At the World Cup regatta off Weymouth, only one race could take place on Friday instead of the planned four. Light winds prevented more races in most of the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. Paul Kohlhoff and Carolina Werner from Kiel, who were under pressure in the Olympic qualifying duel, made almost ideal use of their only chance of the day, sailing to a third place and taking the lead in the Nacra 17 fleet, which was peppered with world champions and Olympic stars.
The KYC crew had already started the shortened day in the red jersey of the third-placed team and can now continue their attack on Saturday in the yellow jersey of the front runners. "We're taking it easy and having fun," said a visibly and audibly happy Carolina Werner, who can hardly remember the last time she was as fit and healthy as she was this week at a major regatta. The 22-year-old had to battle with the consequences of a tonsil operation for a long time last autumn and was also unable to overcome a wisdom tooth operation this year as quickly as planned.
On current form, the mixed double from Kiel is sailing towards the chance of securing a last-minute Olympic ticket. To do so, helmsman Kohlhoff, who is only 20 years old, and his 22-year-old foresailor Werner must be among the ten best crews at the end of the regatta and leave their national rivals Jan Hauke Erichsen and Lea Spitzmann behind.
But the Flensburgers are not yet out of the race for the Rio ticket: Erichsen/Spitzmann are in twelfth place after five races and thus, despite another 16th place, still have the chance to get back into the fight for the Rio ticket with outstanding performances on the final day.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
