For the first time, an inclusion regatta will take place on Lake Starnberg: The Munich Yacht Club will host it in autumn - and it will not only have sporting goals.
Starnberg - Christian Löhr is still reluctant to start at the peak of his career himself.
“I definitely won't do that,” announces the inclusion officer of the Munich Yacht Club.
But maybe the Starnberg skipper will change his mind, because there are still a few months to go before the International German Championship of the 2.4mR.
For the first time in its history, the one-handed class will be performing at Lake Starnberg from September 16-19.
The Munich Yacht Club secured the bid for the inclusion regatta, which means an award especially for Löhr.
“That is the highlight of my work so far,” says the wheelchair user.
He is looking forward to seeing people with and without handicaps sailing together in an official regatta in his club for the first time.
Christian Löhr's vision: All people have the chance to sail
So far it has received national attention with the “Sailing for Everyone” campaign.
Löhr's vision that everyone has the right to sail not only brought many people with disabilities into the boats, it also triggered unprecedented social commitment throughout the association.
Since January the MYC has been preparing for the special IDM, which meets high sporting requirements.
“I'm miles away from sailing,” says Löhr, who explains his reluctance to take part.
He still has too little experience in the 2.4mR.
The single-handed ship lies just above the water like a surfaced submarine and is almost unsinkable.
Inclusion in sailing: handicap meets non-handicap
Other sailors have seen more in this class.
Ulli Libor is one of them.
The current number one in the rankings won silver in 1968 and bronze four years later at the Olympics in the Flying Dutchman.
Since the 2.4mR is an inclusion class, Libor naturally duels with Heiko Kröger, who is missing his left forearm from birth.
"We are expecting 40 boats of great quality," says Uli Finckh, who is curious to see who will hit Possenhofener Strasse in autumn.
The internationally experienced competition director from the MYC acted as a link between his club and the class association.
Race director Uli Finckh: "They like sailing so much because they are free"
At numerous regattas at home and abroad, Finckh saw sailors with handicaps that earned him the greatest respect.
The rule pope tells of people without arms or legs, or who are paraplegic from the head.
They only steer their boat with their mouths.
“They like sailing so much because they are free to do so,” says Finckh full of admiration.
Damien Seguin is so inspired by this urge for freedom that he recently sailed the “Vendée Globe” around the world, although he has been missing his left hand since birth.
“This is an amazing challenge,” Finckh praises the French, “because he is completely on his own”.
Damien Seguin: From the Vendée Globe to Lake Starnberg?
Even the German figurehead in the race across the oceans, Boris Herrmann, praises competitor Seguin as an absolutely exceptional sailor.
In the end, the 41-year-old came in seventh - just behind the fifth-placed German.
"Damien is above all of us," says Herrmann.
Seguin may also show up at the IDM in Starnberg, after all, she is part of the "Eurosaf 2.4mR Sailing Circuit", which experience has shown to attract skippers from neighboring countries.
The MYC reckons with around ten handicapped participants.
"There are different forms of disability," says Finck, so it must be ensured that the sailors can get into their boat from the side.
This is possible in the new boathouse of the Munich Yacht Club.
The wheelchair users also need an additional footbridge to get into their boat.
Here the technical relief organization already signaled to create a corresponding device.
Otherwise, the Starnbergers are equipped with the necessary infrastructure for an inclusion regatta.
"We just have to improve a little," says Finckh.
Inclusion: A special opportunity for the sailing area
He himself knows what to expect as a race director.
There are always mute or deaf participants among the sailors.
“That makes protest negotiations difficult,” he admits.
This has become just as common for him as the heated controversies with sailors from other classes.
“Inclusion is a story that is good for any sports club,” Finckh clarifies.
September is about more than a mere regatta: "I hope that this will bring inclusion more into focus."
That would be a great success for the entire sailing area.
Maybe that's why there is still a way Christian Löhr can steer a boat in an official race for the first time at the home game.
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