Schuemann joins in the TP52 action

Two time Alinghite and four time Olympic medallist joins German boat for Copa del Rey Camper Audi

Double America's Cup winner and four times Olympic medallist Jochen Schuemann took his place on Harm Muller Spreer's Platoon today for some friendly practice racing on the Bay of Palma, warming up for the 26th Copa del Rey Camper Audi.

The German boat has already become established as one of the rising stars of the circuit, apparently making the transition from inconsistency peppered with occasional flashes of promise, to stringing regular results together.

Seventh in Alicante and seventh at Regata Breitling Illes Balears the black 2006 generation Judel-Vrolijk design lies seventh overall on the Breitling MedCup TP52 Circuit.

Desafio Espanol's John Cutler has been doing a great job as tactician on board Platoon, teaming up with his partner Karol Jablonski in Alicante and Cameron Dunn in Portals, but for a German boat Schuemann - who won Olympic gold in 1976 in the Finn, and Soling golds in 1988 in Seoul, again in 1996 in Savannah, and silver in 2000 in Sydney - was a natural target to help raise their game still further. And with his second America's Cup win now under his belt, Schuemann is keen to enjoy some competition on the world's leading fleet racing circuit.

"Jochen was on board today and we are very pleased to have him on board," explained Platoon's mainsail grinder and boat captain Simon Licht. "He told us he has always been interested in the TP52 circuit and now the America's Cup is over why not the German boat. It will take a few days to get into it after sailing the Cup boat for so long.

"Between last year and this year we have made a big step ahead with John Cutler, who has been incredible. He came through Karol Jablonski who was great, but really needed a break, which was totally fine with us, because we need also a fresh, motivated guy. Harm wants to helm the boat, we said OK so we could use an experienced helmsman as well with Cameron Dunn, and so now we switch to Jochen Schuemann."

Owner Spreer has invested in America's Cup crew since last year: "Timmy Kroeger (Shosholoza) is in the pit, we have Matti Paschen who was on United Internet Germany, we have Marc Lagesse who was navigator on Shosholoza, and we have main trimmer Rod Dawson who was on BMW Oracle and it is a big step ahead with him for speedwise and trimming wise. Our kite trimmer is Tom Baranowski who was on +39, and Jean Marie Dauris (United Internet Team Germany) is on the bow," outlines Licht.

"So seventh overall now, seventh in Alicante, so we have stabilised our results. We have got that in part in getting more knowledge how to trim the boat faster, how to set up the rig. In fact that was the work of Rod Dawson, Marc Lagesse and John Cutler and these guys have been brilliant. But one year's more experience is also important. And the crew work is much better because they have been pushed much harder, and more sails."

Platoon's sails come from North's Jens Cristensen and Ib Andersen at North Sails Denmark. Updates for Platoon over this last winter have been minor modifications to the bulb which was re-shaped slightly. They have no pit-winch.

"The boat is more or less the same as last year. But, we know more about it, how to sail it faster, trimming, rake, rig," continues Licht. "It is the package - we are better all round. We are in new surroundings and everyone is thinking 'OK if we can push hard and all get a little better then we can do well. So, it's getting better, better. And Harm is very happy because for all the money he spends we are starting to get results, and helming he can learn from some really good guys. Everybody learns from each other. It is learning with open eyes and open ears from the big guys.

"The whole TP circuit is getting more and more popular, and we are the only German boat so there so suddenly there is now interest and people from the German magazines are now coming to us, which is exciting."