Record for Melges 24 Europeans-Rolex Baltic Week

by Andreas Kling on 18 Jul 2007 Fast and spectacular but also constant in its value - that is the simple formula for the enormous success of the Melges 24.

World Champions, Olympic medal winners or America's Cup sailors, they are all fascinated by the high-tech yacht that was launched 14 years ago. The class' European elite is going to meet in Neustadt (Germany) on the Baltic Sea for their European Championship during the Rolex Baltic Week (17 through 23 August). The ancora Marina located on the Bay of Luebeck expects more than 300 sailors and about 70 boats only in this class.

Just clicking on the entry list of the Melges 24 on the website 'rolex-baltic-week.com' brings a big smile on Guenter Tzeschlock's face. The President of the German Class Association, living in Eigeltingen near Lake Constance, noticed 56 crews from 14 nations that were registered even a couple of days before the entry deadline. 'That's more than other classes get for a World Championship. And I expect this number to still increase to about 75 boats.'

This will certainly be a new record for Northern Europe for all seven continental championships so far. They've been held bi-annually after 1998. In 2003 there were 51 boats competing in Helsinki, Finland. Two years ago, 50 boats started in Torquay, United Kingdom. 'More teams only register at central locations like Lake Garda,' says Tzeschlock.

But it is not just the quantity that strikes the German head of the class, but also the quality which he regards to be outstanding. There will be the Italian Nicola Celon ('Bete Bossini'), World Champion of 2006, and the French Amateur Champion Cedric de Kervanoael ('Encore'), to name just a few. 'In our class two trophies will be assigned in order to honour the different performances in the fleet of professionals and amateurs - the Giorgio Zuccoli Trophy for the overall winner who is usually one of the professional crews with one or more sailors being paid for their job, and also the Menno Meyer Trophy for the best amateurs,' explains Tzeschlock. He is currently leading the German ranking with his boat 'Ka Nalu Nui' but can't really see the European title within reach for his own amateur team. The trophy is still at Alba Batzill's home. Batzill gained the title two years ago sailing Eddy Eich's 'No Woman No Cry', from Munich, Germany. This year, the guys want to repeat their success on the Bay of Luebeck.

The entry list also includes Flavio Favini, World Champion 2001, who was the helmsman of the Italian Mascalzone Team Capitalia during the America's Cup in Valencia. Moreover Tönu Töniste ('Lenny') from Estonia is listed, who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games 1988 for the Soviet Union sailing with his brother Toomas in the 470 class. In 1992 they won bronze for Estonia. Another top class participant is Lasse Kjus from Norway, usually known as an Olympic and World Champion in skiing. The World Cup winner (17 times) left the alpine circuit in March 2006 to take to sailing. With Lorenzo Bressani from Trieste, Italy, and his 'UKA UKA' a 2005 Champion will return to Neustadt. The multiple World Champion (IMS, J/24) and Italy's Sailor of the Year won the IMS-600 Worlds at the Rolex Baltic Week with 'Movistar'.

With 14 boats registered, Germany is the nation that sends the most participants. The former Tornado World Champion Oliver Schwall from Hamburg sailing 'Rat Pack' will start as well as the newcomer Marcus Brenneke, a former Dragon sailor. Dietrich Scheder-Bieschin from Hamburg, who helped the European Championship being given to the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) Hamburg as organizer, was one of the first entries with 'MACS'.

The high quality of the fleet is not a surprise for Tzeschlock. 'We already had a fantastic event on the Bay of Luebeck when we sailed the Worlds 2002 right after the Travemuende Week. And with the NRV and Rolex as presenter, we are sure that we will be in good hands.' The German head of the class also takes care of the sailors in Austria and Switzerland. Tzeschlock hopes for a boom of the sportsboat sailed with a maximum crew of five. 'The Melges 24 is present in Germany since 1995,' he explains, 'in the beginning nobody seemed to care, but interest increased over the last two years.' 62 boats are registered in the German Association so far. There are more than 750 worldwide. 'For all those who want to compete an international level, the Melges 24 is a must - and so is Neustadt,' says Tzeschlock.

The first race of the European Championship of the Melges 24 will be held on Saturday, 18 August. The day before will see the start of the Rolex Baltic Week with the international Farr 40 class, giving their debut in Germany. The yachts will gather in Neustadt for the last and decisive series of the European Circuit. While the Melges 24 class competes until the last day of the event, the main prize-giving for both classes will already take place during the Rolex crew party on Sunday, 19 August. The party is the highlight of the social events which include the official opening on Friday and the prize giving for the Melges 24 on Thursday (23 August). The venue will be the Mediterranean race village directly at the waterfront in the eastern area of the ancora Marina.

The Rolex Baltic Week is the only regatta event in Germany that is sponsored by Rolex. The international Rolex regatta calendar features profiled events such as the Rolex Fastnet Race starting in August from Cowes, England, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in September in Porto Cervo, Sardinia/Italy, the Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta at the end of October and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race at the end of December in Australia.