geschehen. Als YACHT-Kaleu und Jury-Vorsitzender des European Yacht of the Year Award hat Rieker in den vergangenen mehr als 25 Jahren gut 500 Boote getestet. Sein eigenes, ein 36-Fuß-Racer/Cruiser, lag zuletzt in der Adria. Diesen Sommer verholt er es an die Schlei, wo er inzwischen lebt.

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