GUNTER TZESCHLOCK WINS GROBER BROMBACHSEE

From the German Class - On the weekend 10/11 September the German Class sailed the first time ever Melges24 regatta on "Großer Brombachsee". The Melges24 fleet there grew to 4 active boats within one year and so a race was scheduled at very short notice with just 4 weeks time to prepare everything necessary. Due to this time line an 8 boats entry-list with 7 boats starting was a success and the local sailors were pleased to see Melges24 sailing there.

The race was organised by Yacht-Club-Frankonia
( www.ycf.de) one of the clubs in watersports-center Ramsberg with a marina for more than 600 boats. As the Great Brombachsee is an artificial lake and just a few years old the infrastructure there is perfect - 2 fixed installed cranes and plenty of space to rig the boats made it a pleasure to be there - additional the typical Bavarian friendliness of the local club made it easy to stay there for accompanying parties as well.

The weather report for the weekend was less friendly because the high-pressure was blown away by a cold front with rainy and windy conditions. 4 races were scheduled and 3 of them were already completed on Saturday afternoon - each race with a race time of 65 - 70 minutes in a 12 - 15 knots wind. The 4th and final race could be sailed on Sunday morning in a light 5-10 knots breeze.

The races itself were close and the lead often changed - but finally the experienced crews won the races (see results). But it was a pleasure to see a young crew coming from Lake Starnberg starting for "Bayrischer Yacht Club" chasing the favourites. None of the sailors is older than 18 and with a lot of experience in sailing all kind of dinghies. We hope to meet them again next spring when the race-season re-starts in April 2006.

During prize-giving the president of the hosting club mentioned they would be ready to host this race yearly which was accepted by everyone and would even offer to organise sometimes a German Open / IMCA event. (Next possibility could be 2008 due to long-term planning of the German Class organisation).

The results:
1. GER 474, Günter Tzeschlock - 2,1,2,1 - 4,0 points
2. GER 504, Andy Vincon - 1,2,1,2 - 4,0 points
3. GER 169, Johannes Kaske - 3,3,3,3 - 9,0 points
4. GER 211, Didi Henning - 6,4,4,5 - 13,0 points
5. GER 327, Sascha Jäger - 4,5,6,6 - 15,0 points
6. GER 586, Frithjof Ohin - 5,dnf,dnc,4 - 17,0 points
7. GER 209, Georg Geyer - 7,6,5,7 - 18,0 points

Finally to mention that the German Class Association organised a training on Friday, 09th September to support the locals and 3 boats were on the water. Additional a test-sailing was organised for a successfull match-race-crew coming from Berlin which is planning to enter the Melges24 circuit. They loved the boat - let's keep finger crossed that they will decide to start sailing in the Melges24 from 2005.