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AUSTRIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Achensee, 14-16 August 2020 4.5 (2)

Because of Corona and a bad weather forecast, probably none of the 23 teams from six nations (from Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Great Britain, and Austria) expected such good races on the water and such a relaxed get-together on land.

The Austrian Championships started on Thursday evening, with a lot of rain and traditionally fine burgers and beer, all in strict compliance with Corona rules. At the time, nobody counted on sailing on Friday.

After the usual North wind suddenly appeared on Friday afternoon, three sporting races could be completed in 10 to 15 knots of wind.

GER-87 with Hans-Peter Schwarz and Roland Kirst sat confidently at the top of the ranking. AUT-39 with Martin Pfund and Christoph Zingerle positioned themselves with good results for the title of national champion.

On Saturday, the very accomplished race committee sent the FD fleet, including the six UFO-class boats, which also competed for their champions, onto the water despite the thunderstorm clouds on the entire horizon. And immediately both classes had to endure a heavy downpour, which was followed by bright sun and calm winds.

Some boats took advantage of the long waiting time for a trip to Pertisau on the other side of the lake for refreshing ice cream. The North wind set in late in the afternoon, allowing just enough time for a fourth race to make the FD Championships complete. Last year’s winners GER-222 Felix Albert and Lukas Merz won this race, followed by GER-87. In the evening, the traditional party in front of the boathouse was not detracted by Corona: there was great music, fancy drinks, and people even waltzed on the grass.

On Sunday morning it cleared up and the expected southerly wind set in and lasted until late afternoon.

Three exciting and challenging light wind races were sailed, of which GER-222 won and thus secured the overall victory, followed by GER-87 in second place.

Third in the overall ranking went to the Swiss Stephan Fels and Ulf Hügel with SUI-1

Austrian champions were AUT-15 Gerhard and Rainer Ulrich, who on Sunday caught up with last year’s champions Jacob Holzinger and Paul Srienz with the same number of points but secured the championship title due to their better placement in the last run. Third in the championship standings were AUT-39 Pfund and Zingerle, who on Sunday could not match the successes they had on the first day.

It was a wonderful championship – thanks to the confident race management on the water and the experienced team on land around Paul Hullehaar, Martin Pfund and Christoph as well as Philipp Zingerle. Thank you so much! We are already looking forward to next year, then hopefully without Corona. You can find the overall result here.

Marc Strittmatter AUT-8, translated into English by Gerhard Panuschka, who also competed with a new Austrian FD sailor.

New date for marina price Torbole 0 (0)

Please be aware that the CN Torbole changed the dates of our marina price trophy 2021 to 10.-12. July 2021!

Andrzej Iwiński left us 5 (1)

It is with sadness and regret that I must inform you that my brother Andrzej Iwiński left us after a long and serious illness. Jędrek was for me not only my older brother, but also a real guardian when I needed it in my youth, a mentor and role model. It was he who taught me the love of sailing, a love that also filled his life as long as his health allowed. He was a two-time Olympian, multiple Polish Champion in the beloved and beautiful Flying Dutchman class. A graduate of the famous Jurek Borowski cadet school in SWOS No. 2 in Warsaw. Let us remember him as a happy, soul of the company, full of jokes. I think that was his wish in the last moments of his illness. Happy winds, Brother, wherever your soul is sailing now!

Stanisław Iwiński

No Jupp at the windward mark 4.2 (5)

Just before sunrise, on Monday, October 26, the FD Class lost one of the most senior members as Jupp Wanders (82) from Germany passed away.

Jupp gone?

Never again GER 139

Unimaginable.

Jupp was a crossborder sailor. Being raised in a small village about 10 miles from the Dutch-German border, he spoke the language of the neighbouring country fluently. He started sailing in the sixties on lakes that the Dutch took from the sea.

Jupp was a war child, working hard, being an architect, and living sober. As a small boy he already experienced the hardships of life, as a refugee, having to flee with his parents when the Allied forces entered Germany in 1945.

At the end of the sixties he bought his first Flying Dutchman. Soon he was a familiar face in the Dutch FD family. That way he became a member of the famous Royal Loosdrecht Yacht Club, the cradle of the Flying Dutchman.

That way he embodied the after war ideals of FD founding father Coen Gulcher: a boat that brings people together internationally, getting to know each others culture by sportmanship, friendship and socializing.

Jupp fitted in that ideal. Always being helpful and encouraging after your fifth capsize or a broken mast: “Come on, get up and let’s share a beer.”

Bringing sailors together.

Jupp did that when he invited the Dutch FD sailors to come to Germany and sail on a small lake near Xanten, half an hour from where he was living. It became a famous yearly event. And Jupp took care to transform his house into a Flying Dutchman hotel. Matresses and sleeping bags in all corners and in the living. Five star service: breakfast, royal dinner, a beer tap and an abundance of drinks.

Being in competition with Jupp often during races, I later became his crew. Together we were proving that two helmsmen in one FD can work out well, as long as one of them is the captain.

That way Jupp became a life long friend.

Even in winter we went for the water. On frozen surface, on our skates, doing tours of 80 kilometres on canals in the famous Dutch windmill area.

No Jupp at the windward mark anymore.

Gone!

Makes the horizon a little empy.

Let’s watch the waves, cherish the warm memorie. Let’s stick to Jupp’s all time mottos: “Come, keep your head in the wind.”

Paul de Schipper

Photo: Caroline Kramer (Loosdrecht)

Update from Italian Flying Dutchman Class Association 5 (1)

The Italian Flying Dutchman class association is pleased to inform you that, on September 18 2020, the new Executive Council of the class was elected at the annual assembly of the class members.

The new president is Eric Deleu, a Belgian national, living in Rome, the vice president will be Nicola De Castro and the secretary Luigi Macci, reconfirmed in his third position.

The Italian Flying Dutchman class association would like to thank the former Executive Council for the extraordinary work accomplished. A big applause to Fulvio Colletti, true pillar of the class to whom the honorary presidency has been proposed and to Rinaldo Rinaldi whose commitment will continue both as a delegate in zone II and internationally as Vice-president for the organization of the World and European Championships .