The 2010 International German Championship at VSaW marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Berlin fleet. Thirty Stars gathered in Berlin including all the top Germans, led by the European champions Johannes Polgar / Marcus Koy. A "guest star boat saior" is the Dragon-European Champion Markus Wieser. And a newcomer, the European vice-champion of the Junior 470s, Tim Elsner, is also taking part.

Day One: After a long wait a race was finally started in the late afternoon. In light winds Alexander Schlonski won in front of Alexander Hagen and Ludger Huettermann. Tomorrow more wind is expected, helping the race committee meet the planned target of a total of eight races.

Day Two: The second day of the German Championship was challenging. Sunshine and shifting winds dominated the weather. No easy task for the sailors, but all the more exciting for the spectators.

After three races it's hardly surprising that one of the most experienced teams has taken the lead. Two-time World Champion Alexander Hagen and Marko Hasche have 10 points after four races to be in the lead.

However, they are followed closely by the Star European champions and club colleagues Johannes Polgar and Markus Koy, who had two wins and a seventh place to be in second overall. It got painful on the Wannsee in the strong wind shifts. "Positions went back and forth with the opponents and the changing wind. You could miss a shift that boats around us would get."

Lars Kiewning / Niels Hentschel are in fourth place tied with dragon-boat Star newcomers Markus Wieser with Ulli Seeberger. Weiser/Seeberger are sailing well tactically, but still have problems with speed. "With more wind we have difficulty keeping up with the speed of the top teams." says Wieser.

Showdown in the Medal Race: Polgar / Koy are the International German champions in the Star
It could not have been a more exciting finale. The European champion Johannes Polgar and Markus Koy were the ones to beat in the Medal race. Only a few points separated the team from the rest of the competition.

Lars Kiewning / Niels Hentschel and Alexander Schlonski and Mathias Bohn were close behind as well as the two-time world champion Alexander Hagen sailing with Marko Hasche.

"We had excellent conditions for an exciting final," says the race director Andreas Schorr after a successful week. "A fine conclusion for the German championship."

Just before the start signal the second-placed Kiewning / Hentschel gave up the favored starting position to leeward. Too big a risk of touching the buoy. That opened the way for Polgar / Koy to start as the furthest leeward boat.

The field was still close together on the first downwind leg. While Polgar / Koy consolidated their lead, the other medal places were more exciting. Schlonski / Bohn had to do a penalty turn, after getting too close to a buoy. But that turn was dangerous for them as the mast bent dangerously and threatened to break. At the last second the backstay was pulled on, saving not only the mast, but the bronze medal. In addition, the team had to pass Hentschel / Kiewning who strongly defended their position. "Just before the finish the Polish team came up on us. We had to get out from their downdrafts and lost the safe cover on Schloncki / Bohn, "says Lars Kiewning of the Medal Race, which cost him and his foredeck Niels Hentschel a medal. Schlonski took this opportunity and rounded the last buoy in front of the Berlin sailor.

At the end Johannes Polgar and Markus Koy won both the Medal Race and in the overall standings. "This was an exciting week at the Wannsee and great Medal Race. We are glad that we did the double and the European title has now added the German championship title. The VSaW has hosted a great championship, both on the water than on land."