by Eberhard Magg
The 14th edition of Match Race Germany is almost fully booked. Six world class skippers from the World Match racing Tour are seeded for the German Grand Prix, amongst them four time world champion Peter Gilmour. In addition applications from a dozen of well known yachtsmen, like America´s Cup helmsman Bertrand Pace have been received by the organizers for the remaining 6 slots. 2 of these slots are already reserved for the German Match Race Champion Stefan Meister as well as for Sweden´s Bjorn Hanssen by winning the 2 qualifications for Match Race Germany in 2010. Left are 4 entries for which the professionals are lining up!
2 of them have best prospects to be guaranteed a spot in the German Match Race Grand Prix. “We are looking very much forward to welcome the crew of Markus Wieser, who we want to give, 10 years after the only German victory in our event, a wild card. We also hope to welcome America´s Cup helmsman and past World Match Racing Champion Karol Jablonski back in Germany after quite some time“ adds sports director Eberhard Magg.
Wieser and Jablonski want to know
Markus Wieser is looking forward to his comeback at Match Race Germany. “It is great to compete again. And of course we want to give our best to win again 10 years after our victory in 2011”. Karol Jablonski however has fought great battles in Langenargen in the past, but never won the event. The big blonde from Masuren (POL) is lacking a victory on Lake Constance. “It has been a long time since our last appearance in Langenargen. Match Race Germany left very positive memories with me and my team. Perfect organization, huge crowds of spectators, and a unique atmosphere. I want to experience this once more, and that is why I would love to come to Germany again” adds the freshly crowned European DN Ice boating Champion.”Both Wieser and Jablonski stand for Match Racing at it´s best and on top, the duels they fight are a highlight for our capacity crowd.” adds Eberhard Magg.
New state of the art Bavaria fleet
Germany´s leading Match Race is not only well prepared on the sports side of things. With the premiere of the 5th new fleet of race yachts in only 14 years the organizers once again set a benchmark amongst the World Match Racing Tour events. “With such a big investment of 7 new Bavaria 40S, the event will play a key role on the 2011 tour” adds an excited Jim O´Toole, CEO of the WMRT. At the launch of the new Bavaria in Düsseldorf in late January Markus Wieser was full of praise:”Bavaria pushed the right buttons with the 40S. A perfect symbiosis between race yacht and a sophisticated Cruiser with great comfort on offer was created” For the state of the art fleet SELDEN MASTS AB developed an exclusive Rigg edition. PFEIFFER MARINE, a new Partner to Match Race Germany supports the event with their product range. NAUTISATTLER will also play an important role in 2011 delivering covers as well as exclusive seat cushions.
Home Port Ultramarin
The Meichle+Mohr Marina Ultramarin is partner of Match Race Germany since the very first edition in 1997. Managing Director Clemens Meichle points out:“Match Race Germany is the best event on Lake Constance and a perfect ambassador for the venue, as an event a true high caliber and every spring a highlight for our 1500 berth owners in the marina.” Clemens Meichle estimates the mix of match racing action and the entertainment on shore highly, “The way the event is organized, it forms a perfect stage for our sport, but also for the national and international partners and their guests respectively, where we see growing numbers year by year”.
This positive trend is also confirmed by organizer Harald Thierer, partner of Eberhard Magg and Bernd Buck in Match Race Germany GmbH:“ After a very difficult year 2010, we are seeing positive signs for 2011. There is positive development on the sponsoring side, and a strong trend towards the Hospitality and Business Center, where we look forward to welcome a significantly bigger number of guests this year. As of today we will have in excess of 500 guests from our sponsors only. The new and much bigger race yachts offer a bigger and more attractive way of transporting the sponsoring message . The trend is clear to see: Visibility and involvement on a year around basis which we easily can deliver through Match Race Germany and in addition the options in Match Center Germany. The requirements of partners are getting bigger and more complex- for that we are very well prepared!”
Prelude for the World Match Racing Tour 2011
For the 14th edition of Match Race Germany, the organizers are expecting 35.000 spectators over the five day event period. The professional sailors will compete for 50.000US$ prize money and valuable points towards the World Championship ranking of the Tour, which at the end of the season offers a bonus prize purse of 500.000US$.
In 2011 the World Match Racing Tour consists of 9 events, and kicks off from 10th through to 15th of May in France, 9 days later the sailing gladiators move on to Germany and after 6 further events in Korea, Portugal, Denmark, Switzerland and Bermuda to finally have the season finale of the 2011 season in Malaysia.
Sponsors of Match Race Germany
Bavaria Yachtbau, Ultramarin, Stihl, Württembergische Versicherung, Nautisattler, Nagel Baumaschinen, Marinepool, Selden Masts AB, HHP, Layer Grosshandel, Liros Ropes, Pfeiffer Marine, Uwe Schriever Yachttransporte, Elvström Sails, Yachten Meltl, Schwäbische Zeitung, Seglerzeitung, Regio TV Euro 3; Interboot, Messe Friedrichshafen, Versicherungsbüro Riedle&Zartl, Holstein Media, Gemeinde Langenargen, Gerolsteiner, Winterhalter Gastronom, Intersky, Stream 5, Kaenon, Kosta Boda, Match Center Germany.
Match Race Germany
World Match Racing Tour
