Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
September 10, 2021Kiel showed its true colors this morning in the first of two races, thanks to which the 2021 Star World Championship is officially valid. And if that wasn't big news – given the slow start of the event – after today’s two races and thanks to a brilliant scorecard (4, 1, 1, 1, 2) we can also announce the winners with a day to spare: Diego Negri (ITA) and Frithjof Kleen (GER) are the 2021 Star World Champions!!
“It is unbelievable, a dream come true", commented a very emotional Diego Negri, who has been a three-time runner-up at the Star Worlds. "And today was a tough day with rain and clouds around. Towards the end the wind dropped a lot so I was really, really afraid that it would be cancelled and it would have been too much to take in, but luckily we made it to the finish line”.
“It’s been a long way to come to this finish line. All my sailing history is coming together here, today. I think it was a tough championship, with some waiting in the beginning, and then two long races per day, trying to keep the focus at all times. But it’s great, and it came in a good moment in my sailing career. I don't know what I could have done better this week, I knew that we had to do something special to beat the other guys, Mateusz and Bruno, Xavier and the others, and I think Frithjof and I really did something special. We’ve prepared hard for this, with Werner Fritz helping us, coming out so many times with us on Lake Garda, always trusting us, and then thanks to Folli who gave me this amazing beautiful girl, I love her!! I named her ‘21’ because she arrived after the pandemic in 2021, and she is a winner like in blackjack, where 21 is the winning number. So she will now be my baby forever. Special thanks go to my family, of course, especially my wife, without her, there would be no chance I could have done any of this. Thanks to everyone!”
“This is not my first Star World Championship, but it feels more special than the other one”, said a very touched Frithjof Kleen. “The biggest dream for me was to bring Diego here, to win this. This is what makes it so special. Only one downside, I won’t be able to make fun of him anymore, I used to tell Diego to look up on the mainsail, that he had ‘only’ a silver star, while I had a gold one, so he should be listening to me. Now we have two golds, and I'm happy for that. Tonight we’ll celebrate, and forget the diet for one year at least!!”
While the Italian /German duo enjoys their victory, for the rest of the 83-boat fleet, the game is still on and with the throw-out coming in place today things have changed for many teams.
Race four started rough, with wind up to 15 knots, chop and rain. It was the effect of a front going through in the not too distant, and it resulted in a few breakages and undesired trips back ashore for some of the teams. But the weather calmed down after the first leg and the fleet was back sailing with 8 knots of south/southwesterly breeze and flat sea. Diego Negri and Frithjof Kleen have been leading throughout the whole race, with Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada chasing from behind getting closer and closer. They were about one boat-length apart on the finish line. Fourth win for Negri/Kleen and a statement from the reigning World Champion, they are back. In third place crossed the Star Class President Hubert Merkelbach with Kilian Weise (GER), and in fourth Xavier Rohart (FRA) with Ante Sitic (CRO).
Race two started with a promising wind from the same direction of race one. 7/8 knots breeze made it for a nice clean start, and it lasted for the first two legs, with the duel between Kusznierewicz /Prada and Negri/Kleen starting back, with the former leading the battle this time. It was more and more about them, with the rest of the fleet far behind. On the second upwind, and while the Polish/Brazilian were extending their lead over the Italian/German, the wind was literally dying. It went down to 4 knots and there wasn’t much the Principal Race Officer Mandus Fleese could do, other than moving the gate and shortening the fifth and last leg. With the Star Worlds title hanging on the time limit, the tension was palpable, but within the three-hour limit Kusznierewicz/Prara crossed the line, assuring Diego Negri and Frithjof Kleen – who were right behind them – the so longed Star World Championship.
Now the focus shifts to the challenge for second. Kusznierewicz / Prada are second tonight with 12 points, and Hans Spitzauer and Christian Nehammer (AUT) in third, just seven points short, and only one point behind there is the Tokyo Laser Silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic with Tudor Bilic (CRO) in fourth. So it will be a battle tomorrow for who crosses first on that last race’s finishing line. The start is set as scheduled for 10:30.
