"It was an honour to show Robert Scheidt a few tricks today!" Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel met sailing legend Robert Scheidt, who lives and trains there with his family, at the training camp on Lake Garda. The double Olympic champion and five-time Olympic medallist switched from his favourite class, the Laser (nine world championship titles!), to the Olympic 49er last year, to the astonishment of many fans. The switch marked Scheidt's temporary retirement from the Olympics in 2016. The 43-year-old wants to give it another go because his Olympic passion won't let him go. Scheidt is slowly stalking the world's best in the 49er with foresailor Gabriel Borges. The Berlin 49er bronze medallists from Rio also took part in this. Heil and Plößel provided the Brazilian with a few treasures from their bag of tricks on his home turf.
The German 49er sailors are training on Lake Garda for the World Cup in Hyères at the end of April. At the same time, the duo have set a new course over the winter and have broadened their focus in preparation for their second Olympic campaign with the goal of Tokyo 2020 following their medal success in Rio de Janeiro. "Yes, we have our sights set on the Olympics again," said Erik Heil, "but we also want to gain experience on other major international stages. To this end, we have set up a 'think tank' with Flavio Marazzi's Armin Strom Sailing Team and formed a team. Together, we want to attack the GC32 circuit - currently the most important professional series in which match race world champions, Olympic sailors and talented America's Cup youngsters gain experience for possible America's Cup appearances in the future."
Heil will initially take on the role of tactician in the Armin Strom Sailing Team, with two-time Olympic fourth-placed Flavio Marazzi at the helm. The Swiss doer, mentor and driving force behind the project wants to invest heavily in Olympic talent. When putting together his team, Marazzi has his sights set on top sailors who have already completed one or more Olympic campaigns. At Marazzi's side is the experienced star boat world champion and Olympic sixth-placed Frithjof Kleen, who is supporting the "Olympia goes GC32" project as a coach and advisor. The new team wants to join forces to challenge the GC32 establishment. "For us Olympic sailors, the involvement primarily means an increase in knowledge for the Olympic campaign, but of course also the chance to measure ourselves against the best in the business," says Heil, "we feel like we've hit the jackpot being able to play a part in shaping Flavio's team. We are taking on responsibility and have built up a pool of eight or nine top people."
In year 1 after the Olympic Games, Heil/Plößel alternate GC32 regattas with Olympic training and regattas. In April, the Sailing World Cup Hyères is on the programme for the 49er duo. In May, the Eurosaf Cup off Medemblik and a GC32 regatta on Lake Garda are expected. The programme includes starts at the 49er World Championship off Porto (Portugal) and the Sailing World Cup in Tokyo as well as other GC32 starts.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
