04.07.2008 - Container packing
The container bringing our boats to Canada is packed. I won't see my boat for the next four weeks. It is not too bad as a lot of work for uni wants to be done. The exams are coming up and there is a lot I have to catch up.
On 3rd August Christoph E, and me are flying off to Canada, We will probably start our training there on the 5th. Hopefully it is enough time before the worlds to feel good in the boat again and get used to the local conditions!
03.07.2008 - 3rd at German nationals
This time I unfortunatelly lost to Soren Andreasen, who was much more consistent during the series with a worst score of a 4th. After covering me and sailing me back in the last race I even dropped down to 3rd, just behind Marco Versari from Italy.
Again Soren and me had (like Kiel week) a very hard and close fight. I won 4 out of 9 races, but scored a few very bad results I had to take in the overall score as there was only one discard.
I am still happy to see Soren winning this regatta as he really deserves it to win a major event like this one. I think we both have improved a lot through out the year. Hopefully enough to threaten the current world champion Marcus Hamilton from Australia at the upcoming worlds in Kingston/Canada in August this year.
25.06.2008 - I won Kiel week!!
After a close match race in the last race with my training partner Soren Andreasen I won Kiel week for the first time!!
We both had equal results. I just won the last race and so I was the overall winner of the regatta.
From start to finish we were very close and had several place changes between us far in front of the rest of the fleet. After a tacking duel on the finishing beat I was happy to be the winner. Third was Jacob Lunding from Denmark.
light wind at the Europeans in Italy
31.05. - 07.0.2008 - European Championship
The 2008 International Contender European Championships took place at Punta Alta , Tuscany in Italy from the 31st May through to the 7th June.
The regatta was held at the PuntAla Camping Resort who catered for the 92 competitors from all over the world including Australia , Austria , Canada , Denmark , Germany , Holland , Italy , Spain , Switzerland and the UK . The fleet was split into 2 fleets, who had to qualify for gold and silver fleet.
I started as the current and defending European champion. The beginning of the event was quite alright for me. I had a great practice race and a pretty good first day finishing 2nd and 3rd in the opening races. But after that I dropped back with two bad results on the second day. At least I could win the following race, which brought me back to the top guys. On the next day after a bad 22nd my dream of defending the title was totally buried. I even fell out of the top ten. On the last day I had another bad result, but could manage to get back in the top 10, because a few of the other top guys did even worse.
The wind during the week was mainly light. I had some bad starts and not the best boatspeed, so that it was difficult for me to catch up again. Finishing in the top 10 was my minimum goal, so I cannot say that I am unhappy.
New European Champion is Giovanni Bonzio from Italy, who sailed a really consistent series and really deserves to win. Second was the current worldchamp from Australia Marcus Hamilton, just in front of contender legend Andrea Bonezzi. Congratulations to Giovanni!
1 |
ITA 47 | Giovanni Bonzio | 21 |
| 2 | AUS 2323 | Marcus Hamilton | 22 |
| 3 | ITA 11 | Andrea Bonezzi | 24 |
| 4 | GBR 2421 | Gary Langdown | 31 |
| 5 | DEN 44 | Sören Andreasen | 34 |
| 6 | GBR 701 | Stuart Jones | 39 |
| 7 | GBR 702 | Matt Aston | 41 |
| 8 | ITA 99 | Marco Versari | 42 |
| 9 | GBR 720 | Graham Scott | 43 |
| 10 | GER 551 | Christoph Homeier | 62 |
30.05.2008 - On the way to the Europeans
Currently I am on the way to the Europeans in Punta Ala in Italy. Last night I stayed at my parents' place and today I am going down to Italy. Hopefully I arrive this evening.
The first race is on Tuesday. For race results, watch the link to the Europeans!!
26.05.2008 - European Champs coming up soon!
Next week on Tuesday the European Championships are starting in Punta Ala in Italy. After another training session last weekend in Copenhagen I hope I am prepared to defend the title.
21.05.2008 - 2008 Dutch National Champ
I am glad to say that I am the new Dutch National Champion. Last weekend I could manage to win 5 out of 6 races, what was more than enough to win the championship. Dirk Lafloe from the Netherlands went into second place with strong wind specialist Jan Haanstra 3rd. My trainingspartner Christoph Engel finished 7th and won the title for the best junior (under21)
The conditions were mostly medium to strong winds, which were very shifty.