Author: Hermann Hell - July 22, 2021The Star Class World Championship returns to Kiel. After 1939, 1966, 1977 and 1993, the world's best keelboat sailors will compete in the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein to crown their world champions. Due to the postponement of Kiel Week to September 4-12, the World Championships (September 4-11) have been integrated into it and the Junior World Championships (August 31-September 3) have been docked in the run-up to it.
"We are very pleased to host the Star Class World Championship with us," said Head of Organization of the Kiel Week regattas and the Kiel Yacht-Club, Dirk Ramhorst. Most recently, former Star World President, DSV President and KYC Commodore Dierk Thomsen, who passed away in 2020, had brought a Star European Championship to Kiel. "It was his boat, his class, we will remember him at the event," Ramhorst said.
And Thomsen, who has repeatedly advocated the star boat as an Olympic class, would have been delighted with this world championship, because the participating sailors demonstrate the unique importance of the almost seven-meter-long two-handed keelboat: A touch of the America's Cup, Ocean Race and Olympics will blow through Schilksee when the currently registered 50 crews from 13 nations compete in Kiel.
The longest distance recorded the Argentinian crew Juan Kouyoumdijan/Fernando Rivero, who, however, live in Italy. Kouyoumdjian (born 1971) is a successful sailor and designer of racing and cruising yachts worldwide. The Argentine gained his first America's Cup experience with the French team Le Défi in 1995, and was a member of the design team for BMW ORACLE Racing in the 32nd edition of the America's Cup. In 2020, he moved to the Italian team Prada. However, Kouyoumdjian's greatest successes to date have come with his designs for the Volvo Ocean Race. He designed the winning yacht for three editions of this regatta: "ABN AMRO 1", winning yacht in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006, "Ericsson 4", winning yacht in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, and "Groupama 4", winning yacht in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012.
Personally, he always remained faithful to the star boat. At the European Championship in Croatia, Kouyoumdijan/Rivero finished fourth.
The European Championship title was awarded to Enrico Chieffi/Ferdinando Colaninno (Italy). Chieffi took part as navigator in the Louis Vuitton Cup, the qualifying round for the America's Cup (1992 and 2000), and has thus already had a taste of America's Cup atmosphere. The Italian has also gained Olympic experience (1984 and 1996). Therefore, Chieffi is automatically one of the favorites ahead of Kiel.
In Croatia, Chieffi relegated Hubert Merkelbach/Kilian Weise from Überlingen to second place. In Kiel, the European Champion and the Vice-European Champion will meet again. The newly crowned German champions Merkelbach/Weise were four points behind the European champions. No wonder Hubert Merkelbach, Star Class President and dethroned European Champion, is looking forward to the revenge - even if it will be a tough task. "Top ten is realistic, everything else depends on the performance on the day," says Merklebach cautiously. The 58-year-old has only been sailing together with Kilian Weise (27) since last year. "The communication on board is right. Kilian brings the young, dynamic element on board, I can bring in the routine," says Merkelbach, who hopes that the field of participants will still grow. The pandemic has especially stymied overseas entries. "We're still recruiting in the U.S. and South America. I expect some last-minute entries," says the class president. 60 to 70 crews are still expected to enter by the entry deadline on August 7.
In May, the bronze medal was awarded to Cuban-born Augie Diaz, now a U.S. citizen, who competed in the Barcadi Cup in Miami, USA, as well as in the European Championships with "reserve crew" and finished third on both occasions. Whereas at the European Championships it was the Austrian Hans Christian Nehammer, in the USA Marcus Koy stepped into Diaz's star.
Koy, a sailing professional born in Wedel, will now have to do without his side job as a co-presenter and expert on Kieler WocheTV, but with his Danish helmsman Jörgen Schönherr, the two-metre man is one of the favorites on the fjord. In March, at the traditional Barcadi Cup, he demonstrated that the Star boat crew is familiar for him. The local hero Augie Diaz faced a situation without his Brazilian crewmember, and Koy's regular helmsman Schönherr was not allowed to enter the country due to the pandemic. So the multiple Snipe and Star World Champion (2016) and the multiple German Champion came together and won bronze right away.
