The Bay of Lübeck showed its best side on the second regatta day of the 136th Travemünde Week. With winds of 15 to 20 knots and high waves, the conditions were perfect, but also challenging for the sailors in seven classes. On the sea course, there was slight material breakage, seasickness and a number of tasks. Not all crews in other boat classes were able to get through the challenging day either.
Dominance on the lake railway
The crew of the "patent 4" led by helmsman Henning Tebbe came out on top in the up-and-down races. The team used the conditions to familiarise themselves with the new setup of their yacht. For this season, the "patent 4" was converted from a spinnaker to a gennaker and is now only sailed by seven instead of eight people. "It was a good opportunity to refine the handling. The yacht is now much more agile," explained Tebbe. Second place went to As with the long haul Hinrich Klatt with the "Bona Tempora" ahead of Frank Michel on the "Fiefdeeler" from Travemünde.
Race organiser Jens Hahlbrock was confronted with a dwindling field of participants. Of the eight crews originally registered for the up-and-down courses, only five reached the finish of the first race. In the second race, there were only three crews left. This prompted Hahlbrock to end the regatta day early, especially as helpers on the support boats also complained of feeling unwell. The teams that gave up early included the Long-distance winner. The Swedish crew Lena Having and Eivind Böymo-Malm only sailed the "Mrs Freckles" as a pair and were no longer able to keep up with the fully crewed competitors in the tight barrel manoeuvres with the increasing wind forces. Frank Haßler from Heiligenhafen also had to give up after a break on the upper shroud of the "Fru Hansen".
The "patent 4" crew is now optimistic about the medium-distance races next weekend. With their clear victory in the up-and-down races, they have made a strong recommendation.
Hobie 16: Clear victory for the favourite duo
Ulf Hahn and Katrin Wiese-Dohse from Kellenhusen dominated the field in the Hobie 16. With seven wins in eight races, they clearly beat the competition. Only in the first race did they finish behind the record-breaking European champions Detlef Mohr and Karen Wichardt. "The conditions were great on both days. And it was perfect for us," said a delighted Hahn. He particularly praised the race organisers' decision to give the Hobies their own course on the second day.
In the Hobie 16, Hahn and Wiese-Dohse are now focussing on the European Championships in Poland. "That will be the highlight of the season. Travemünde was good preparation for that," says Hahn, who has set himself the goal of a top five finish.
Other classes in the competition
In addition to the Seebahn yachts and Hobie 16s, other boat classes also battled for victories and good placings. Holger Köhne's Berlin crew is clearly leading the overall standings in the H class after six races. In the J/22 class, the subscription champions around Reiner Brockerhoff from Duisburg are heading for the German Open title. The Dyas class is using the Travemünde Week as a warm-up for their upcoming German Championship.
