Cat fight

22 year old win women's matching race event in Hamburg

The 22 years old Silke Hahlbrock needed only two victories in the best of three-final to gain the trophy like she did last year. But the road was rough. Her crew of Marion Rommel, Maren Hahlbrock and Kerstin Schult skippered had won all their races in the
first round robin but had to duel with the vice world champion in the Yngling class, Ulrike Schümann, who proved tough competition. “We cared too much about the wind and not enough about our opponent in the second race”, said Hahlbrock, who lives and studies in Hamburg. “Ulrike Schümann took advantage of our mistake and passed us easily.” But after equalising the crew from Hamburg managed to win the deciding third race and the title.

Strong winds and wet November weather characterised the last day of this year’s Ladies Only on the river Alster. Good technical skills were necessary to control the fast and sporty Streamline keelboats. Stefan Roth, the principle race officer wanted to save the boats and abandoned the spinnakers from the outset on the last day.

Manuel Huensch, organiser from the organising club, the Hamburger Segel-Club, was very happy. ”We managed to sail more then 70 races and achieved all that was resolved. The women showed professional behaviour and fought hard on these three days”.

33 years old human resources consultant, Ulrike Schümann, had bad luck last year when one of her crewmembers was sick and her team only finished fourth. “We could have won this year”, stated the skipper from Berlin. “But we lost the lead to Silke’s crew due to a big tactical mistake in the first match.” Schümann, who sailed with Julia Bleck, Ute Höpfner and Solveig Bauer could not confirm whether or not they will compete in next years event yet, because of their Olympic campaign commitments. “The next season will be very stressful. We will sail many events that will decide our participation at the Olympic games.“ said Schümann who adds that she likes match racing as a good practise for her crew.

Meanwhile the petite final was all British. Helmsman Josie Gibson and her team took control in the third match for the third position and won. “The prestart and the massive winds made it very tough to keep the control“, said the 27 years old sailor.. “But we managed to cross the starting line before Gemma Farrell and her team“.

Gibson is looking forward to coming back next year: "We have lots of fun at the Ladies Only-weekend every time“ she said..

Final Results: Ladies Only Match Race 2006

1 GER Team Musto HSC Silke Hahlbrock HSC,Hamburg
Maren Hahlbrock, Marion Rommel, Kerstin Schult

2 GER Team Schuemann Ulrike Schümann VsaW,Berlin
Julia Bleck, Ute Höpfner, Solveig Bauer

3 GBR Team Gibson Josie Gibson
Rachel Larman, Ali Sutherland, Barbara Watson

4 GBR Team sail 4 cancer Gemma Farrell
Bethan Carden, Rachel Howe, Rebecca Mariott

5 FIN Team Silja Lehtinen Silja Lehtinen
Maria Klemetz,Livia Väresmaa, Vivi Fleming

6 GER Team Kemt Suzanne Willim KYC, Goltoft
Christine Wolff, Charlotte Jäkel, Christina Bärwald

7 FRA Team MisStral Delphine Casas
Gaelle Combeaux, Marie-Agnes Hoche, Stacha Duflo

8 POL Team Torell Gdansk Maja Czarniawska AZS, Gdansk
Paula Benert, Agata Piecha, Natalia Rucinska

9 FRA Commune de Julie Bossard de Plougueneau
Fiorentine Audema. Eve Pajot, Sophie d’Ortoli

10 IRL Team O'Loughlin Mary O'Loughlin
Laura Fitzpatrick, Emma Lovegrove, Gilian Burke

11 ESP Team Punta Lagoa Maria Campos
Sara Campos, Beatriz Quintá, Nuria Quintas

12 GER Team GERUF1 Ulrike Firk SCN, Neumünster
Maren Gadischke, Beate Mohn, Svenja Stöhr