New podcast episode: Janek Struchholz on youth sailing and competitive sailing
Antonia von Lamezan
· 25.09.2026
Anyone who takes up competitive sailing as a child soon finds themselves in a world that has little in common with a family weekend on the lake. Competitive sailing for young sailors means getting up early, long journeys and winter training in temperatures that would make others stay at home. Janek Strucholz, 25, has followed this path: from sailing an Optimist on an inland lake in North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Championships in the 420 class. Today, he works as a trainee on the YACHT editorial team and offers an insider’s perspective on how this sport can work for children and their families.
The hard work behind the starting line
Anyone wishing to get involved in youth competitive sailing in Germany needs more than just a boat and talent. Without parents who sacrifice their weekends and drive the boat trailer, without car-sharing arrangements and volunteers at the club, competitive sailing is simply not feasible for most people. Janek Strucholz gives an insight into just how much effort this really involves, and what happens when a single-handed boat becomes a two-man boat and suddenly two families have to coordinate their diaries.
Sailing as a way of building character
Sitting alone in an Opti, coping with wind and waves, being on your own: for children, this is initially a challenge and, at the same time, a great learning experience. This week’s episode looks at what this early independence on the water does for you, the role a good training group plays in this, and the extent to which the sport develops qualities that extend far beyond the regatta course.
Carry on or give up?
At some point, successful young sailors are faced with a choice: should they continue training at a high-performance level, or take a different path and prioritise vocational training or university studies? Janek Strucholz has made this decision for himself and explains what it involves, how it comes about, what remains when you consciously bring a sailing career to an end, and how he still maintains a connection with the sport.
You can listen to the YACHT sailing podcast with Janek Struchholz here
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Antonia von Lamezan
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