Seeshaupt Optimum Prize: Light wind makes it difficult for everyone
Created: 06/23/2022, 11:35 am
By: Paul Hopp
Scene from the first race of the Opti-A sailors at the "Seeshaupter Opti-Prize" 2022. © Paul Hopp
After a two-year (Corona) break, the yacht club hosted the “Seeshaupter Opti Prize” again.
75 participants came - they needed patience and skill.
Seeshaupt – Even at over 30 degrees Celsius, Walter von Schorlemer pays attention to the smallest details right at the end.
Together with sports warden Melanie Straub, the youth leader aligns each individual trophy on a table with millimeter precision.
The last item on the program at the "Seeshaupter Opti-Prize", the award ceremony, should of course also work out.
So that the young participants keep the regatta in special memory, there are small ships in bottles instead of ordinary trophies.
In the end, it's hard to tell who's beaming more: the children and young people with their trophies or the sun shining in the light blue sky.
The Seeshaupter Opti Prize has existed since 2004
The Seeshaupt Yacht Club (YCSS) has once again managed to pull off its junior regatta for the Optimist class, which has existed since 2004, to the satisfaction of those involved in a concerted club campaign with around 20 helpers.
Soon after the competition, online posts appeared in which clubs thanked them - the DTYC from Tutzing praised a "perfect organization".
The conditions weren't easy on either day.
The high air pressure made for rather weak wind conditions.
However, the race committee around Norbert Blankenhagen showed a lucky hand in their decisions and sent the boats out in the phases in which there was at least some wind.
The Opti-A field of more experienced starters was able to pull through all five planned races.
The Opti B class had four races.
At the same time, this means that a deletion result was possible in each case.
The organizers were satisfied with the participation after the cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the Corona virus.
75 young women and men between the ages of eight and 14 came.
There have already been Opti prizes with well over 100 boats.
Preparation on land: YCSS trainer Lasse Kenter with some of his young sailors preparing a sail.
© Paul Hopp
On the first day, however, before the yachtsmen could cast off with their dinghies, which have names such as "Icebreaker", "Stormarrow", "Whirlwind" and "Raccoon", they had to wait almost three hours.
The wind "is ordered", it was said at the helmsman meeting in the morning.
But delivery took time.
This is part of the regatta routine for the kids.
Praise from the Opti chairwoman for the hosting yacht club
Coach Lasse Kenter used the time to do a bit of flag and rule training with the Opti Prize participants from the host YCSS in the training room.
There are 36 flags for the sailors to watch out for, which can also appear in different combinations.
A magnetic board is also used for race tactics.
Some clubs have even hired foreign coaches for youngsters.
There were also a few small groups at the Opti Prize, in which the trainer spoke to the young sailors in English.
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Cheering again: YCSS coach Lasse Kenter (center) with some of his protégés, who are just leaving the coach boat towards the starting line.
© Paul Hopp
In Germany there are 14 national associations for the Optimist.
In Bavaria - compared to the Federal Republic - very many children use the boat, which serves as an introduction to regatta sport.
An event like the one in Seeshaupt "is very important for our youngsters," says Charlotte Grawe.
Above all, she has her eye on young people who do not have the opportunity to travel to the sailing areas in northern Germany all the time.
Grawe, who was born in Tegernsee and grew up in Kiel, has been the Bavarian chairwoman for Optimists in the “German Optimist Dinghy Association” since November 2021.
She was also in Seeshaupt this year because three of her four children took part in the Opti prize.
Grawe gave praise to the hosting yacht club and the race committee.
She described the atmosphere at the YCSS as "super-relaxed".
Despite all sporting ambitions, one thing should not be forgotten: "It's still a sport for children."
Leaving: When it came to the first race, there was a crowd in the port area.
After all, 75 boats had to be lowered into the water.
© Paul Hopp
The Bavarian kids "shouldn't be underestimated" compared to the sailing strongholds on the coast, says Grawe.
Since there is usually less wind in this country, the sailors have to prove their special skills.
The Bavarians, according to the chairwoman, "can often sail tactically well".
Race committee (right) and buoy laying team (left) at the Seeshaupter Opti Prize.
© Paul Hopp
Tactical games also dominated events at the Opti Prize.
When the first race could finally start on the up-and-down course, the young sailors cavorted around the starting line with their boats and were literally waiting to grab the top position with clever maneuvers at the start .
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In the Opti-A field, Moritz Mehlmann (Deutscher Touring Yacht-Club/Tutzing) was the best at playing with wind and waves.
He won by five points.
In races one, two and four he crossed the finish line first.
He finished the third race in second place.
The fourth place in race number five served as a discard result.
The other places on the podium went to Korbinian Grawe (Chiemsee Yacht Club/8.0), one of the chairwoman's sons, and Quirin Klapper (Munich Yacht Club/16.0).
Emilia Schmidt (DTYC/25.0), who took sixth place, received the special prize for the best participant.
Special trophies: At the "Seeshaupter Opti-Preis" there are ships in bottles for the participants.
© Paul Hopp
Of the five Opti-A sailors in the local YCSS, Valentina Bachmann achieved the best result in 21st place (74.0).
Coach Lasse Kenter, who took care of the A-sailors on the water, was "overall satisfied".
His protégés had “implemented what we had discussed”.
The only light wind provided an additional challenge.
In the Opti-B field, the hosts made it into the top ten twice with Benedikt Geigel (11.0/4th place) and Anna Arendts (25.0/9th place).
"A great performance," said Kenter.
It was tight in the midfield: The photo shows a scene during the first race of the Opti-A sailors.
You can also see the first buoy on the up-and-down course set by the race committee in Seeshaupt Bay.
© Paul Hopp
Two Ukrainian sailors took part in the Opti Prize this year.
The Munich rowing and sailing club "Bayern" (MRSV) looks after nine Ukrainian youth sailors who come from Kiev and enables them to train.
The whole thing "lives on donations," explained Bettina Gerstmeier from the MRSV.
One of the Ukrainians, Yevhenii Kuzmenko, won the Opti-B class with the optimum of 3.0 points.