At the European Championship in Croatia, Marcus Koy climbed back on board with Schönherr, but had to settle for rank ten. On his home waters, Koy is now setting his ambitions higher again. He has already had a taste of the America's Cup and was a crew member of the United Internet Team Germany in the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007. After that, the North Sails consultant concentrated on the Star and has already won three European Championship titles with three different helmsmen - with Robert Stanjek (2008), Johannes Polgar in 2010 and Hubert Merkelbach (2014).
But the list of favorites at the Star World Championship is even longer. Chieffi's compatriot Mario Borroi - with whom Frithjof Kleen (2008 Olympic sixth) once achieved victories - with Edward Wight on the board, the Swiss crew Piet Eckert/Frederico Melo as European Championship eleventh-placed, last year's European Championship third-placed, Johann Spitzauer/Hans-Christian Nehammer from Austria, and the seven-boat-strong Danish fleet around Jörgen Schönherr are also expected to play a role in the awarding of medals.
The entrance of strong men
After the Finn's Olympic elimination, big, weightier men lack an Olympic boat class. Germany's best Finn sailors Phillip Kasüske (VSaW) and Max Kohlhoff (NRV) therefore ended their Olympic ambitions and are now trying the former Olympic two-man keelboat. Max Kohlhoff has entered with Ole Burzinski for the Junior World championship. Kasüske, who just won the Ocean Race Europe from Lorient/France via Cascais/Portugal and Alicante/Spain to Genoa/Italy with skipper Robert Stanjek (Star boat Olympic sixth in 2012 in London) as grinder on board the "Einstein" (IMOCA of Offshore Team Germany/owner Jens Kupahl), will compete with the experienced crew Michael Schulz at the Junior Worlds as well as at the World Championships. Kasüske/Schulz have already shown at the International German Star Championship (IDM) in June as sixth that they can compete and sail in the class.
Jan Borbet/Jesper Spehr (third in the IDM) are also in action in Kiel. The former successful 420 sailor from Remscheid Borbet was joined by Jesper Spehr (Malente-Gremsmühlen) as crew. "Our goal must be to attract new blood to the class," says Helge Spehr, head of the Kiel Star fleet, who sees youth development as the biggest challenge. With his son Jesper, the efforts to attract young talent have already fallen on fertile ground. At the IDM in June, the son placed nine places ahead of his father. "A total of five junior crews have placed in the top ten," says international class boss Hubert Merkelbach, who is also pleased with Germany's young talent.
In the Junior World Championship, the helmsman must be under 30 years old. The program only works through sponsorship. "This includes boat, support and coaching opportunities," says Merkelbach, who emphasizes the North German commitment based in Flensburg around Robert Stanjek, but he also looks to Austria. There, ten junior crews have already been found through the non-profit campaign "Future-Stars". Star owners provide their keelboats and support the juniors with knowledge and manpower. The former Olympic boat class (since 1932 with interruptions until 2016) shows possible ways in the development of young sailors, which also includes Junior Championships such as the World Championships in Kiel.
The Star Class World Championships and the Junior World Championships are supported by the state capital Kiel, the state of Schleswig-Holstein and the partners Heinz Nixdorf-Verein, Helly Hansen, Heineken and Voigt-Logistik.
Hermann Hell
Author: Rachele Vitello - September 11, 2021The 2021 Star World Champions who won the event yesterday at the end of Race 5, Diego Negri (ITA) and Frithjof Kleen, have sailed a flawless series and topped everyone else in the 83-boat fleet. They opted for not racing today and left the field free to the teams fighting for the Star Worlds podium. And it proved to be quite a battle, first of all with their nerves.
18 boats were spotted over the starting line early in the second general recall of race six with a black flag hoisted, and for this they were disqualified. A heavy burden for a few, already discarding a high result in their scorecard. They all presented a request for redress, but the jury rejected all but one. Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada were granted redress by the International Jury but due to their first UFD, it didn’t help much in their hunt for a place in the spotlight.
On the water, the fight for the medals was decided between the Austrians Johann Spitzauer and Hans-Christian Nehammer (AUT) and Olympic silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic with Tudor Bilic (CRO). The 2017 Star World Champion Eivind Melleby (NOR) with Guy Thomas Avellon (USA) and Denmark's Jörgen Schönherr, who had three-time European Champion Markus Koy (GER) onbord, were also still in the game.
