What connects the America's Cup city of Valencia and Langenargen as the host of Match Race Germany? They both lack one thing at the start: wind. The patience of the twelve crews was also put to the test on the second day.
Despite all their efforts, the race organisers were only able to complete four of the 21 remaining duels by the early evening. Starnberg helmsman Markus Wieser was the only one to win twice and leads his preliminary round group after two days.
"It's hard to sail with so little wind and a great test of patience for everyone. But of course we are happy with our two points," said the 43-year-old Wieser.
The experts' weather forecast for the coming Whitsun days is more favourable. The organisers expect more wind for Saturday and Sunday, but also the passage of thunderstorms. Meanwhile, the twelve teams from nine countries made the best of the doldrums on Friday. Like the crew of French world number two Mathieu Richard, many simply went for a swim in Lake Constance in midsummer temperatures. "It was wonderfully refreshing," said Richard, whose team won a Grand Prix race for the third time just a week ago in the Congressional Cup off Long Beach.
Representatives of five current America's Cup teams proved over Whitsun in Langenargen how highly Match Race Germany ranks in the favour of professionals from all over the world on its tenth anniversary. And one of them even came as a spectator: Oliver-Sven Buder, former runner-up world champion in ball stopping and grinder in the German America's Cup team.
The 40-year-old athlete from Cuxhaven said: "I've heard so much about Match Race Germany that I just wanted to take a look at it." Looking back on his own America's Cup première, Buder said: "I've survived the adventure and would like to do a second campaign."
But like most teams, sailors and sponsors, Buder is also condemned to wait, because only the winner of the 32nd America's Cup duel will decide when, where and how the 33rd edition will take place. Only after this announcement will most campaigns decide on their future and start negotiations with the sailors.
In Match Race Germany, the preliminary round duels will continue on Saturday. The German Grand Prix, which is expected to attract around 35,000 spectators, will end on Whit Monday with the final. Sailing will be for around 20,000 euros in prize money and valuable points for the match race world rankings and the season ranking of the World Match Racing Tour, which ends this year for the first time with the World Championship in Malaysia at the end of November.
Jochen Rieker
Herausgeber YACHT
