Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

International German Championship at Kiel Week comes to a dramatic end

by segler-zeitung.de on 23 Jun 2016
"X-Day“ Max Gurgel (Hamburg) - International German Championship okpress
The International German Championship of the offshore sailors during the Kiel Week did come to an end with a dramatic regatta in a tricky race in the middle of a convergence zone. The yacht crews had to have a feeling for the wind in the end. So the championship did offer all sorts of conditions for the sailors.

In the class ORC III, the 'Bachyachting Racing Team' from Jascha Bach (Netherlands), who was already the set winner, could bring home another victory. In the other two classes, it was tight. There were only 0.2 points between the ORC I winner 'Sportsfreund' (Axel Seehafer, Heiligenhafen/Germany) from the second-placed 'Silva Neo (Dennis Gehrlein, Kiel/Germany). The 'X-Day' from Max Gurgel (Hamburg) did finally become the champion in ORC II after their victory on the last race day.

Race director for the International German Championship Stefan Kunstmann was happy that the risk he took to face the difficult weather scenario was worth it. Because of the tight time schedule, he had decided to start the race, although the pressure areas still had to stabilize.

'So it was tricky for the sailors and they had to accurately read the clouds. But it was not a lottery. If you had the right instinct, you could make quite a bit out of it', said Kunstmann. Altogether the race director experienced the days in Kiel as a worthy championship: For this long distance, which was set in an interesting scenery, strategy and endurance were the key factors for success; in the up and down races, fast and smooth manoeuvres were important. 'It was impressive to see, how well the intense training of the teams in spring paid off. The crews seem to be well prepared for the World Championship in Copenhagen. “



On 'X-Day' from Walter Watermann (Dortmund/Germany) they made every effort to observe the weather in the last race of the ORC II: Strategist Sven Gauter was up on the spreader in the mast until short before the start to find wind patches and thus made a good start possible for his boat. Glider pilot Kai Rohse Brandenburger was also involved in interpreting the cloud pictures. That paid off: 'On the first downwind, we did come back close to 'Sydbank' and passed her on the second', told 'X-Day' helmsman Max Gurgel. Thus the 'X-Day' could keep the 'Sydbank' at a distance also in the overall ranking. The 'Arxes-Tolina BM Yachting' from Peter Beck Mikkelsen (Flensburg/Germany) did end up on the second place of the podium.

Everyone took a deep breath on the yacht 'Sportsfreund' from Axel Seehafer (Heiligenhafen) after they had a look at the list of results. Place three at the end following right after 'Silva Neo' (Dennis Gehrlein) was just about enough for the overall victory. 'Many thanks to the women on 'Tutima', who stayed in front of 'Silva' in the race. Otherwise we would not have made it. It was great to see, how they speeded up in the race.' Having had a strong series of three victories on the up and down races, 'Tutima' had to take rank three in the end. 'We would have needed another day', said helmswoman Kirsten Harmstorf.

After the early title victory of the Dutch 'Bachyachting Racing Team', Knut Freudenberg (Bad Laer/Germany) did manage to get on rank two with his yacht 'Halbtrocken' in ORC III/IV. The ambitions for a medal of the winner from the previous year Juergen Klinghardt (Hamburg) ended in the downwash of the Swedish 'Malin' from Patrik Forsgren.



DSV head of offshore sailing Wolfgang Schaefer was satisfied with the results of the International German Championship. The doctor from Lueneburg had traveled to Kiel to follow the last races. 'Close racing also between gennaker and spinnaker yachts did show, that the formula works', said the skipper of a Farr 40.

After the International German Championship in Kiel, all the champions also have the World Championship in Copenhagen on their schedule. 135 boats have registered for the Worlds in Denmark from 15. until 23. July.

Results International German Championship Offshore

ORC I:
1. 'Sportsfreund“ Axel Seehafer (Heiligenhafen,2.4/2(3)1/2/2/3) points 12.4
2. 'Silva Neo“ Dennis Gehrlein (Schwetzingen,3.6/1/1/2/3(4) 2) points 12.6
3. 'Tutima“ Kirsten Harmstorf (Hamburg,4.8/3 (4)4/1/1/1) 14.8
4. 'Tonnerre de Breskens“ Piet Vroon (NED,1.2(4)2/3/4/3/4)17.2
5. 'Aquis Granus IV“ Rolf-Hendrik Wittenberg (Aachen,7.2/5/5(8)8/8/5) 38.2
6. 'Broader View Hamburg“ Katrin Hilbert (Ratzeburg,6(8)8/8/8/8/8) 46

