Olympia: Two years after World Championship gold - Wanser/Autenrieth's Olympic dream finally shattered

"At the moment it just hurts," wrote Luise Wanser and Philipp Autenrieth in their short and emotional statement at the halfway point of the 470 Mixed European Championship off Cannes. What had happened? The European title series began on Tuesday as the third and final qualifying regatta for the German 470 mixed crews. It was possible to sail in light winds for two days. The races on Thursday were cancelled. This meant that the European Championship field of 46 participating crews was split into gold and silver fleets after just five races.

Luise Wanser and Philipp Autenrieth missed the cut by two points. In the silver fleet, the 2022 world champions no longer have a chance of landing the coup they needed to qualify for the Olympics, which would have been a difficult course anyway. "At first we were stunned, then we were overcome with tears," said Luise Wanser and Philipp Autenrieth, describing their emotions in Cannes.

German 470 Olympic elimination continues

The Hamburg native and her Bavarian coxswain went on to explain: "Due to the hopelessness, we don't feel emotionally able to sail the remaining races properly and have therefore decided to end the European Championships early." While the north-south duo will be travelling home with maximum disappointment, the battle for just one Olympic ticket in this strong German Olympic sailing discipline continues. An overview of the standings in the national elimination after two of three regattas and before the European Championship final:

• 34 points: Simon Diesch and Anna Markfort (WYC/VSaW)
• 29 points: Malte and Anastasiya Winkel (SYC/NRV)
• 19 points: Theresa Löffler and Christopher Hoerr (DTYC/SCBC)
• 18 points: Luise Wanser and Philipp Autenrieth (NRV/BYC)
• 10 points: Theres Dahnke and Matti Cipra (PWV)

No GER crew in the top ten at the halfway stage of the European Championships

After only two days of sailing so far, the picture at the European Championship is different than usual from a German perspective. Not one GER crew can be found in the top ten so far under the pressure of elimination and in the dull test of strength. Theres Dahnke and Matti Cipra (Plauer Wassersportverein) were the best crew in 13th place on Friday afternoon with 26 points, followed by the elimination leaders Simon Diesch and Anna Markfort (Württembergischer Yacht-Club/Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) in 15th place with 27 points.

In 19th place with 32 points were Malte and Anastasiya Winkel (Schweriner Yacht-Club/Norddeutscher Regatta Verein) directly ahead of Theresa Löffler and Christopher Hoerr (Deutscher Touring Yacht-Club/Segelclub Breitbrunn Chiemsee) with 34 points. Organisers and sailors alike were concerned about the continuing poor forecast. The Friday of the European Championships also began with a postponed start. "There might be a light thermal in the afternoon. What the wind does today and tomorrow is not in our hands. We'll take what comes. And we are ready for every race," said Malte Winkel.

The 470 Mixed European Championship will continue until the weekend with the main round, if sailing is possible. The double scored medal race will take place on Sunday. By then at the latest, it will be clear which German crew has secured a ticket to Marseille.

Nacra 17 World Championship: Olympic bronze medallists advance after crash

At the same time, Germany's best Nacra 17 crew, who have already qualified for the Olympics, are using their World Championships in La Grande Motte for final preparations for the hoped-for second Olympic summit in the Bay of Marseille in the summer. Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer (Kieler Yacht-Club) had an annoying opening day to digest: They crashed into the anchor chain of the finishing boat in the second race. As a result, they also missed the following race and were awarded full points twice.

In the meantime, Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer have moved back up from the bottom of the rankings to 17th place after two race wins and recent 4th and 6th places. The duo from Kiel are battling in equally shaky Mediterranean winds in the Golfe du Lion to reach the medal race, which is scheduled for Sunday, just like the 470 World Championship. If they can sail.

Click here for the results of the Nacra 17 World Championship.

Click here for the interim results of the 470 Mixed European Championship.

Waiting for wind and the patience that comes with it are the most sought-after virtues at the 470 Mixed European Championship, which is so important for the best crews of the German Sailing Team. The highlights of day 3 show the flat conditions: