Rolex Baltic Week - Swedes Dominate J/24 German Open: Sinjale Way Ahead In International Bavaria Cup
Neustadt, Germany

Neustadt. It was like in a picture-book: 30 J/24 yachts in perfect clear sky and a light North-easterly breeze on the Baltic Sea off Neustadt/Holstein, Germany on Saturday (14 August) at the Rolex Baltic Week. They fought for every single metre in their German Open. But Max Hölzer from Sweden showed his hosts that he is firmly determined to win the title. With a lead of five points over Stefan Karsunke and six over Manfred König (both from Hamburg), Hölzer will start in the finals on Sunday.

"Sailing Planet", leading after 5 races, at the J24 regatta day 7. Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex

His name is of German origin and so are his ancestors, but Max Hölzer was born in Denmark and now lives in Falsterbo near Malmö in Sweden. Never before has he been sailing against such a strong German opposition as he does now in the Rolex Baltic Week. "It is really, really hard", says the 42-year-old skipper who is the tactician aboard Sailing Planet and the one who puts the foot on the gas by trimming the genoa. Coming fourth at Kiel Week and fifth in the European Championship at home in Malmö, where "silver" was just a near miss, he wants to make it right to the top of the podium this time.

"We are not afraid of the Swedish crew, six points do not mean they've already made it", believes Manfred König. The Hamburg sailor and his crew on Vitesse are now on third place, but have made no big discard so far. "We have new sails and still need to do some adjustments in trimming the mast", explained Koenig, "we will take up more speed." Stefan Karsunke's Gronau from Blankeneser Segelclub, Hamburg is the living proof of a comparatively old boat racing right at the top. All crew up to rank six still have solid a chance to win the German Open.

After two more races, the winner is already determined in the International Bavaria Cup in the group with spinnaker. Jochen Waldschmidt from Flensburg added two more to his three wins so far and is five points ahead of Heiligenhafen's Christian Heinritz with Schikilacki that came second in all five races so far.

It will be exciting to see the outcome in the small group without spinnaker. Lothar Maaß (Stockelsdorf) and his Bavaria 33 Diamant regained the lead they had lost due to an premature start the day before with two wins. They have now two points more than Albaran (Ralf Seeland/Cologne) that had to let Isibisi from Scharbeutz pass by twice on Saturday. Jürgen Köpp with Isibisi is only one point behind the second place. The decision will be taken on a 17-nautical-miles triangle on Sunday, the last day of the Rolex Baltic Week.

Results of the eighth day of the Rolex Baltic Week

Internationaler Bavaria Cup
Overall after five races

Group 1 (with spinnaker)
1. Sinjale, Jochen Waldschmidt (Flensburg) 5 points
2. Schikilacki, Christian Heinritz (Heiligenhafen) 10
3. Mon Cherié, Philipp Moetetindt (Buchholz) 20

Group 2 (without spinnaker)
1. Diamant, Lothar Maaß (Stockelsdorf) 9
2. Albaran, Ralf Seeland (Köln) 11
3. Isibisi, Jürgen Köpp (Scharbeutz) 12

German Open der J/24
Overall after five races (one discard):
1. Sailing Planet, Max Hölzer (Schweden) 6 points
2. Gronau, Stefan Karsunke (Hamburg) 11
3. Vitesse, Manfred König (Hamburg) 12
4. United 5, Jan Kähler (Hamburg) 14
5. Quick foot, Peer Kock (Hamburg) 14
6. Rotoman, Hauke Krüss (Helgoland) 18

Results and Photos at: www.regattanews.com