The crews of the German Sailing Team were also able to score successfully on the second day of the World Cup Down Under - above all laser helmsman Philipp Buhl in his series off Melbourne. With two daily victories, the 30-year-old Allgäu took over the leadership of the field with 124 boats from 44 countries. "It is seldom that you get the best out of it in one day," said Buhl's trainer Alex Schlonski, praising the concentrated top performance, "after the successful start, Philipp released today and acted confidently." Buhl himself was happy: "That feels really good." After the not that easy 2019 season, he couldn't have started the Olympic year better in those first days of the World Cup.
Happy in the laser: Philipp Buhl
Not only are the two sovereign daily victories themselves remarkable, in the course of which Philipp Buhl was able to extend his lead. The fact that the Sonthofen resident and Australian Matt Wearn was twice the vice world champion and best strong wind sailor of the 2019 season on Wednesday is an outstanding achievement. "I dreamed that a bit," said Buhl with a smile, "the prelude gave me the confidence to do it. Matt is very good, not slow and always there." In winds of twelve to 16 knots, there were hanging conditions for the laser aces. Buhl, who had taken an early lead in both races of the day, was even able to "shift up a gear" as the race progressed. In his prognosis for the coming days, the helmsman from the Norddeutscher RegattVerein remains with both feet on the ground of reality despite the three daily victories in four races: "Tomorrow we still have a qualifying day in probably good winds. Only then will it be like this in the gold fleet really going. " Behind Buhl, after the first four races, Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Bernaz and Croatian Tonçi Stipanoviç are in second and third place.
Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel
On the other side of the Australian World Cup area of Phillip Bay, the Berlin 49er vice world champions Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel continue to sail on the wave of success. The crew from the Norddeutsche RegattVerein won the day on Wednesday, followed by ranks 5 and 3. The bronze medal winners of the 2016 Olympic Games entered the main round as fourth overall with a prospect of medals. National coach Marc Pickel about his protégés: "They show and live humility, devotion and fun." Helmsman Erik Heil said: "It was another solid day for us. So we are still on the right track." Their teammates from Kiel, Justus Schmidt and Max Boehme, catapulted themselves to 14th place after a less successful start with ranks 3, 3 and 4 and also into the gold fleet. All other German 49er crews missed the cut after only two qualifying days and just six races. This was particularly tight for Max Stingele and Linov Scheel from the Kiel Yacht Club, who were missing two points to make it into the top group.
Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel in their 49er in their element
With full physical effort in the race: The defending champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke took the lead in the 49er on the second day of the World Cup
Fast on the way at the World Championships: the skiff sailors Vicky Jurczok and AnikLorenz in the 49erFX
In the 49erFX female class, VictoriJurczok and AnikLorenz from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee association defended their fourth place. "Today we needed a good start," said Vicky Jurczok, "we didn't always succeed. But then we caught up well. That was also an important key today." TinLutz (Holzhausen) and her replacement chopper LottWiemers (Kiel) had to give up their first lead, slipped back to sixth with ranks 19, 10 and 11, but continued to sail within striking distance of the top after the successful start. Paul Kohlhoff / AlicStuhlemmer had to accept a small damper. The Kiel Nacra-17 crew fell back to tenth place in the area in front of Geelong with ranks 14, 3 and 18.
Are in second place after two days of sailing: the prominent siblings Nathan and Haylee Outteridge are fighting for the Australian Olympic starting place. National opponents are the Olympic silver medal winners Jason Waterhouse and LisDarmanin, currently sixth. As for the German sailors, the World Cup marks an important elimination regatt on the Enoshim2020 course for the best from Down Under
The British 49erFX helmsman Charlotte Dobson and the Italian Nacra-17 helmsman Ruggero Tit report on the selection process for the Olympic crews in their home country - an interesting discussion for and against about early and late decisions and the associated advantages for the athletes involved - and disadvantages. The World Cup also marks a crucial week on the Enoshim2020 course for the sailors of the German Sailing Team. For laser ace Philipp Buhl it is already the third and final qualifying regatta. He wanted to be able to concentrate on the Olympics as early as possible without elimination conditions. For the skiff sailors it is the second elimination regatta, which may already have been internally decisive, and the first for the Nacra 17 sailors Paul Kohlhoff and AlicStuhlemmer, who are now unrivaled nationally
Paul Kohlhoff and AlicStuhlemmer in Nacr17 in front of Geelong