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Sailing where possible – and a bit of racing
G
iven the actual circumstances, quite a bit of the racing planned for 2020 had to be cancelled. However 5.5m Metre sailors in Germany gathered for sailing, where possible, whether for improving equipment on board, trying new sails or introducing new boats which had been added to the local fleet. With the arrival of GER 110 (ex NOR 51), GER 111 (ex FIN 46), GER 112 (ex NED 28), GER 113 (ex SUI 73) and GER 115 (ex NED 15) mainly the waters of Kiel and Berlin were made subject to testing events. To these, also sailors new to the Class were invited. Our regional 5.5m specialists are arranging “TEST it NOW” events, in order to grow interest in the boats. The most recent boat arrivals in Germany have been SUI 148, to become GER 114 and SUI 79, to become GER 117. GER 40 (AUT sail# tbd) and GER 89 (now AUT 22) were sold to Austria and will help growing the racing fleet there. In August then the first and only regatta of the year took place. Norddeutscher Regatta Verein in Hamburg arranged the Sünnschien Preis for the 5.5 Metres on the Alster Lake. Bright sunshine and good wind provided a nice environment, right in the middle of Hamburg. The daughter of Rudolf ‘Rudi’ Harmstorf (Olympic Sailor with G 17 in Acapulco), presented the perpetual trophies, which Rudi had donated, to the winners. In September it was just cruising for most of us. The main event in the Germany racing calendar for 2021 will be the German Open at the end of August, at Verein Seglerhaus
Kaspar Stubenrauch latest developments in
provides an update on the
Germany.
Left: Ali Baba in Thun • Above: New arrivals in Germany: GER 110-115 • Top: GER 69 Arunga VIII being sailed as GER 69 in Pittwater in 2020 am Wannsee (VSaW), in Berlin. VSaW will be hosting the regatta from the 27-29 of August, Race Courses will be laid out on Wannsee and Havel. Boats returning from the Worlds in Norway can ask for intermediate storage. Drop off the boat and return end of August, for the races. The regatta will be count for the ‘5-Nations-Cup’. Registration is already open online on manage2sail. The VSaW Clubhouse is one of the most impressive Yacht Club clubhouses in Germany. The restaurant is very much recommended.
APRIL 2021 • fivepointfive • 61
