TinLutz and Susann Beucke
Vicky Jurczok and AnikLorenz
Without the corona pandemic, the national Olympic elimination in the women's 49erFX would now be decided. But the final showdown between TinLutz / Susann Beucke (Chiemsee Yacht-Club / Hannoverscher Yacht-Club) leading in the elimination with 28:16 points and the Berlin hunters Vicky Jurczok / AnikLorenz (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) has been postponed indefinitely. A rescheduling for this one of so many still open international qualifications and national competitions is pending in uncertain times. The only thing that is clear is that the results that have been sailed so far will also remain valid for the Olympic Games postponed to summer 2021.
Sanni, the master builder: After weeks of expansion, your own bus is now habitable
This means that laser world champion Philipp Buhl and the 49er World Cup thirds Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel keep their Olympic tickets secured at an early stage in their pockets. But many others now have to wait until regattas are rescheduled and qualification plans have been redone. Nobody can currently say when that will be. "This is an unbelievable situation, but one that also offers opportunities. From a feeling we think that it won't start again before September, October," says 49erFX crew member Susann Beucke. The sailor from Strande used the past few weeks for a personal project and expanded her bus "with electricity, water and all the trimmings" on her own, so that she can and does live in it now. Because her taxwoman TinLutz lives in Innsbruck, is writing her master's thesis there and has since been affected by the Austrian lockdown, the 49erFX duo are currently not training together again. Sports soldier Beucke "occasionally goes out with younger sailors", but from today is mainly preparing for the expansion of the new 49erFX for her team. "We have never had as much time for this as now. It is being developed with a lot of love. The possibilities for this are very good despite the crisis. The DSV at the federal base in Kiel has made a lot possible."
These three top sailors from the Norddeutsche RegattVerein don't have to worry anymore. Erik Heil (left), Philipp Buhl (center) and Thomas Plößel secured their Olympic tickets in the 49er and the laser early on
Using the time of crisis for a personal bus project: Susann Beucke expanding her van, in which she currently lives
The DSV cadre sailors from the German Sailing Team in Kiel-Schilksee can alternately work on land and - thanks to the exemption obtained - on the water, in compliance with the distance and hygiene regulations. Training groups with a maximum of two boats and one trainer are allowed on the water. Like many teammates, Beucke is currently experiencing the dichotomy between the activity demands of a competitive athlete and the limited conditions without regattas, but with plenty of uncertainty. "As an athlete you often think, oh God, you have to keep on training, do something. You always want to plan everything, but that's hardly possible at the moment. Last week I had a very good conversation with our mental trainer, who for example She looks after a number of volleyball players. She only knows two competitive athletes who are currently doing full sport. Everyone else takes it easy. You relax, and that has to be the case. Due to the lack of deadlines, we are currently missing the regatta goals that we would otherwise aim for But that's how it works. And in fact we are currently doing what we usually do on the water: We adapt to new situations as quickly as possible and as quickly as possible, and adjust with new developments."
Susann Beucke noticed "a different, better mood in the country" in her environment. Most of the people around them would have accepted the crisis and were considerate and friendly towards one another. "Of course there are people who have been badly hit in terms of health or finances," says Beucke, "but you can already feel the general effort to get by." For the skiff sailor, the postponement of the Olympic Games by one year harbors another area of tension, because she is considering switching to the mixed offshore discipline that will be added to the Olympic program for 2024. The new program has yet to be sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This decision was originally planned for the end of 2020 after the Olympic Games. It remains to be seen whether it will be postponed. World Sailing President Kim Andersen confirmed to YACHT online that there is no new or different information in this regard. For the time being, Susann Beucke will focus fully on the skiff for another year. The possible Olympic offshore engagement has been postponed. "We can and want to concentrate on one thing as a team, and that is the FX."
Waiting like many for the rescheduling of Olympic qualification regattas: TinLutz and Susann Beucke in the 49erFX