12.05.2008 - 2nd in Kerteminde
Last weekend I sailed at the "Sail Extreme" event in Kerteminde in Denmark. It was a very close battle between Jacob Lunding from Kopenhagen, one of my Danish training partners, an me. He just got a new Bonezzi boat and was really fast. On Saturday the first start was at 10am. The conditions were light and choppy. Besides it was sunny and we had the typical sea breeze situation.
Jacob won the first two races, until I could fight back in the third one. After that the wind picked up a bit. I managed another second and won the last race after a hard battle against Jacob and Jens Langendorf at the finishing beat.
Yesterday on Sunday we only sailed one more race. The wind was extremely light, but I think the conditions were still fair. The top group was really close together. Jacob scored another second place and I finished 5th and secured my second place overall. Jens Langendorf, who won the last race, got 3rd.
Actually I am quite happy with this result, because I always used to have problems in the lighter stuff. But here I did quite alright. Even with having Jacob Lunding, Jens Langendorf, Max Billerbeck and "Schappi" Harpprecht as well-known light wind specialists as my opponents.
Next weekend Christoph Engel and I are driving to Workum in Holland to compete at the Dutch Nationals.
01.05.2008 - First regatta postponed
Unluckily I could not compete at lake Duemmer last weekend. Just when unpacking the boat I realized that my spreader's ajustment at the mast were broken. So I spent the last days fixing it. Congratulations to Max Billerbeck, who won the event. Now I am really keen on "Sail Extreme" in Kerteminde in two weeks. Hopefully I will have more luck then!
25.04.2008 - First Event of the year
Tomorrow the first event of the year is starting at lake Duemmer in mid Germany. That is the location where I won my second German national title last year at the same time. I am looking forward to competing in this event. At the moment there are over 20 entrants. Unfortunatelly the wind forecast is not the best at this stage. Very light wind is expected. But we will see what we will get.
A detailed report will be written by the beginning of next week!
15.04.2008 - Europeans 2008
Already over 120 boats on the entry list for the Europeans!! All the big names are coming. Defending the title won't be easy!
15.04.2008 - My profile on the worlds website
Recently my profile was uploaded to the website of the 2008 Worldchampionship in Kingston/Canada. Check it out! Worlds 2008 Canada homepage
12.04.2008 - Wicked waves!
The last two days on the water were just awesome. Easterly winds up to 25 knots and massive waves. It was so much fun sailing out there.
Today it was totally different. The wind was a light to moderate Southwesterly. It was great though. Unfortunatelly my sparring partner Christoph Engel broke one of his tack sticks so that we couldn't go on with our tacking training. We did some long distances sailing instead. I already gave Christoph my magic glue box so that he can fix everything till tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be another day on the water. The forecast says it should be similar to today. I am looking forward to some more serious training on the water and hope for heaps of more wicked waves! Maybe by the end of the week!!
Happy sailing, Christoph
17.03.2008 - New pics online
I am happy to show some photos from this year's season start. You can see them in my photo gallery! The last days on the water were mostly quite light in wind strength. But it was fun though. It feels so good to go for a sail again regularly.
The harbour is still empty but soon it will be filled up with heaps of boats again!
01.03.2008 - My Site in English!!!
Recently I was asked to make my website also in English, so that I can write some articles about my 2008's sailing tour. Well, here we are! It was some work to do, but it should help both the contender class and my sponsors and supporters. I am really happy to have MUSTO and FSE Robline as partners for my 2008 campaign.I will also use Wavelength sails from Graham Scott again, my CST Mast, my Bonezzi Boat and my Schappi foils - not to forget my boom built by Karsten Kraus!
I am sure my family, my friends and my girlfriend Mirja will support me. It is good to know there are always people to rely on.
My first event this year will be the Leineweber Pokal at Lake Duemmer, where I won the German Nationals last year. I have been sailing there a couple of times, so it will be the perfect start for the year.
The highlights for 2008 will be the European Championship in Punta Ala in Italy and the Worlds in Kingston in Canada. I hope that I will have the skills to defend my European Title and I am really looking forward to the Worlds in Canada. I was not happy with my result at the Medemblik Worlds last year, where I finished 9th. My goal is to do much better than there and to finish at least in the top 3. Heaps of work will be done by then.
Many reports will follow on this side throughout the year. I hope everybody will enjoy reading them! Best sailing,
Christoph
