Interview: Jörg Mößnang sails the "Les Dames de Saint-Tropez" with the women's team

Mr Mössnang, are ladies the nicer sailors?

Definitely yes! If I could only sail one race series a year, it would be "Les Dames de Saint-Tropez". And not because of the special sporting challenge, but rather because of the community that we experience there. It's just a completely different atmosphere. I've been doing my job for fifty years now, have sailed many regattas, was world champion in the two-tonner and vice world champion in the kite. Without the boycott, I would have been an Olympic participant in the Star boat in 1980. Nevertheless, it is simply different when only women meet at the pier in the evening. It's fascinating to see how the ladies blossom and get talking to each other. What's more, unlike many male regatta sailors, they don't try to impress their opponents with their dominance in the evening. The team spirit on board during the races is also fantastic.

On which ship do you sail the "Les Dames de Saint-Tropez"?

This year we sailed the "Belle Aventure" at "Les Dames". This classic was built in 1929 and it takes a lot of teamwork to sail it. That's what makes it so appealing to me. Of course we want to sail fast, but that's not everything.

How did it come about that you took part in the regatta with around twenty women?

This was our second time taking part. I originally started this together with Ulrike Grundt from the Bodensee-Yacht-Club-Überlingen. I sailed dragon regattas against her partner for many years. But she always stayed on land. At some point I said: "Ulli, I have something for you." I had known for two or three years that there was this regatta off Saint-Tropez.

And how was the response? Were they able to inspire and acquire enough women for the regatta?

That went better than expected! I asked her at the beginning if she could get three or four people interested. When she called me and said that there were already ten people who wanted to take part, I was thrilled. On the next phone call, there were suddenly fourteen, so I said that I first had to find a ship. But everything worked out in the end and the ladies were super happy.

Which ship did you sail back then?

It was a motorsailer, also from the 1920s, but it sailed really well. We ended up in second place straight away, which caused a bit of hype at the BYCÜ and on Lake Constance.

What do your fellow female sailors like best?

For the women, the experience also takes centre stage. When we sail there in the scenery, most German sailors have never experienced that before. Then on the marvellous classics, they rightly enjoy it. And when a ship like the "Tuiga" sails past you - and she certainly does - it's simply something very special.