German Tornado Grand Prix at Lake Constance - Overall
by Volker Goebner 27 Jun 2010 19:01 BST
23-27 June 2010
Gentle sailing in the German Tornado Grand Prix © B. Huegelmann / GTGP
Veit Hemmeter and Dominik Halbing are the best German Tornado sailors! The two young sailors form Lindau, the host town for the "German Tornado Grand Prix" (at the same time the German Open), got four bullets in 8 races, sailed in light conditions on the Lake Constance. Three times they crossed the finish line as second team. Only ten points were written on the scoreboard – twelve points less than the Austrian sailors on place two, Michael Schoenleitner and Philipp Rakuschan (UYC Attersee, 22 points). To place three Markus Augstburger (the German Tornado chairman) and Frank Rübel (Munich, 30 points) were sailing. 23 crews from Germany and Austria were competing.
"We had very fair races on the first days. It was great”, resumed race officer Alexander Fundele. On Sunday, the last competition day, he tried again to start a race. But just in time with the start gun the wind dropped down – and it was over. Due to a time limit he had to finish the event. The day before also the wind was too shifty for a Grand Prix race, but in the evening he started the "Speedsailing contest” – see below. The first two days under a blue sky a light and steady breeze from West was blowing with up to 13 knots, mostly only near Lindau Island.
Winner Veit Hemmeter enjoyed the regatta and the success, his first title in the Tornado class. "We had perfect conditions”, he was delighted about weather and wind on "his” lake. Last year Hemmeter/Halbing were sailing to Bronce at the German Open in Hamburg. Winner 2009 was Roland Gaebler. This time he had to settle with place five (next to Sebastian Moser und Thomas Posch from Schluchsee at place 4). "They both have shown perfect races with a brilliant knowledge of this lake”, he said with respect for the winners. The chairman of the International Tornado Association is expecting a comeback of the Tornado or another multihull for the Olympics. "We have seen a strong young generation here in Lindau. They are ready to sail for Gold!”
For the Lindau SC the Grand Prix was a premiere too. The 121 years old club managed the first regatta for the Tornado class, initiated and organized by Veit Hemmeter and his team. "We had fun with uncomplicated and thankful sailors, it was a great succes", said Christine Holz, chairwoman of the LSC.
"Speedsailing" as a successful trial
First time in the framework of a regular Tornado regatta "Speedsailing" was organized. From start to a buoy and back – with simple rules, in front of spectators on shore. Only ten minutes for one races with six competitors. Two groups, two qualifying races and than one final race with the best teams. "It was amazing", enjoyed Roland Gaebler, who had written the concept and was the winner too. "We tacked with genaker – and so we get ahead of two other competitors”, he said. The course was abeam to the wind and the buoy only 50 meters in distance to the clubhouse. Nico Mittelmeier was the onshore commentator – and spectators were excited. "There was a Mexican wave, we could it see from the lake”, Gaebler was enthused. "That’s, what we want to make. Sailing for spectators!”
Final results - 8 races, 1 discard
1. Veit Hemmeter / Dominik Halbing (Lindauer SC/Bayerischer YC), 10 points
2. Michael Schoenleitner / Philipp Rakuschan (UYC Attersee/SCA), 22 points
3. Markus Augstburger / Frank Ruebel (WCL München), 30 points
4. Sebastian Moser / Thomas Posch (SV Schluchsee/SCCh), 39 points
5. Roland und Nahid Gaebler (NRV Hamburg), 40 points
6. Manfred Schoenleitner / Georg Hirsch-Stronsdorf (UYC Attersee), 42 points