Match Race Germany 2008

Top line-up expected for Tour event

On paper the favourites for this year's Match Race Germany on 7-12 May are clear: Matthieu Richard (France) and Ian Williams (Great Britain) come to Lake Constance as World Ranking leader and Match Racing World Champion respectively.

But in addition there are other prospective contenders - eight teams competing are ranked among the top 10 in the ISAF rankings, including the German match race specialist from Lake Starnberg, Markus Wieser. For more than 15 years Wieser has been active on the match racing circuit. The 44 year old father of four daughters is once on form having once been number 3 in the ISAF rankings. In 2007 alone he collected four titles: IMS World Champion, Dragon European Champion, German Match Racing Champion and last, but not least, German IMS Champion.

"We would love to be the fastest also at Match Race Germany,“ says Wieser, who will compete with his crew of Thomas Auracher, Philipp Rotermund, Tom Baranowski and Jacek Wysocki on Lake Constance. In parallel with this he is preparing for the 34th America's Cup, whenever this may be, at present with Team Sea Dubai. This would mean fullfilling a long cherished dream, but first of all it is all about the German Grand Prix of the best match racers in the world. Wieser's last victory at Lake Constance was back in 2001 when he beat Germany's top sailing icon Jochen Schuemann in a dramatic final with a final score of 3:2.

"Our line-up, due to the high interest of skippers, is incredibly good. We are overjoyed by this and look forward to a very special and tense Pentecost,” states race organiser Eberhard Magg.

Shore-side facilities will be equally impressive. The race village at Langenargens will include a beautiful promenade with entertainment for every taste. As chief organiser Harald Thierer explains: “While there may be a fresh breeze blowing, there will also be catering stands with 'Regional Food', with much entertainment for visiting families.”

In terms of charity work, the organisers are cooperating with FIDS to enable accoess for the disabled, while there will also be training with youth sailors from the Yacht Club Langenargen e.V. A sail off one of the race yachts will be painted by the children visiting who will also be able to get their first taste of sailing aboard Optimists - free of charge. However donations from the parents for FIDS are more than welcome!

One of Germany's major TV stations will also be present in the form of Nils Kaben who will commentate at Match Race Germany. Aged 40, the sailing and soccer expert has worked for ZDF since 1990 and has been at every single soccer European- and World Championship since then. As a former East German Vice Champion in 420 (1986) he has also comprehensively reported on sailing at the Olympic Games, as well as the America´s Cup. At ZDF he is the sailing correspondent. In Langenargen he will commentate on the races over the five day period and will also interview prominent visitors as well as the competing skippers.

Match race Germany has two patrons: Three times Olympic Champion and two times America´s Cup winner Jochen Schuemann as well as the President of the DSV (German Sailing Federation) will share this honour.

Schuemann states: “For a long time the organisors [of Match Race Germany] have had my full admiration, because they created a little diamond, which in now it's 11th year and appears to be shinier than ever. Match Race Germany for a long time has been a magnet for international top teams, America´s Cup teams, Olympic champions and world champions. At every visit to Lake Constance the enthusiasm and passion for our sport, the sport of sailing and match racing strikes me.”

Teams:

Matthieu Richard FRA ISAF 1 French Match Racing Team
Ian Williams GBR ISAF 2 Team Pindar
Paolo Cian ITA ISAF 3 Team Shosholoza
Bjorn Hansen SWE ISAF 4 Alandia Sailing Team
Sebastian Col FRA ISAF 5 K-Challenge
Damien Iehl FRA ISAF 6 French Team
Peter Wibroe DEN ISAF 9 Team Wibroe
Staffan Lindberg FIN ISAF 10 Alandia Sailing Team
Eric Monin SUI ISAF 13 Qualifier Bodensee Team Search.ch
Adam Minoprio NZL ISAF 28 Emirates New Zealand
Markus Wieser GER ISAF 55 Qualifier Berlin Match Race Team Sea Dubai
Jes Gram Hansen DEN ISAF 106 Trifork Racing