Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 TOP

Helge and Christian Sach, German Tornado champions

by Andreas Kling on 24 Jul 2008
The Bay of Luebeck in the Baltic Sea was very flat for a long time on Wednesday and any racing on the fifth day of the 119th Travemuende Week had to wait until the later afternoon. The International German Championship of the still Olympic Tornado class was decided without any further races.

Helge and Christian Sach from Zarnekau, Germany became International German Champions and celebrated their 14th Travemuende Week victory. 'Silver' went to Martin Rusterholz and Sebastian Moser from Switzerland.

'We are very happy to finish with a clear first place having scored five bullets in five races', said helmsman Helge Sach, 'but we would have liked to challenge our competitors once more'. The last possible starting time was declared for 2 p.m. and as the wind never showed up until then – the championship was decided without further races.

For Helge Sach it was a good demonstration that the fast and spectacular catamaran class had been taken out of the Olympic program only by a big mistake. 'I think we again showed spectacular manoeuvres and made quite clear that the wrong class was thrown out. Our races were fantastic, especially in strong winds.' A very controversial decision by the International Sailing Federation ISAF decided that no multihull class will be presented in the Olympic Games in 2012 in Weymouth, Great Britain.

'We Tornado sailors need to show with ongoing activities that we want to get back into the Olympic program', he added. 38 teams from seven nations in Travemuende were a good start to reach this goal. Helge Sach will be flying to Qingdao, China in August to present the interests of the International Tornado Association (ITA) and do some lobbying. 'Our interests have not been presented enough up to now, otherwise this decision would not have been possible', Sach said.

The political discussions had been put aside, when two mayors sailed a match race against each other on Wednesday in the inner waters of Travemuende on the river Trave. It was the First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Ole von Beust, who won the match against defender Bernd Saxe, Mayor of the Hanseatic City of Luebeck. The winner of the traditional Rotspon Cup receives a six litre bottle of red wine and all the honour. The head of the government of Hamburg steered his dragon to a 2:1 victory. And he agreed to start again in the 120th anniversary of the Travemuende Week next year. 'It was a great atmosphere and I am happy to sail again next time', von Beust said.

The first race in the 470 class that will not lose its Olympic status in 2012 went to the Danish team Henriette Koch and Lene Sommer, followed by Jan-Jasper Wagner and Lennart Scheufler from Berlin, Germany. Daria Blaschkiewitz and Kerstin Beucke (Luebeck, Germany) became third.

In the 420 fleet Anna Goryszewska/Wiktoria Szmit from Poland scored a bullet, with Fabian Boerger/Swantje Kopetsch from Luebeck, Germany coming up second. The team from Berlin Axel Oberemm and Gerd Linnemann could win the first race in the Korsar class.

The 119th Travemuende Week will see 15 classes on the water on Thursday (24 July) and sailing can be watched on all six courses. The wind should pick up earlier on the six day of racing, says the weather forecast.
Maritimo S SeriesAllen Dynamic 40 FooterMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship preview
This year's regatta will be the largest of its kind ever hosted in Tallinn Tallinna Yacht Club brings one of the biggest sports events of the summer to Haven Kakumäe - 300 young sailors expected at the Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship, plus just as many supporters on shore!
Posted today at 3:00 pm
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water.
Posted today at 12:28 pm
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted today at 10:36 am
Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run.
Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul