Kiel Week - Germans pull ahead on day 2

by Kieler Woche on 18 Jun 2012 On the second day of Kieler Woche 2012, the German Olympic starters took the leading roles. Three German crews, who will represent Germany at the Olympics in England, took the lead in their respective classes. After a false start on Saturday, Laser sailor Franziska Goltz from Kiel is number one just as well as Laser colleague Simon Grotelueschen from Kiel and the 470 sailors Ferdinand Gerz/Patrick Follmann (Munich). Annika Bochmann/Elisabeht Panuschka (Berlin/Uerdingen), who are not qualified for the Olympics, are the leading team on the 470, completing the successful German teams.

The French sailor Damien Seguin takes the lead in the 2.4mR, followed by Thierry Schmitter from the Netherlands and Hanns Asklund from Sweden. Heiko Kroeger is currently fourth overall. The 49ers were dominated by the British Team James Peters and Ed FitzGerald, followed by Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel from Berlin. Germany’s Olympic starters Thomas Schadewald and Hannes Baumann from Kiel take the third place. In the Finn, Deniss Karpak could take the lead, followed by the Australian Brendan Casey and the US American Caleb Paine.

Simon Grotelueschen had a perfect day, defending the lead in the Laser in strong winds up to five beaufort. Two starts, two first places - pushing his sparring partner Philipp Buhl from the leading position. Buhl was strong the day before, but now missed some points becoming second and third. 'I am looking forward to the Goldfleet races, when the field is even twice as strong', said Grotelueschen, who praised his sparring partner for being such a strong sailor: 'This was perfect for me. By this comparison with him, I could improve and get as far as this. But I guess, he can say the same thing.'

On her home territory, Franziska Goltz is getting back to her shape from last summer, which she now needs for the Olympics. Placements one, four and two offer her an exciting duel with Tatiana Drozdovskaya (Belarus), who is seventh in the world rankings. Third is Lisa Fasselt from Rostock.

Gerz/Follmann continued the trend of the first racing day, where the 470 sailors became better and better during the day. They could take the lead of a German trio, becoming fifth and first. Having sailed together only one and a half years in the 470, Gerz/Follmann have improved a lot. 'We have always been good in strong winds, now we need the same continuity in light winds', Follmann said happily about the wind conditions on Kieler Woche website