Travemünde Week: 50 years after the 1974 One Ton Cup - owners call for a retro meeting

It was more than 50 years ago when the Dick Carter design "Optimist" won the one-tonne trophies off Le Havre in 1967 and off Heligoland in 1968 under the German flag. The successes of the boats designed by Munich architect Georg Köhler, which his Bremen helmsman Hannes Beilken had advised him to build, ensured golden sailing times in Germany at the time. Even "Der Spiegel" regularly and extensively reported on the brilliant performances of the "Optimist" and her sisters. The one-tonne boats were so popular in Germany at the time that there were even attempts to get them onto the stage under the five rings as an Olympic boat type.

In total, German boats won the one-tonne cup five times. The double coup of the "Optimist", which still succeeded under the 22-foot RORC rule, was followed by the victory of the "Tilsag" with skipper Klaus Lange in 1978. The 27.5-foot IOR formula had been in force since 1971. In 1993 and 1994, it was finally a "Pinta" skippered by Willi Illbruck that prevailed twice under the corset of the 30.5-foot IOR rule. In the first year, this was achieved with none other than Finn Olympic champion, match race icon and later America's Cup winner and SailGP-maker Russell Coutts, in his second year with US skipper John Kostecki.

The golden era of the single-tonner

The golden era of the one-tonner is now a while in the past, but there are still many owners in Germany who cherish them and their smaller IOR sisters, such as three-quarter tonne models. Kaspar Stubenrauch is one of them. His "Golden Apple" will be 50 years old this year.

It was also 50 years ago in 1974 that "Golden Apple" took part in the One Ton Cup off the English Riviera in Torquay as a co-favourite. The Ron Holland design, on which the designer himself sailed at the time, was sailed by an Irish-international crew in a fleet of 33 starters at the most important British sailing event of the year and finished in seventh place. The victory was secured by class sister "Gumboots".

Today, "Golden Apple" is in the German hands of Trans-Ocean board member Kaspar Stubenrauch. With "Gumboots", the 1974 one-tonne cup winner is also at home in Germany. She is moored in Lübeck. 50 years after the summit in Torquay, Kaspar Stubenrauch now has the idea of bringing together as many singletons from the late sixties, seventies and early eighties as possible in the Bay of Lübeck on the occasion of Travemünde Week. Above all, Stubenrauch has his sights set on the representatives of the 27.5-foot IOR formula of the seventies and early eighties.

Retro meeting for the Travemünde Week

But other typical representatives of the era are also welcome. "It would be great if the Eintonners from the past could meet up and celebrate the double 50th birthday together at the Travemünde Week. But we're not just talking about the One Tons, but also other IOR boats from that era. The One Tons in Travemünde naturally also include production boats that were developed from prototypes: Contessa 35, Carter 37, Norlin 37 and many more. And if the larger Admiral's Cuppers from the era, such as the 'Carina III' and the 'Struntje V', are also in the line-up, we will of course be delighted," says Kaspar Stubenrauch.

The 135th Travemünde Week takes place from 19 to 28 July. It ends on the day on which the Olympic regatta begins in the Bay of Marseille. The sailing programme of the Travemünde Week, which has been held around the seaside resort since 1889, offers ORC and yardstick yachts Up & Downs, the classic Rund Fehmarn and a middle distance. "Depending on the time of the owners & crews, the sea races are scheduled for the meeting, especially those in the second part, from Thursday to Sunday," says Kaspar Stubenrauch. His recommendation to all those who have a suitable boat and a desire for a retro birthday party: "As we are not yet sure whether we can have our own group, the boats should first register by yardstick."

Half a century ago - the story of "Gumboots" and "Golden Apple" at the One Ton Cup 1974: