Kieler Woche for the Platu 25 German fleet

by Sabrina Bonaiti on 24 Jun 2011 Kieler Woche. Less than one month after the 2011 World Championship in Gmunden, on the Traunsee Lake, Austria, here we are with another important appointment for the Platu 25 class.

From today to Sunday, the Platu 25 fleet, composed of just German boats, is taking part in the Kieler Woche, one of the most appreciated and famous regattas all over Europe. The Olympic classes had already concluded their competition yesterday, and today it’s the International Classes’ turn. So 29er, 290erXX, 420, 505, Contender, Dragon, Europe, Flying Dutchman, Folkeboat, Formula 18, H-Boat, Hobie 16, J 24, Musto Performance Skiff and OK-Dinghy will race contemporary to Platu 25.

Twenty two Platu 25 gathered on the start line. Among them there are very competitive crews like 'Falkone'. Owned by Cornelius Heeschen and helmed by Falko Knabe, with Ole Von Studnitz as a tactician, 'Falkone' has just conquered the third step of the podium in the Platu 25 World Championship in Gmunden. All the members of the crew in Kiel are at home. All of them, indeed, come from North Germany. Cornelius Heeschen, Falko Knabe and Ole Von Studnitz are from Hamburg, Frank Wegener (Cockpit) from Kiel and Thorben Nowak (Bow) from Lübeck.

Another boat that must not be understimate is 'Kyra' helmed by Lars Bähr, he is German Champion 2010 and leader of the German ranking list in 2009 and 2010. In Gmunden 'Kyra' managed very well conquering the fourth position behind 'Falkone' (just 2,3 points back). Also 'Murtfeldt managed very well during the Worlds (it concluded 10th, third of the German boats)..Murtfeldt' helmed by André Teutenberg. arrived third at the last Kiel Week and it is third in the 2010 German ranking list.

Another very competitive team is 'Farrbar' helmed by Jens Ahlgrimm. 'Farrbar' collected a lot of podiums in the last years, and it was second in the 2010 German ranking list. There are also strong crews that didn’t take part to the Worlds. For example 'Flexi' of Florian Spalteholz with the Swiss Lukas Gerig on board.

What about the Platu 25 defender? In 2010 the Swiss 'Sailart team' won the Kieler Woche in the Platu 25 class . This year the boat and the team are not racing in Kiel. Markus Sigrist, one of the members of the Swiss crew, is taking part to the Kieler Woche but on board of another boat. He is at main, on board of 'Randale' – second place in the 2010 Kieler Woche - helmed by Ingo Lochman. Markus Sigrist was also the tactician on board of the recent Platu 25 World Championship 'Euz II Monella Vagabonda' helmed by Sandro Montefusco. He brought very good luck to Montefusco and to the owner Francesco Lanera.

Also Lukas Gerig was on board of the Italian 'Euz II' and he was also among the 2010 Kieler Woche winners on board of the Swiss'Sail art Team'. Let’s see if Lukas Gerig and Markus Sigris we’ll repeat the success with Florian Spaltehotz and Ingo Lochman.

Kieler Woche website
Platu 25 website