World Championship Laser Standard: Buhl in the top five at half-time: "I'm in the game"

In front of him is New Zealander Sam Meech, bronze medallist at the Rio Olympics. Directly behind him is the Australian Olympic champion Tom Burton. Philipp Buhl - surrounded by the Olympic medallists - confidently held his own in the leading group on the third day of the Laser World Championships in Croatia, improving to fifth place with strong second, third and fourth places and without any drop-outs. "I'm in the game," said the 27-year-old with satisfaction at the halfway point of the world championships in the largest Olympic sailing fleet with 147 starters from 52 nations. After the first six races, three of which were held on Saturday following a cancellation the day before, the Cypriot Pavlos Kontides defended his lead ahead of the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Bernaz and the Australian Mathew Wearn.

After three days of group sailing, the best sailors will all face each other directly for the first time from Sunday to Tuesday in the gold fleet. Theo Bauer narrowly missed out on a place in the gold fleet in 53rd place (before the end of the protest period). Maximilian Müller (101st) continues the World Championship as the youngest member of the German Sailing Team in the bronze fleet. For Philipp Buhl, it's all about maintaining his impressive consistency from Sunday onwards. "Of course it will be harder with all the top people in a fleet, it's easier to get a double-digit result, but I'm looking forward to the main round," said Buhl.

National coach Alex Schlonski was more than satisfied with his number one on Saturday evening in Split: "He did really well. Today, with 15 to 20 knots of wind, we had homework conditions in which the good ones, who are fit and have their boat under control, almost all came in at the front. Philipp has also created a very good basis for the final round." Buhl has just as few illusions about the increasing challenges as front runner Pavlos Kontides, who won four out of six races, but also took a big "strike" after his equipment broke: "Things will be tougher in the gold fleet now. A lot can still happen. Sailing at this level is not necessarily about winning races, but about consistently being at the front."

Problems with the new sails

Many of the top sailors are also struggling with a problem that is as persistent as it is annoying this year at the World Championships: the new sails tear far too often! That's why leader Pavlos Kontides had to retire from the third race of the day on Saturday. "I was able to observe this," reported Schlonski, "he pulled on the cunningham and then the sail tore."

On land, several dozen sailors complained of torn or ripped sails. Around 30 laser sails are sent to the sailmakers overnight. "The sails are all tearing at the mast and have reinforcements that are too small," explains Schlonski. These reinforcements are now to be reworked. A tear was also discovered on Philipp Buhl's sail. Like Theo Bauer's sail, it will be sent to the sailmakers. "This is actually a minor catastrophe," said Schlonski about the new sails that were only delivered this year by various sailmakers. Olympic silver medallist Tonci Stipanovic's sail also tore on Saturday. His coach Jozo Jakelic, who also coaches Pavlos Kontides, said: "I'm not saying I'm angry, but I'm unhappy. I'm quite surprised that it's possible for a new piece of equipment to break so easily."

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This video was made at the start of the World Championships. Philipp Buhl reports on his start. Plus more interviews and regatta pictures from Split