German 18 Foot Skiff
Tour 2011 - Round 1 |
By Frank Quealey, the Australian 18 Footers League. |
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Photos by the courtesy
of the German 18ft Skiff Association
edited By Peter Andrews. |
Sunday, May 22, 2011. |
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Skippered by Philipp Nocke and crewed by Paul Wiebel and Julius Adomeit, Berlin Syndikat won a closely fought Round One of the German 18ft Skiff Tour 2011 in Southern Germany. With defending champion, the Liberty Sailing Team from Hungary not there to defend their title, a fleet of ten German teams contested the 12-race regatta over three days. |
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Fleet action, during Round 1 of the German 18 Foot Skiff Tour 2011.
Photo © the German 18ft Skiff Association.
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The weather forecast for day one was for a breeze between 4 to 16 knots, so the chance was there for every team to show their potential.
After the first day’s racing of four races, two Berlin teams Berlin Syndikat and Norbert Peter’s Magic Marine jointly led the point score. Forced to retire from the last race after destroying their pole in a capsize was EuroLink, another fancied competitor skippered by interim helm Mike Keser. |
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The Magic Marine crew in action at Round 1 of the German 18 Foot Skiff
Tour 2011.
Photo © the German 18ft Skiff Association.
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The following day brought lighter and tricky conditions that saw the fleet waiting ashore until signalled onto the water. When the fleet finally got out onto the course, four more races were shared between EuroLink who were back after the previous day’s capsize and Berlin Syndikat; resulting in both teams becomming equal at the top of the leader board. |
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A near capsize for EuroLink, at Round 1 of the German 18 Foot Skiff Tour
2011.
Photo © the German 18ft Skiff Association.
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Magic Marine broke her forestay and missed the third race, as her crew had to go back to the club and rebuild their rig. But after the repair were complete, the skiff struggled perform up to its previous standard.
On the final day, the wind was between 5 to 12 knots for the showdown between EuroLink and Berlin Syndikat. Both teams were competitive from the start, but the final decision only came just 100 metres from the finish on the last downwind leg. |
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The round 1 winner, Berlin Syndikat, during Round 1 of the German
18 Foot Skiff Tour 2011.
Photo © the German 18ft Skiff Association.
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EuroLink was leading in extremely light winds and went for the left side of the course to try and gain extra wind along the shore, while Berlin Syndikat chose the lakeside outer loop to get fresh breeze. This move proved to be more successful and Berlin Syndikat took the race and the title. |
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The Berlin Syndikat team with their trophy after Round 1 of the
German 18 Foot Skiff Tour 2011.
Photo © the German 18ft Skiff Association.
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More information, photographs and videos can be found at www.flying18s.com and www.18footers.com.au.
Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League www.flying18s.com. |
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Outimage and the
Australian 18 Footers Leaguea © 2011 |