470 Mixed European Championship: Löffler/Hoerr eighth, test format with light and shade

For the Olympic sailors, the early European Championships of the 470 Mixed fleet marked the first major title fights of the year. Off Vilamoura, 53 crews from 21 countries were challenged in predominantly light to medium winds. The early test of strength in the new season still lacked the German World Championship silver medallists Simon Diesch and Anna Markfortbecause the helmsman and lawyer has written his state exams. The duo will be back in action at the Spanish classic Trofeo Princesa Sofía from the end of March.

470 Mixed: new format with weaknesses

In the absence of the German World Championship silver medallists, the favourites from Spain, Great Britain, Italy and Portugal battled it out for the European Championship medals. The international 470 class association also tested a new format, which not only helmsman Malte Winkel described as a "double-edged sword". He summed up the initial reactions of many sailors very well: two instead of one medal race at the end of the series was well received by the athletes and offered more chances in the final.

Combining the qualifying races into just one point value corresponding to the ranking after five races for entry into the main round is also not an entirely bad idea, given that the races in the main round are more demanding and therefore carry more weight. However, many participants felt that it was less sensible and not entirely fair to "adjust" the scores of the top ten after the main round and before the medal series according to a predetermined system.

The format rule: Regardless of how the top ten teams fared after the main round, there could be no more than nine points between the top boats when it came to the medal races. The boat in tenth place and the boat in third place, for example, could not be more than 18 points apart. This is to ensure a theoretical chance of a medal. The points scored on the water were adjusted accordingly before the starting shots for the two medal races were fired on Saturday afternoon.

The test format did not stop the favourites

These measures may have marginally increased the tension, but they seemed too complex, a little artificial and not entirely fair to the sailors and observers. Nevertheless, the favourites were successful. European champions were Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris from Great Britain, ahead of the Italians Giacomo Ferrari/Alessandra Dubbini and the reigning Spanish world champions Jordi Xammar/Marta Cardona. Click here for the final results of the 470 Mixed European Championship.

Six German duos were in action in Portugal. The most successful were Theresa Löffler and Christopher Hoerr, who finished eighth at the European Championships. Both completed their studies in the winter and now have a master's degree in mechanical engineering (Löffler) and a degree in dentistry (Hoerr) in their pockets. They can now fully concentrate on the "Road to LA28".

Theresa Löffler took a positive view: "We're quite happy with our European Championship result. It was good considering that we had a slightly longer break in the winter due to our studies, but have now both finished our studies." It was important for the mixed doubles team to test the new format with two medal races in the final. They were satisfied with their boat speed, especially on the cross. They still lacked a little bit of overview. Both were in line with their winter training, in which speed was a big topic, but regattas themselves were not.

Faster over the course with new boats

Malte Winkel and Amelie Paula Schütze, who are not currently in the German Sailing Team squad, also had to make up for a longer break for the foresailor. They managed this very well again at times. They would have loved to have been rewarded with a place in the top ten and a place in the two medal races after the tour de force at the end of the main round, but they missed the final cut in twelfth place.

Malte Winkel described the conditions at the European Championships as "very physical", with winds often gusting around five to eleven knots. In the end, his crew "lacked a few grains" with only limited winter training possible. The helmsman also attributed some of the speed differences in the fleet to the new boats already being used by the competition. His crew should also be able to take this step forwards in speed by the time the World Championships reach their climax.

The 470 mixed teams Theres Dahnke and Paco Melzer (Plauer Wassersportverein/Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee, Yachtclub Berlin-Grünau) and Amelie Wehrle with Riccardo Honold (Jollensegler Reichenau/Bodensee-Yacht-Club Überlingen) sailed to 15th and 18th place before Vilamoura. DSV coach Steve Lovegrove said after the award ceremony in Vilamoura: "We are satisfied, but not yet happy."

470 Mixed highlight of the year: the August World Championship in Enoshima

With its mixed doubles, the 470 mixed fleet is on the credit side of the German Sailing Team. Wherever they start, the best are among the medal candidates. Vhree and a half years ago, Luise Wanser and Philipp Autenrieht sailed to world championship gold in the 470 mixed opener in Israel. More edemetal followed in the years that followed. And that's how it should be again at the season's summit, when the German Sailing Team competes at the World Championship in the former Olympic sailing area of Enoshima from 10 to 17 August.