Sailing Championsleague Final

In 2019, during an interview with our local news station, we were all asked the same question: What was our ultimate goal? The answer was unanimous among us – winning the Sailing Champions League.

It might have drawn a chuckle, perhaps even from the interviewer, considering our modest fifth position nationally and less-than-stellar sailing performance at the time. But that's who we were, and that's who we still are: unapologetically ambitious, refusing to let our sailing performance define our aspirations.

Fast forward to 2023, and we found ourselves preparing to compete against the very best at the Youth Sailing Champions League Final. But even before the event began, we encountered a major hurdle – we were completely broke. Following our costly trip to Vilamoura, our wallets were empty.

Determined to make our dreams a reality, we launched a crowdfunding campaign. It was undeniably a lot of hard work, but in the end, it paid off. We couldn't have done it without the generous support of our backers, and we're immensely grateful to them.

With the necessary funding secured, we set sail for Kiel. We approached the event cautiously, remembering the advice of one of my old coaches: "You cannot win the regatta on the first day, but you can certainly lose it." Taking this wisdom to heart, we completed the qualifying series in third place, earning a spot in the final four – a solid result, but we knew we had more to give.

Our focus shifted to the 'Final Four', an additional race between the top four boats. The first team to win two races would claim victory. Additionally, the team that won the Qualifier, in our case Bodensee Yacht Club Überlingen, entered the Final with one win already.

The first race was a fierce battle, but we finished second, just behind RCO. While commendable, it was crucial for us to secure a win to edge closer to the championship.

Battling with our fellow countrymen Regatta Club Oberhofen (RCO).

The second race posed its own challenges. We struggled with our speed from the start, finding it difficult to gain ground, allowing the team from Wolfgangsee in Austria to seize victory. At this point, every team in the final had a race win under their belt, except us. The next race would decide it all.

At the start, all teams were neck and neck, rounding the top mark closely together. We made a strategic decision to tack left on the second upwind leg, capitalizing on a significant left shift. This move propelled us into the lead at the second top mark, with all teams trailing closely behind. However, after hoisting the gennaker, my brother Niklas, the gennaker trimmer, spotted a sizable hole in it – not an ideal situation when you need to win against top-notch competition. Nevertheless, we remained composed and secured a hard-fought victory. In the finish line video, you'll see both my brother and me raising our hands after the finish, signaling for the boatman responsible for addressing any boat damages. Although this win was crucial, we were already focusing on the next race.

With a win secured, every team in the field had claimed a win of their own. This meant that the next race was winner take all.
 
Unfortunately, the last race didn't unfold as we had hoped. Our speed wasn't optimal, and we made some unnecessary mistakes. In the end, we crossed the finish line in third place. This outcome reflected our performance throughout the competition, with Bodenseeyachtclub Überlingen narrowly ahead of us. The ultimate triumph belonged to Regatta Club Oberhofen, who undoubtedly earned their championship victory.

The team was a bit flustered, knowing that anything could have happened in that last race. On the other hand, we had secured a medal for our Hometown Club. Our feelings were mixed, but we can all be proud of what we achieved and grateful for the experience. Even now, I get goosebumps when I think about that one race win in the final. However, there's also a hint of regret for not winning that last race. This championship, especially the final four, is something I'll never forget.
 
I'd like to thank our supporters once again for contributing to our crowdfunding campaign, making it possible for us to win a medal for our beloved club and create unforgettable memories. And of course not to forget my amazing team: Thank you Nico aka Mr Gennacker drop, aka the fastest gennacker setter in the wild west. Thank you Carlos aka Mr Hardest oakleys, aka the best jib trimmer in the wild west. Thank you Niklas aka Mr Kaiser 1., aka the best trimmer and brother in the wild west.

Interview (day before the Final Four)