Preview: Laser Europa Cup attracts young talent
In the three dinghy classes Laser Radial, 4.7 and Standard, the Europa Cup is considered the most popular regatta series for young sailors. Also the Warnemünder Woche The youngsters are loyal and rely on attractive wind conditions with Baltic Sea waves. Tomorrow, July 8th, almost 200 laser sailors will set off.
Laser regatta fields are often bursting at the seams. Because of the widespread distribution, organizers have to limit the number of participants. When it comes to the rankings, the youngsters usually lose out. However, in order not to lose this to other boat classes, the class association created the European Cup. It is sailed with identical, 4,23 meter long and 1,20 meter wide boats in three different rig sizes: 4.7, corresponding to the square meter of sail area, radial (5,7 m²) and standard (7,06 m²). This takes into account the different body weights, ideally between 35 and 86 kilograms.
Following in the footsteps of sailor of the year and Laser World Champion Philipp Buhl, who wants to sail for medals at the Olympic Games in Japan, the talents are positioning themselves at the 83rd. Warnemünder Woche. After Koper in Slovenia at the end of May, it is the second of ten events in the 2021 European Cup. It continues in August in Poland, three cups each in September and October and does not end until New Year's Eve in Hvar, Croatia. The continent is divided into five regions, each of which hosts two Cup regattas in order to keep the geographical distribution and thus the travel effort fair.
In strong, pandemic-free years, a European Cup alone is good for 300 or more active participants. “There are still too many restrictions on such numbers this time,” says sports director Peter Ramcke, “but I am more than satisfied with almost 200 entries.” Groups 4.7 (69 entries) and Radial (85 entries) in particular made significant gains at the entry deadline at.
2020, as the Warnemünder Woche had to be canceled completely, the Lasers rescheduled their European Cup in September with 93 participants in Warnemünde. Ole Schweckendieck from the Kiel Yacht Club was left behind in the Laser Radial against three older “girls” and the Swede Rasmus Granzin, but he came fifth with a day’s victory and won the boys’ European Cup in the annual ranking from four regattas. Pia Kuhlmann (Schaumburg-Lippischer SV) came second in Warnemünde and registered again, as did Gesa Papenthin (Potsdamer YC) and Julia Büsselberg (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) from the top five for the overall 2020 season.
Last year's winner Batbold Gruner from Zwischenahner Segelklub is expected in the Laser 4.7, who dominated the competition almost at will with a third place as a stringer with a second place and otherwise only daily victories. The pan-European claim is proven by reports from Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Great Britain and Belarus. Even Amaya Escudero (Radial) and her older brother Daniel (Standard) from the USA want to be there before Warnemünde.
