Olympic sailing: "We will turn over every stone"

The new DSV head coach David Howlett is not a procrastinator. Immediately after his official presentation to the German Sailing Association in Hamburg, the Briton travelled with DSV President Andreas Lochbrunner to the national base in Kiel on Wednesday afternoon for initial meetings with sailors, coaches, support staff and representatives of Sailing Team Germany. The former successful coach of England's sailing superstar Ben Ainslie and the British Olympic team wants to gain an overview of the status quo in the German national sailing team in intensive discussions. True to his coaching motto: "You have to turn over every stone for success."

From the outside, the German medal slump at the Olympic Games in recent years can hardly be explained, says Howlett. "The Germans actually have everything: a successful history, good people, the technological expertise, great sponsors. The only thing missing is good results." Howlett wants to contribute to heralding a clear upward trend: "I want to talk to everyone intensively and see where I can perhaps help."

The 63-year-old, whose protégés celebrated uninterrupted Olympic victories at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, 2000 in Sydney, 2004 in Athens, 2008 in Qingdao and 2012 in London, has ambitious plans for his new job. With a view to the 2016 Olympic Games, Howlett cites one or two medals for the German sailors as a realistic goal. On the way there, he wants above all to support the athletes and coaches, expand the networks with international contacts, help optimise the training and living conditions of the competitive athletes and be a role model. "We also hope that we can provide all teams with a chance of participating in the Olympics with sufficient financial resources," says the British inspirer with a great deal of understanding for the athletes from more than three decades of experience as a coach at the highest level.

Howlett, who takes on the new role with a great deal of natural authority, ambition and a rich British sense of humour, will also focus on the topic of exploiting opportunities. In his work with the British Olympic team, he has been able to draw on a wealth of experience in this regard: in recent years, the British have usually competed in almost all classes at the Olympic Games with a chance of winning a medal. This regularly resulted in around 50 per cent medals. The German sailors are currently competing in four disciplines "in the mix", i.e. with medal chances. They and the teams in other classes now need to be supported. "Anyone who regularly places in the top five at major championships like Philipp Buhl or is European champion like Heil/Plößel or Svenja Weger can compete with confidence, because they know they can win!"