New podcast episode: Unexpected European Champions – with offshore sailors Freya Olbrich and Paul Piendl
Antonia von Lamezan
· 16.10.2026
It soon becomes clear on board that Freya and Paul have great chemistry, even though they aren’t a couple. The roles are shared equally, with Freya, as an experienced regatta sailor, particularly excelling at the tiller, whilst Paul shines in crisis situations thanks to his stoic calm and experience of long-distance sailing. In the podcast, the pair talk about how they tackle new challenges and what they learn from one another.
Two extraordinary careers, a great team
During the interview, the pair also offer fascinating insights into their extraordinary careers: in his early 20s, Paul Piendl sailed round the world for four years, sometimes alone and sometimes with a crew, and survived, amongst other things, a broken mast in the Red Sea. Freya Olbrich is a qualified sailmaker, is currently studying geography and is a passionate regatta sailor. Among other things, Freya gained solo sailing experience at the Silverrudder and is taking part in the Magenta Project to promote women in sailing. The pair recount the extraordinary story of how they met and how they came to successfully compete in offshore regattas as a duo today.
Developing young talent: What Germany can learn from England
Whilst countries such as the UK and France have extensive and professional structures in place, ambitious German sailors often face a high level of personal financial risk. For Paul and Freya, the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s (RORC) Griffin Youth Project provides a solution. This international support programme provides boats and removes financial barriers, ensuring that young talents have the chance to compete against professionals in the first place.
What’s next for the winning duo?
Following their major European Championship victory, the question naturally arises as to what the future holds for the pair. For now, they are set to go their separate ways: Freya will first be completing her bachelor’s degree next summer, and Paul also plans to devote himself to his own projects for the time being. Nevertheless, they both agree that this shouldn’t be their last race together. Find out how they view the future of German offshore sailing and what they’re planning next in this podcast episode.
You can listen to the YACHT sailing podcast with Freya Olbrich and Paul Piendl here
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Antonia von Lamezan
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