While Schönherr and Melleby got off to a good start in the race, Spitzauer and Stipanovic had to work their way through the field after a slow start. By the second lap however, the Austrians and Croatians had caught up to such an extent that they were already on course for the medal. Schönherr/Koy led the field ahead of Melleby/Avellon and crossed the finish line in the same way, but the points gap in the overall standings was too high to make it onto the podium.
Spitzauer/Nehammer would have needed a top result directly behind the Croatians to win silver in the final race. And for a long time they had the best cards in their hands. But then Laser ace Tonci Stipanovic, in his first World Championship appearance in the Star boat, pulled off a winning move on the final cross. While Spitzauer/Nehammer went to the left side, Stipanovic/Bilic tacked to the right in the middle of the finish and found the right wind to pass the Austrians. The Americans Benjamin Sternberg/Stuart MacIntosh tipped the scales: they were also overtaken by Stipanovic, but had Spitzauer in their wake. Exactly this result was enough for the Croatians to win silver ahead of the Austrians. Behind them in the overall standings were Jörgen Schönherr/Markus Koy, Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada and Eivind Melleby/Guy Thomas Avellon.
To top the day, after his win in the last race, Jörgen Schönherr received the prize for the top Master Star skipper, while the top placing junior team, presented with the new Ding Schoonmaker Trophy, are 25-year-old Jan Borbet and his one-year older crewmate Jesper Spehr in twelfth place overall. "This is our first real Star boat season and we didn't expect the award. It was all about getting the best out of it for us. It's a pity that the real junior world championship had to be cancelled," said Jan Borbet. "We definitely want to stay in the Star class. After finishing our studies, we both started our careers and now have a bit more time."
The Prize Giving ceremony, held right in the middle of the crowded Kieler Woche Festival, sealed the 99th Star World Championship in Kiel, Germany’s sailing city. The class effort moves now on to the Centenary World Championship, scheduled to happen from September 10th to the 17th, 2022 in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the cradle of US sailing, very close to where the 1st ever Star World Championship took place in 1922.
Author: Rachele Vitello - September 03, 2021An outstanding 86 teams coming from 18 countries have registered for the 2021 Star Worlds Championship in the iconic sailing capital of Kiel, Germany, that will take place from the 4th to the 11th of September during Kieler Woche, like in the old Olympic times. Most of those teams will chase the title holders, Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) with five-time winning crew Bruno Prada (BRA), here to defend it and sky rocket Prada in the Olympus of Star sailors. He would be the first – and only – one to reach the astounding record of having won six Star World Championship titles.
Mateusz Kusznierewicz, who initially collected successes in the Finn and proved his talent and skills with a gold and bronze medal at the Olympic Games and two Gold Cup titles, switched to the double handed keelboat to win the World Championship in 2008 and 2019. As the 2020 Star Worlds was cancelled, the 1999 Sailor of the Year will now try to keep his hands on the prestigious trophy in Kiel. The 46-year-old already proved that he still has "it" with stellar crew Bruno Prada at the traditional Bacadi Cup in Miami. With eight victories in all eight races, the duo dominated the event and to become the first duo to ever win the competition with a clean sweep since it was founded in 1927. Mateusz and Bruno have won Kieler Woche several times each, so they are quite familiar with the spot, making them the team to beat.
The list of favorites at the 99th Star Class World Championships in Kiel is long. Other than the defenders, the reigning European Champions and two-time Olympian Enrico Chieffi with Ferdinando Colaninno (Italy), and the European Vice-Champions Hubert Merklebach, Class President, with Kilian Weise (GER), are here with clear goals set in their minds, the Gold star on their main sail. But also, three-time World Championship runner-up Diego Negri (ITA) with 2014 World Champion Frithjof Kleen (GER); two-time Finn Olympian Jake Lilley (AUS); five-time European Laser Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic (CRO); 2017 Star World Champion, Olympian and Volvo Ocean Race finisher, Eivind Melleby (NOR); and of course, the five-time Olympian, bronze medalist in Athens in the Star and seven time Finn and Star World Champion, Xavier Rohart (FRA), will all be on the starting line on Monday September 6th.
