| TRAVEMÜNDE, GERMANY-(16-7-2003) It’s expected to be spectacular: More than 3,000 sailors from 25 nations will take part in the 114th edition of the Travemuende Week from Friday, 18 July. In 31 classes, they will fight for World and European championships as well as the world rankings in the Bay of Luebeck until Sunday, 27 July. The organizers from Luebecker Yacht-Club (LYC) in the lead, Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) Hamburg and Hamburger Segel-Club (HSC) expect about 1,000 boats to compete on 10 courses. The entry record was set two years ago with exactly 1,010 registered boats in 2001.
„We are happy with the huge international interest and with the world championship of the Hobie 14, we put a special focus on the catamarans this year”, said chief organiser Claus-Dieter Stolze. At least 250 of the fast multihulls will hardly be able to wait on the beach until they can show their potential on the water. “While we do not yet have the final entry lists from the Hobie class, we cannot give proper entry data, but we know that interest is high”, explains Birgit Stamp-Oehme, director of the Travemuende Week. “But the Hobies start in the second half of the week, anyway”.
However, the Olympic catamarans already sail from Saturday (19 July) until Tuesday. In this Pre-Olympic year, the “TW” promises to hold many thrills: All four German Tornado aces will be on the water to underline their ambitions for a ticket to Athens in the 30 boat-strong fleet. The nine-time “TW” winners Helge and Christian Sach from Zarnekau count on their home field advantage, which they will also play in the second half of the Travemuende Week when sailing the Hobie Tiger European championship.
Roland Gaebler, who dominated the tornado scene for years, but took over as coach after the Olympics in Sydney, decided to start a come-back on the water this year and will start in Travemuende with his brand-new partner Gunnar Struckmann. The newly built team just won the 66th Warnemuende Week in front of the Sach brothers (with equal points). Former A-Cat world-champion Nils Bunkenburg has also just formed a new Tornado team with Rasmus Toepsch. Andrew Landenberger and Johannes Polgar are the German team that has already qualified for the Pre-Olympics in August in Athens and they will use Travemuende for a last test before heading to Greece.
With more than 80 boats, the international top sailors in the A-Cat class this year constitute the biggest class. “We are delighted with the high number of entries in this class – it promises wonderful action on the water”, says Claus-Dieter Stolze. The construction class will sail their Open Europeans. Single-handed artists from twelve nations will drive their high-tech catamarans.
Svenja Puls from the Luebeck Yacht-Club won the vice-title in the youth Europeans and the Travemuende Week in the Europe class last year. This year, she has to take a break. After a knee-injury, Svenja is already training again, but competing would be too much for her at the moment. “I am looking forward to the Travemuende Week even so, because I am coaching my sister Janika to prepare her for the youth Europeans in Aarhus, Denmark in August. And the Travemuende Week is always great fun”, says the 18-year old sailor from Ratzeburg. Her 15-year old sister has to face strong competition in the fleet of 20 starters in the Europe class.
Besides the World Championship of the Hobie 14 and three European championships, one will be held by the 29er skiffs, the German match racing championship is one of this year’s sportive highlights. The round robins of the boat against boat fights will start on Thursday, 24 July in Streamline boats. Seven of the German top ten match race sailors are to start in the Travemuende championships. The finals will be held on Sunday, 27 July, when all other classes should already have finished racing. Sailing expert and radio journalist André Keil will comment the match races for the public.
More than 500,000 guests visit the Travemuende Week every year to experience the perfect blend of high class sports and maritime festivities. The colourful shore program includes a variety of music acts and delicious food. Most important: the smallest guests will have a lot of fun. “At Travemuende Week, the “Nestlé-Kinderland” will be stationed in Northern Germany for the very first time”, reports Uwe Bergmann from the organising event agency. “It will be open from Saturday until Monday in the Bruegmanngarten”.
Small people – big dreams. That is the motto in the “Nestlé Kinderland”, touring through Germany since 1998. The programme aims at kids from one to twelve years of age. In several tents they can romp and play, do handicraft and play music – supervised by an experienced team. Highlight of the program is a special musical for kids to be performed in the big theatre tent. The audience will accompany a little girl on a fairy-tale journey into a world of children’s dreams.
Another technical improvement will also be presented at the 114th Travemuende Week: The whole boardwalk has been equipped for wireless-LAN antennas, meaning that every sailor or visitor bringing a notebook can surf the internet or write e-mails without a cable connection. Connecting cards for a day or a week are available in the race office.
Regatta programme of the 114th Travemuende Week 2003
Friday 18.7. start at 14.00, then 11.00 daily
Fr (18.) – Su (20.) Mistral; 14-Footer, Offshore (IRC + ORC)
Sa (19.) – Mo (21.) 505er; Beneteau 25 (North German Championships)
Sa (19.) – Tu (22.) 420er; Europe; Formula 18; Tornado; Streamline; 470er
Sa (20.) – Fr (25.) A-Cat (EM)
Mo (21.) – Fr (25.) Pirat (IDM); Dyas; SZV
We (23.) – Sa (26.) Hobie 14 (WC); Hobie Tiger (EC), Hobie FX One (Euro Cup); Hobie Dragoon (youth training), 29er (EC); Sportsboat (Euro/German Open); Musto Skiff (Euro Cup); Laser; Contender; FD; Korsar
Th (24.) – Sa (26.) Sprinta Sport (German Cup); Folkeboot
Th (24.) – So (27.) IDM Matchrace
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