The fifth day of the Olympic regatta brought a rollercoaster of emotions for Sailing Team Germany in Rio. Philipp Buhl had opened the day full of hope with his first race win, before a 25th place in the Laser sailors' eighth race set him back again in the struggle to catch up with the leading group. Buhl has to fight for a place in the medal race on Saturday in the remaining two races until the Laser final on Monday in eleventh place overall and said after his races: "It's hard for me to smile today."
He was finally courageous when he won the race, but was unable to repeat his brilliant performance in the second race. He had too many doubts again. Although it is theoretically still possible for the world number one to catch up 32 points behind the bronze medallist, the Sonthofener's chances of winning a medal have dropped to a minimum on the Olympic home straight. The helmsman from the Alpsee-Immenstadt sailing club realises what has to happen in races nine and ten on Saturday: "The worse the conditions will be, the greater my chance of getting even further ahead. I just have to be as brave as I was today in the first race so that I can finally sail freely."
The "Flying Dutchman" is Olympic champion again
The surfers were already celebrating on Friday: Dorian van Rijsselberge is Olympic champion for the second time since 2012! The "Flying Dutchman" was in a class of his own on the courses under Rio's Sugar Loaf Mountain. After seven race wins in twelve races, the 1.90 tall, likeable high-flyer, who lives in Los Angeles with his Mexican wife and young daughter, can no longer be caught in the final medal race for surfers on Sunday. Britain's Nick Dempsey was also delighted with his second silver medal in a row. Toni Wilhelm's dream of an Olympic medal was shattered on the same day. In sixth place overall, 20 points behind bronze, the surfer from the Württemberg Yacht Club no longer has a chance of finishing in the top three. "I'm still proud of what I've achieved at the Olympics," said the 33-year-old on his third and final Olympic start. The 2012 Olympic silver medallist continued: "I didn't have enough to counter the guys at the front in this regatta. I congratulate Dorian and Nick on their gold and silver. But I have nothing to criticise myself for in terms of my preparation. I can say that I'm one of the best surfers in the world. Of course, it's a shame that I didn't manage to win a medal. But that's sailing. I'll give it my all again in the final."
Strong start for Heil/Plößel
Berlin 49er sailors Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel got off to a confident start in their Olympic premiere on Friday. "At least it's a great team," Philipp Buhl said appreciatively when he heard about his friends' sixth, third and third place after the first two races. The crew from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein is the first German team to finish on the podium in the overall standings at the Olympic regatta. Helmsman Heil said: "That was a good start. If you average fifth place here, you are among the front runners." Heil also pointed out that he felt that the downwash from the helicopters circling over the Olympic regatta courses had had an impact on the 49er course - an observation that should give the organisers food for thought in the age of modern camera drones.
The 49erFX sailors Victoria Jurczok and Anika Lorenz were a little less fortunate at the start of their Olympic premiere, as they suffered a false start at the start. After finishing eighth in the second race, the Berliners from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club are in 13th place for the time being. They were satisfied with their first day of sailing, said the German women, who were also celebrating the Olympic premiere of the 49erFX skiff discipline - the little sister of the 49er, which has been an Olympic event since 2000. "The only mistake was the early start," said Vicky Jurzok after the races on land, where it was already dark when the teams packed up their boats.
German 470 sailors in search of form in Guanabara Bay
While the Nacra 17 crews took a break on Friday, the 470 sailors were challenged on the Escola Naval course. Things were a little calmer there than the day before when they were "bull riding" on the Atlantic outer course. However, Ferdinand Gerz and Oliver Szymanski were not able to move up from their unloved 16th place in the intermediate classification towards the top in the only race of the day after a long postponement of the start with 14th place. The 470 sailors Annika Bochmann and Marlene Steinherr from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club also did not manage to break free after capsizing and breaking their mast the day before with an old rig and 15th place. They are still in penultimate place in the field of 20 women's 470 dinghies.
The Olympic regatta will continue on Saturday for the sailors of Sailing Team Germany with further races in the Laser, 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 disciplines. A catch-up race for the cancelled 470 men's and women's race was not initially on the programme, but would be at the discretion of the race committee according to the regulations.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