The official start of the World Championships will be at the Opening Ceremony on Sunday at 18.30, local time, after registration and weighing of the teams is completed. Then the first starting signal will blow on Monday at 13.00 after the skippers’ meeting. Six races are scheduled, one per day as the 100+ year-old tradition dictates, until Saturday September 11th, when the medals will be awarded.
Event Website
https://2021worlds.starchampionships.org
Entries:
https://2021worlds.starchampionships.org/entry/entry-list/2021_worlds
Results:
https://2021worlds.starchampionships.org/results
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Author: Rachele Vitello - September 05, 2021The curtains of the 99th Star World Championship have been officially lifted with the Opening Ceremony, tonight at the legendary 1972 Olympic Village in Kiel, Germany. A parade of the sailors with a flag bearer for each of the 18 nations represented by the 83 teams marked the opening of the Gold Star event, that was to take place last year but, as many other international regattas, got postponed. Everyone is eager to race and most of the large fleet hit the water today in 15knots northerly breeze, sunshine and the typical ‘Kiel chop’.
“I am so happy we were able to organize this event, we’ve been waiting for it for a long time because of the pandemic” said Star Class President Hubert Merkerlbach. “I am thankful it’s happening in Kiel, Germany’s sailing city where we had four World Championships before this one: in 1939, 1966, 1977 and 1993. And I am pleased to see 83 teams showing up, with so many young sailors too, it is fantastic – and possibly my last World Championship as President. The Star Class and Kiel have a long story, linked to its Olympic past”.
Lots of memories are indeed brought back among the sailors by being in Kiel during Kieler Woche, the traditional Olympic classes regatta. Normally sailed in June, it has always been one of the key events of the season, often being appointed by the national Federations for the Olympic Games selection.
“The first time I sailed here I was 19 years old, and I was sailing the Finn” remembers Xavier Rohart (FRA), sailing here with Ante Sitic (CRO). “We were here for a sailing exchange between France and Germany and I liked it immediately. Since then, I have come many times in Finn and Star class and it is quite nostalgic to be here, lots of memories”.
“Last time I was here I was in 470 with my brother Tommaso” said European Champion Enrico Chieffi, with his crew Nando Colaninno. “It is such an epic place to have the Star World Championship, I remember it as a tough and scary place, with rain, cold wind and chop, very different from what we are experiencing today. I am here with Nando as European Champions, but it doesn’t give us any advantage, it is a tough fleet, and we will just take one day at a time trying to do our best”.
Among the many great names racing in Kiel for a spot on the 2021 Star World Championship podium, there are indeed the defending World Champions, Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) and Bruno Prada (BRA). “It’s been long since the last Worlds, two whole years” said Matesuz and Bruno, whose win at this event will make him the most ever winning Star sailors with six titles under his belt. “We will give it all to defend the title, but we will not focus too much on the numbers and records. It is true that we had a great Bacardi Cup last March with an all-bullets scorecard, but it is much a larger and stronger fleet here and we will just sail like we know and we love”.
Start time for the first race tomorrow is at 1300, the forecast is for very light wind which always opens the games, and the entire week will be affected by a big high-pressure over Europe, bringing unlikely warm weather and gentle breezes.
Author: Rachele Vitello - September 06, 2021The morning of the first day of sailing of the 2021 Star World Championship in Kiel, Germany, didn’t look promising. The usual chilly breeze blowing at the 1972 German Olympic venue didn’t welcome the 83 teams on their way to the boats. Soon the postponement flag was hoisted and it stayed hanging on the notice pole until 2:00 pm, when also the A flag was hoisted, calling it off for the day. No race could be sailed on the opening of the regatta.
"The wind is really not good," Race Officer Mandus Freese told the crews at the online skippers’ briefing in the morning. "Two to three knots at the lighthouse – 20 meter high”. Unfortunately, that is how it stayed throughout the day.
