Laser European Championship: Buhl in the hunt for medals: "Among the front runners at half-time"

Tatjana Pokorny

· 09.05.2018

Laser European Championship: Buhl in the hunt for medals: "Among the front runners at half-time"

Photo: Thom Touw Photography/2018 European Championship/La Rochelle

Half-time at the Laser European Championship off La Rochelle

Philipp Buhl is competing against the grandmasters of the Olympic single-handed discipline at the Laser European Championships. Today he starts the main round in fifth place

The preliminary round is over, the races of the best in the gold fleet start today: Philipp Buhl is in fifth place at the Laser European Championship off La Rochelle after the first six races. In the preliminary round, the 28-year-old from Sonthofen demonstrated with his 4, 3, 2, 4, (BFD,) 1 series that he wants to - and can - fight for a European Championship medal in France. "I'm among the front runners at the halfway point and very happy with how things have gone so far," says Buhl in high spirits.

So far, things are going well for the active spokesman of the German Sailing Team: Philipp Buhl starts the main round in fifth place

Photo: Thom Touw Photography/2018 European Championship/La Rochelle So far, things are going well for the active spokesman of the German Sailing Team: Philipp Buhl starts the main round in fifth place

In medium to strong winds, Philipp Buhl was able to play to his strengths in the first three days and is looking forward to the main round starting today: "I think it's going to be hot in the Gold Fleet." Australia's Matthew Wearn (5 points) is in the lead in the open European Championship standings ahead of New Zealand's Sam Meech (6 points) and his compatriot Andrew McKenzie (11 points). Buhl has collected 14 points so far. In the overall European Championship standings - decisive for the title fight - this currently means second place for the man from Sonthofen behind Pavlos Kontides from Cyprus.

Half-time at the Laser European Championship off La Rochelle: Medium to strong winds ensured action on the course off La Rochelle

Photo: Thom Touw Photography/2018 European Championship/La Rochelle Half-time at the Laser European Championship off La Rochelle: Medium to strong winds ensured action on the course off La Rochelle

As in the preliminary round, the sailors will also be allowed to cancel a maximum of one result in the main round if at least four of the remaining six races can still be completed. Buhl's team-mate Nik Aaron Willim also reached the gold fleet with 36th place in the field of 160 starters. Theodor Bauer, on the other hand, missed out on a place in the top group with 69th place. Svenja Weger is in 18th place in the women's Laser Radial after the first half of the European Championships and is therefore also qualified for the gold fleet in the main round.

The Swede Jesper Stalheim is one of Philipp Buhl's permanent rivals in the Laser and is also fighting for a European Championship medal in sixth place overall after the preliminary round, just one point behind Buhl

Photo: Thom Touw Photography/2018 European Championship/La Rochelle The Swede Jesper Stalheim is one of Philipp Buhl's permanent rivals in the Laser and is also fighting for a European Championship medal in sixth place overall after the preliminary round, just one point behind Buhl

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Strong picture. Laser Radial helmswoman Svenja Weger from the Potsdam Yacht Club sailed into the gold fleet in 18th place in the preliminary round

Photo: Thom Touw Photography/2018 European Championship/La Rochelle Strong picture. Laser Radial helmswoman Svenja Weger from the Potsdam Yacht Club sailed into the gold fleet in 18th place in the preliminary round

Tatjana Pokorny

Sports reporter

Tatjana “tati” Pokorny is the author of nine books. As a reporter for Europe's leading sailing magazine YACHT, she also works as a correspondent for the German Press Agency (DPA), the Hamburger Abendblatt and other national and international media. In summer 2024, Tatjana will be reporting from Marseille on her ninth consecutive Olympic Games. Other core topics have been the America's Cup since 1992, the Ocean Race since 1993, the Vendée Globe and other national and international regattas and their protagonists. Favorite discipline: Portraits of and interviews with sailing personalities. When she started out in sports journalism, she was still intensively involved with basketball and other sports, but sailing quickly became her main focus. The reason? The declared optimist says: “There is no other sport like it, no other sport with such interesting and intelligent personalities, no other sport so diverse, no other sport so full of energy, strength and ideas. Sailing is like a constantly refreshing declaration of love for life."

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Laser European Championship: Buhl in the hunt for medals: "Among the front runners at half-time"

Tatjana Pokorny

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