Kieler Woche - Perfect prelude in Kiel Cup

by Hermann Hell on 25 Jun 2013 3:0 for ‘the Silva Hispaniola’ - this is the preliminary result after the first racing day of the Kiel Cup at Kiel Week 2013 in the national qualification for the German trio in the Royal Ocean Cup (ROC).

While the young crew of the Evento 42 was very confident in three tricky races, the only other competitor for the qualification 'Leu' starting for the Kiel Yacht Club had trouble finding the speed.

Finishing first twice during the day and becoming second another time, Dennis Gehrlein and his team didn’t even make it to the top of the ORC I class.

Albert Schweitzer's crew is only on rank six after a finishing third, seventh and eighth.

'We were completely surprised too, at how well we could keep the other competitors under control', said Gehrlein happily on Monday, where winds were lighter, but more shifting than the weekend before.

'We had to be on alert every moment to check out where the next wind patch would set in,' said the skipper, 'and our navigator Dirk Manno was excellent in seeing it.' The sailmaker did not just organise the 'fast wardrobe', but also made sure, they were going into the right direction.

Owner Heinz-Peter Schmidt from Heidelberg, who had purchased the boat to support the young sailors, joined the team as the 11th crew member and enjoyed seeing his concept working out.

'We do not want professionals on board, but sail at the front with a permanent crew and discipline in training,' explained trimmer Bendix Huegelmann the idea behind the 'Silva Hispaniola'.

They would love to win Kiel Week for the first time, because as the Kiel Cup winner, the ROC start in August at Bornholm would be set.

The 'RubiX' from Hamburg Sailing Club (HSC) does not have to worry about their starting permit anymore; they are already set with a X-35 for the German team at the late summer event.

During the Kiel Cup, the winner of the previous year Max Gurgel and his young team are especially struggling on their well-known X-332 against the unexpected strong 'Ratzfatz'.

The J/97 with helmsman Andreas Rohde from Rotenburg made it a superior hat trick and kept a clean record in ORC III/IV for the first racing day.

The 'RubiX' is six points behind in second position, only two points between them and the next three competitors, who all have the same point score.

In ORC II, you could watch a duel at eye level.

Torsten Bastiansen's 'Veolia' took the lead after two day victories and a fourth position, with Kalle Dehler's 'Sporthotel' having the same point score after coming in second in all three races.

With more stable winds, but continuing cool showers, the Kiel Cup shall continue on Tuesday with races four to Kieler Woche