German skiff sailors must fear for Olympic start
Germany's sailors must fear for their Olympic start in 2024 in the former showpiece disciplines 49er and 49erFX. After Olympic silver and bronze in Japan in 2021, the next generation is still fighting to catch up with the world's best. At the European Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal, the best crews of the German Sailing Team missed out on the national starting places for Marseille 2024. There is only one place per country for the men and women.
While the 49er men thoroughly messed up the European Championships, the young Hamburg women Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille were only stopped by a lack of wind after an outstanding performance on the home straight: all races on the final day fell through. Previously, the crew from Mühlenberger Segel-Club had catapulted themselves from 15th to fourth place in impressive fashion with three race wins in just one day. The doldrums thwarted the chance they had created for themselves to go for a medal and the national ticket for Marseille 2024.
Nevertheless, fourth place at the European Championships marks the best result in the careers of the two 22-year-olds from the Elbe. Both the 49er men and 49erFX women have one last chance to win one of the three national tickets for men and women at the "Last Chance Regatta 2024" off Hyères in France in April.
Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer from Kiel came sixth at the European Championship for the Olympic Nacra 17 catamarans, which was held in Vilamoura at the same time. They were also unable to attack without racing on the last day, but had already secured the Olympic Nations starting place for their discipline at the World Championships in the summer.
Despite their impressive improvement, losing races due to lack of wind at the European Championship 49erFX prevented Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille from securing the national ticket for the 2024 Olympic Games in Marseille. Meanwhile, the German 49er and 49erFX teams are currently battling to match the world's best ahead of the Olympics, as they missed out on the national starting places at the European Championships in Vilamoura. Additionally, Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer finished sixth in the European Championship for the Nacra 17 catamarans, securing their Olympic Nations starting place at the World Championships in the summer.
Source: www.dpa.com