ORC II:
1. 'X-Day“ Max Gurgel (Hamburg,1.2/4/4/4,5(6)3/1) points 17.7
2. 'Arxes-Tolina BM Yachting“ Peter Beck Mikkelsen (Flensburg,3.6/2/6/4,5/1/2(18)) 19.1
3. 'Sydbank “Torsten Bastiansen (Flensburg,8.4/3/3/2 (4) 1/2) 19.4
4. 'Dockenhuden“ Thomas Jungblut (Hamburg,4.8/5(7)1/2/7/4) 23.8
5. 'Sporthotel“ Karl Dehler (Greifswald,6/6/1/3(7)6/6) 28
6. 'Sirena“ Henrike Soederlund (DEN,9.6/1/2/6/8/4(18)) 30.6

ORC III/VI:
1. 'Bachyachting Racing Team“ Jascha Bach (NED,2.4/1/1/1(3)1/1) points 7.4
2. 'Halbtrocken“ Knut Dr. Freudenberg (Bad Laer,10.8/2/2(3)1/2/2) 19.8
3. 'Malin“ Patrik Forsgren (SWE,13.2/3/3/2/4/4(18)) 29.2
4. 'Patent3“ Henning Tebbe (Hamburg,1.2/4/9/4/6/6(15)) 30.2
5. 'Extreme“ Alstis Kalanavicius (LUT,9.6/5(12)9/8/3/4) 38.6
6. 'Chinook“ Johann Friedrichsen (Flensburg,7.2(11)8/10/7/5/6) 43.2

Sea Sure 2025Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Footer

Related Articles

Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 4
ILCA 6 & 7, Men's & Women's Formula Kite and 470 Mixed Teams Wrap Up The racing for the first 5 classes of the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta wrapped up with a twist in conditions and breeze just to mix it up for the competitors.
Posted today at 5:17 am
Strong start on LA waters for Australian Sailors
A valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta Australia's top Olympic class sailors have wrapped up a valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta in California, gaining firsthand experience at the future venue of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted today at 4:19 am
Last Transpac 2025 Starters are First to Celebrate
Honoring the first of three rounds of trophy winners & celebrating Transpac's bright future The Transpacific Yacht Race celebrated its first Trophy Ceremony for the 2025 edition of this biennial ocean race on Tuesday, July 15, at Waikiki Yacht Club, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Posted today at 2:56 am
Meet the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Commentary Team
Olympian Lisa Darmanin and Rolex Sydney Hobart Winner Jack Macartney to lead live broadcast The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to confirm Olympian Darmanin and 2022 & 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Macartney as the lead commentators for the live broadcast of the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.
Posted on 16 Jul
IMOCAs in the Rolex Fastnet Race
Ocean racing's state of the art One of the most historic and eternally ground-breaking oceanic racing yacht classes is the IMOCA. These 60 footers are the world's most advanced offshore racing monohulls, the class used in the Vendée Globe since its inception in 1989/90.
Posted on 16 Jul
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona summary
Yachts from over 10 countries and around 400 sailors competed off the coast of Barcelona Barcelona's prestigious regatta for Classic and Vintage yachts, the Puig Vela Clàssica, celebrated its 18th edition, further strengthening its position as one of the premier international events for classic sailing in the Mediterranean.
Posted on 16 Jul
SailGP - Fresh breezes predicted
Fresh breezes are forecast the first day of racing in SailGP and the Admirals Cup. With two days remaining to the start of racing in SailGP Portsmouth, the forecast is for fresh breezes on both racedays, which should make for exciting racing.
Posted on 16 Jul
Nominations open for World Sailing Awards 2025
Presentation to be held at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire on 5th November Many of the sport's biggest names will be in attendance at the World Sailing Awards 2025, held on Wednesday 5 November at a gala ceremony at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland.
Posted on 16 Jul
Mackay Bieker BM-V3 dominates at 2025 Moth Worlds
Innovation was on display at the just concluded Moth Worlds across nearly every area of the boat. The 2025 Moth World Championships in Lake Garda delivered thrilling racing across a wide range of conditions, featuring an elite lineup of Olympic champions, America's Cup helmsmen, SailGP stars, and the next group of up-and-coming youth.
Posted on 16 Jul
OK Dinghy World Ranking July 2025
Patric Mure is the new World No.1 Patric Mure has become only the 11th person to reach the top of the OK Dinghy World Ranking list as he takes over the No.1 spot from Australia's Roger Blasse, who drops to fourth. Britain's Andy Davis and Nick Craig move up to second and third.
Posted on 16 Jul