76 days before the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the hot phase of preparation begins for the Alinghi team in Auckland after a short holiday. YACHT online met Jochen Schümann (47) shortly before his departure at the Alinghi Match Race in St. Moritz, which he won with flying colours.
YACHT
Jochen SchümannI am the helmsman and responsible for the sailing team. I take care of the schedules, when sailing takes place and who sails on which boat. This includes developing training concepts with our trainers in the gym and on the water. The aim is to send the best team onto the water when it gets serious.
YACHT: Who will sail in the Louis Vuitton Cup?
Jochen Schümann: That has not yet been decided. We have 32 sailors competing against each other. 16 are sailing on one boat, which means that half of them will be on the substitutes' bench. But I'm assuming that everyone will be used once during the entire elimination series. Depending on the wind conditions and whether we are sailing against strong or weak opponents.
YACHT: Will you be on the A-boat yourself?
Jochen SchümannIt's quite likely that I'll steer a race one day, as I do every day in Auckland during sparring. But I will find it hard to get past helmsman Russell Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth. However, I am physically stronger. I can fulfil strategic tasks in the afterguard and work on the grinder. That's why I train hard in the gym. I can already do two repetitions of the bench press with 100 kilograms. That's almost as much as when I was at my best as a Finn sailor.
YACHT: What are the chances of winning the Cup?
Jochen SchümannWe certainly don't have the biggest budget, but I think we are utilising our resources very well. A lot depends on how our new boat works, which is just arriving in Auckland. But we expect little difference in speed. Crew work could be crucial. And we're doing very well there.
You can read a detailed portrait in YACHT 19/2002