“It will be a tricky week weatherwise” said two-time Olympic silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic (CRO), “we will take what we get, we are just so happy to be here sailing the Star”. About a month ago Tonci won his second Olympic silver medal in the hyper competitive Laser Class. “In Tokyo it has been so tough, the ranking changed daily, a few penalties have decided a couple of big results and I was overjoyed to step on the podium eventually. Here we want to do well, but we know the level is super high and we just have to take one day at a time not overdoing it. With Tudor (Bilic, CRO, his crew) we have been training a little at home, in Split, and we finished sixth at the Europeans there last May, we would love to finish a little better than that, if we can”, says with a smirk.
Stipanovic is not the only Tokyo 2020 Olympians racing at the 99th Star World Championship, Australian Finn sailors Jake Lilley will also be on the starting line tomorrow, Tuesday September 7th, when Race Director Mandus Freese is ready to have two races. The first start is scheduled for 11 am, however, the wind is looking light again, and could alter the plans.
Author: Rachele Vitello - September 07, 2021The high pressure system over Europe is sadly affecting the 2021 Star World Championship in Kiel, Germany. It’s almost ironic if you think the 83 teams are all so keen to get on the water after missing the Worlds last year for the pandemic.
“We already knew it was going to be a very hard and challenging day” said Bruno Prada (BRA) five-time Star World Champion, and two time Olympic medalist. “Nonetheless we came to the harbor hoping for the best, but unfortunately day two is very similar to day one. The next few days look a little better, the Committee is thinking now two races per day, as also Saturday doesn’t look very promising, and we need five races to validate the Worlds. I do hope we’ll get on the water tomorrow, because we are very hungry for some sailing”.
“It will be different from the traditional one race per day regatta, as it is the Star World Championship since 1921. It will be tough on some teams more than others, with very long hours at sea, and it is important to stay hydrated and energized.”
Tomorrow's first signal is scheduled for 11 am, and two races are on the horizon for the 83 very eager boat fleet coming from 18 nations. Let’s just hope the wind will cooperate.
Event Website
https://2021worlds.starchampionships.org
Entries:
https://2021worlds.starchampionships.org/entry/entry-list/2021_worlds
Results:
https://2021worlds.starchampionships.org/results
Author: Rachele Vitello - September 08, 2021Day three of the 2021 Star World Championship in Kiel, Germany, started in a very similar way as the previous two. A very long wait ashore with the dreaded AP flag hanging low and lifeless on the notice pole until about 1pm, when it was lowered and a voice on the VHFs unbelievably called the 83 teams on the racecourse. Joy exploded on the dock and in no-time everyone was on their way to join the Race Committee, about an hour away from the harbor.
The scenario they met wasn’t exciting, the clouds were still blocking the east wind from filling in. Only at 15.30, the same voice announced the starting procedures of race one would begin in 20 minutes. The 2021 Star World Championship was then finally on with the first race underway.
A clear start with four, maximum five knots of breeze from the east, for the fleet evenly arranged on the line. After a long – slightly right favored – upwind, the Hungarian team, with Tibor Tenke at the helm and Miklos Bezereti crewing, rounded first. The reigning World Champions Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) and Bruno Prada (BRA) were right behind and Athen’s Olympics Star Bronze medalist Xavier Rohart (FRA), here with Ante Sitic (CRO), in third. Things changed slightly at the bottom gate when the Polish-Brazilian duo took the lead but in the light, and shifty wind they were not able to maintain the lead to the finish.
Thanks to impeccable reading of the conditions and an understanding of the racecourse, plus a flawless last downwind, the former Olympian Hans Spitzauer with Christian Nehammer (AUT) crossed first at the finish line, about two lengths ahead of the back-to-back Bacardi Cup winners Kusznierewicz/Prada. In third there were the Croatians Marin Misura and Tonko Barac, followed by four-time Olympian and three-time Star Worlds runner-up Diego Negri with 2014 World Champion crew Frithjof Kleen. Closing the top five, Tokyo – and Rio – Olympic Silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic with Tudor Bilic (CRO).
“It always feels good to win a race at the Worlds, especially the first one as everybody wants a good start!” Commented Hans Spitzauer with a wide smile. “We played the right and we were only eighth at the top mark, with a good downwind we rounded fifth at the bottom gate and then we we opted for the left and we were pleased. We had good pressure, that allowed us to gain on the other boats, so we stayed where we were, and we were the only one hiking. This is where we won the race. It is so good!”
