Danish 470 women win Travemuende Week

by Andreas Kling on 27 Jul 2008 International women’s power dominated the 470 class at the 119th Travemuende Week. On Saturday the female crew Henriette Koch and Lene Sommer from Denmark secured their overall victory having sailed an impressive series with six bullets and two seconds discarded.

The Czech helmsman Alexandre Tinoco and his 'Bohemia Express' crew became new ORC European Champions in the Sportsboat class.

'We had ideal sailing conditions and we are happy that we beat all male crews', said the 23 year old Henriette Koch after a brilliant series. In moderate to good easterly winds the Danish crew showed their talent again and scored a bullet on the last day of racing. Silver went to the 'boys' Jan-Jasper Wagner and Lennart Scheuffler from Berlin, Germany, followed by Sandra Sandquist and Karin Berg from Sweden.

The Czech 470 female crew Martina Koutna and Michaela Preibischova took the unthankful fourth place. Bastian and Georg Zinder (Cottbus, Germany) sailed the best 420 dinghy in front of the polish women Anna Goryszeska and Wiktoria Szmit.

The final of the ORC European Sportsboat Championship saw a match race between the leading two teams from the Czech Republic. 'We did not want to take a risk on the last day and have covered ‘Radost II’ consequently', said the new title holder Tinoco. His 'Bohemia Express' crossed the line six seconds in front of the rival Melges 24 with Milan Hajek on the helm.

While the first two had their own battle, the way was free for the Max Fun 25 'MXTC' from the Netherlands. Skipper Marco van Driel took advantage, won the last race and secured bronze, followed by Hans Roettger and his Dutch 'Pandion' crew.

Tobias Schadewaldt, who usually sails in the Laser class and now teams with Hannes Baumann from Kiel (Germany) in the 49er scored two bullets. But Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel, who collected two thirds, seem to be unbeatable as they lead by 21 points, followed by Max Lutz and Lennard Harneit from Kiel. Two more races are scheduled for the last day.

In the Finn Dinghy the European Junior Champion Jan Kurfeld can’t be beaten anymore, although the bullets of the Saturday went to Master’s World Champion Andre Budzin and Thomas Reger, all from Germany.

Ten more classes will celebrate their winners on Sunday (27 July), the last day of the 119th Travemuende Week. Among them the Euro Cup winners in the 505 and in the Javelin class as well as the best German Topcat sailors are still to find. The weather forecast gives hope that the sunny summer shall continue with a perfect sailing breeze.

Full result lists on www.Travemuender-Woche.de