NATIONAL REPORT - GERMANY
An active and enthusiastic fleet Germany has the largest fleet of 5.5 Metres worldwide with a very active Classic section as well a smaller number of Evolutions and Moderns. German Class President Kaspar Stubenrauch discusses the recent activities of the class and the latest boat movements.
T
he fleet of 5.5 Metres in Germany comprises 77 boats spread out in 10 regional areas, with 51 Classic boats, 21 Evolution boats and five Modern boats. The biggest active groups can be found in Kiel, Berlin, Hamburg, Tutzing and on Chiemsee. Some 25 boats are active in 5.5 Metre regattas, with additional boats participating in local club racing. 13 boats are awaiting refit or are in restoration, eight boats are currently for sale. In 2019 5.5 GER 107 Striezi (former SWE 64) raced for first time on Kiel Firth (Tom Kyle Pokal) and then joined the boats on Starnberger See at DTYC (Tutzing). 5.5 GER 2 Berlin (former SUI 8) was prepared for racing by Odin Grupe, and then joined the regatta activities on Starnberger See (Tutzinger Halbe), in Berlin (Willi Lehmann Preis and Berliner Bär) and even went to Cannes (French
Open/Regates Royales), then finding its new home in Berlin at VSaW (Wannsee). 5.5 GER 17 (former NED 29) Sünnschien from Kiel, the G 17 Olympic 1968 participant in Acapulco, came out of a long restoration period, now being in ‘condition as new’, restarted its racing activity at Sünnschien Preis in Hamburg. 5.5 GER 102 Paula (former SUI 152) joined the regatta scene and is ready to race, on her trailer in northern Germany. 5.5 GER 81 changed owners and found its way out of semi-racingretirement, being now, together with GER 94, prepared for future regatta sailing. In the autumn, 5.5 SUI 229 Momo was delivered by Wilke for its first regatta in Thun (veni, vidi, vici) and it can be expected as GER 109 at European and World Championships. The German 5.5 Metre Class Association had for 2019 chosen four key regattas (counting for the annual perpetual trophies in the categories), the German Open at FSC on Flensburg Firth, the Tutzinger Halbe at DTYC on Starnberger See, the Berliner Bär at VSaW on Wannsee and, closing the season, the Sünnschien-Preis at NRV on the Alster Lake in Hamburg. The most important local events were Bronia Preis in Hamburg, Willi Lehmann Preis in Berlin and Tom Kyle Pokal on Kiel Firth. At their home clubs GER 5.5s have been active in weekly evening club racing in Flensburg, Kiel, Hamburg, Berlin and Tutzing. Regatta promotion is in the hands of our regional Right: GER 69, GER 55 and GER 101 at the 2020 World Championship in Newport • Left: GER 99 at BOOT
32 • fivepointfive • april 2020