“It feels good to win the first race at the World Championship, even more after two years with no racing at the World Championship”, added a delighted Christian Nehammer. “We had a pretty good race in very difficult conditions, with everything working well for us! We make the decisions together, we talk and exchange opinions, I try to give as much information as possible to Hans. But the truth is that 16 years ago we sailed together for the first time, so we just understand each-other, not much talking is needed. Now we are looking forward to more racing!”
The Race Committee called for an ‘early’ start tomorrow, in the hope of finishing two, much needed, races with the 7/8 knot-breeze forecasted earlier in the day. 10am on the line translates in an 8 o’clock dock out for the fleet, but all of the 83 teams are keen to go, after the forced rest of the first two days.
Author: Rachele Vitello - September 09, 2021It was a lovely summer day in Kiel this morning, and some great conditions awaited the 83 teams on the racecourse for some fantastic racing with 8 to 15 knots of steady easterly breeze. The splendid weather was letting everyone forget about how tough the competition is at the Star World Championship, but with the first starting procedures and a few notable black flags the attention level was right back up.
Reigning World and European champions, respectively Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) with Bruno Prada (BRA) and Enrico Chieffi with Nando Colaninno (ITA), were caught over the line early and with the U flag in place they were only advised at the top mark. Same fate for yesterday's winners Hans Spitzauer and Christian Nehammer (AUT). So there goes their throw-out – when five races are reached – and they’ll have to sail more conservatively from now on.
And conservative is the way Diego Negri (ITA) and Frithjof Kleen (GER) sailed today, always going for top speed without taking any useless risks. And that is how the Italian/German duo won both of today’s races, with perfect starts, and superb race management. They worked their way through the fleet at high speed on the first cross in the first race, arriving at the windward mark in the lead group and then building their lead down to the bottom gate. From there they kept the chasers Stipanovic/Bilic at bay until the finish with a four-boat length lead.
The second race of the day was almost the same as the first one for Negri/Kleen. Starting from the middle, they took no risks at the start, benefited from their top speed and had only 2017 World Champion Eivind Melleby (Norway) with Guy Avellon (USA) ahead of them at the first mark. But Negri/Kleen were unstoppable today and took the lead at the halfway point of the race, then controlled the field with ease and sailed to their second win of the day.
“It can’t get any better than this,” commented a very happy Diego Negri, four-time Olympian and three-time Star Worlds runner-up and European Champion. “We had a really great day, we were expecting this left tendency so we were protecting the left and it worked. Our boat speed is amazing, I have to say a really big thank to Werner Fritz for the sail set-up and the support, and to Andrea Folli for an impeccable boat. We have good speed, so we are performing well this time. Tomorrow we expect a westerly, so completely from the opposite direction from today, but we will try to do our best just the same”.
A happy grin was also on Frithjof Kleen’s face, already a Star World Champion and Olympian. “We approached it as we know it, conservative as usual. Just trying not to get a black flag was hard today, a lot of the top guys had a tough day, so we were just staying out of trouble and then, as Diego mentioned, we have exceptional speed, so we are just very happy! Thanks to our coach Marc Pickel, who's helping every day, so thank you Marc, thanks very much. Now we just have to keep our head down and stay focused for the next two days”.
In second overall are the Silver Olympic medalist in both Tokyo and Rio, Tonci Stipanovic, sailing in Kiel with his friend Tudor Bilic (CRO). "I've loved this class since I've been sailing, but it's now my first World Cup appearance in the Star at the age of 35," said Stipanovic. "We still have to adjust to the trim of the boat and to the class rules, what is allowed and not allowed in terms of pumping. That's why we're acting very calmly, but we're happy with how it's gone so far." Two penalty turns spoiled an even better finish for him in the second race, so his fighting words are not unjustified: "We want to continue as before. It's only half-time, and if I compete, then of course I want to sail right at the front."
To complete the provisional podium the Bronze Medalist in Athens Xavier Rohart (FRA) with Ante Sitic (CRO). But from third place on, they are all very close in points and the Star World Championship is only half way through. Two more races are scheduled for tomorrow starting at 11:00 with very light forecast, to leave the last one for Saturday, September 11th.
