After Dream conditions last year hit the Lake Constance classic Rund Um particularly hard last weekend: numerous tasks only an hour after the start, only one of the eight registered catamarans reached the finish. Dr Gloria Mang and her crew braved the harsh conditions with rain and up to 28 knots of wind in gusts. The team reached the island in the historic centre of Bavaria after just three hours and 54 minutes, securing victory in category 0.
"The conditions were brutal. It was cold and the wave was huge after the start," said fellow sailor Fritz Trippolt at the finish. The man from Bregenz is none other than the record holder of the Rund Um (03:44:40, 2023) and previous owner of today's "All you need" (formerly "Skinfit"). Named after her own cosmetics label, Gloria Mang has been "putting a lot of energy, time, perseverance and discipline into getting this sporty sailing project off the ground since October 2023", as she writes on her LinkedIn profile. For the traditional regatta on her native Lake Constance, she took an ambitious crew on board with Trippolt and his two sons.
First female winner of the Rund Um did not sit at the tiller herself
While Mang is now being celebrated in the media as the first female winner, the latter clearly denied her role as helmswoman to YACHT. Although she is listed in this position in the results lists, the owner was never at the tiller at any time. "That would never have been possible in these conditions," explained the 67-year-old, reigniting an old debate.
The Managing Director of the Lake Constance Clinic also wrote in her LinkedIn post: "I am delighted to be the first woman to win the Rund Um Regatta!" Whether it is decisive whether she or her boat with helmsman Fritz Trippolt won the regatta is debatable. It is true that other sailing owners often bring an experienced crew on board to drive their racing boats. Depending on the individual case and regatta, however, they are only listed as owner or skipper or the criterion of an owner-operated boat is enforced more strictly. In the 52 Super Series, for example, professionals such as Tom Slingsby are not allowed to take the wheel.
As Mang is by no means the first woman on board a round-the-world winning boat, the headlines currently circulating are certainly controversial and give the impression of a lack of understanding of sporting fairness. However, this in no way detracts from the crew's sailing performance.
Tough conditions at the Rund Um 2024: numerous entries, numerous tasks
The D35 catamaran, which is challenging to sail, quickly gained ground and was alone on the 100-kilometre course. The main field, with a total of almost 250 registered boats in three classification groups, was able to follow the America's Cup As expected, the carbon projectile that had been created could not be followed. According to Trippolt, in addition to the extremely gusty and shifting winds from an unusually southerly direction for Lake Constance and the resulting waves, a large amount of driftwood was also one of the biggest challenges. Once victory was clear, the team therefore took a risk management approach and did not set the large gennaker, for example, even though they missed the record by ten minutes despite an average speed of over 15 knots.
There were also numerous tasks in the other categories of the Rund Um 2024, meaning that only just under 100 yachts crossed the finish line in total. The winner of classification group 1 and second overall was Wolfgang Palm from Yachtclub Langenargen, who took five hours and 17 minutes with his Wilke 49 "Wild Lady". Palm thus also won the Blue Riband in starting group 1. In starting group 2, the JPK 10.30 "Grace" of club mate Karel Cernovsky came out on top. Armin Nops sailed his Grenada 910 "N°3" to victory in the third group.
More spectacular pictures can be found on www.foto-osner.com.
Max Gasser
Editor Test & Technology
