...perfect score for Micha Naumann!

Report from Michael Naumann, Final event at the Isle of Rügen, Dranske village 6-14 September 2008.

"This year the German Speed Championships were battled out as a series- not a single event as in 2007.
In the early season there were only 2 races on a 250 metre course in maximum 22 knots of wind- so after 10 weeks on stand-by, the championship remained open before this final week at the isle of Rügen - Dranske village.
The first days of competition were really light winds- time for some Formula training, tuning equipment and enjoying the landscape.
Tuesday morning arrived gusty winds up to 16 knots from west, the perfect direction for flat water conditions. We were sent out for the first round of the GPS-fun-contest of Isle of Rügen trophy that runs in addition to the official races. The rules require an average of 5x10 seconds and must be higher than 28 knots.  I used my Blade 8.5 m? and the brand new Exocet WarpSL 71 with a 42 cm Hurricane Fins SR4.  I reached 29.2 kn average and won this first round of fun ranking.  Then followed light winds again, but the prediction for Thursday to Saturday looked very good, with winds forcasted up to 8 Bft.
Thursday evening the wind kicked in again, but too late for official racing. Just in time my new "black pearls" (Warp SL 66 and 56) arrived, to complete my board quiver.
Friday morning the long looked for wind was there, 25 knots from east and increasing!  The first race was started from 9:20 to 10:50 on a 500 metre course.  In the first run I used the Blade 7.5 m? with my well known WS 62, but the wind reached already 30 knots and more, so I changed immediately to 6.8 m? and the Warp SL 56.

I was impressed of the easiness of the board after the first ride!  The very chaotic chop reached in the meantime 70 cm up to 1 metre waves, what makes it not easy to find a fast way at the course.  I had confidence to my set up and reached top speeds over 36 knots. The wind increased more and I changed down to 6.2 m? at the end of the race.
We took a break of an hour to calculate the ranking out of our GPS data.  I won this first race in front of Thorsten Mallon Ger-818 and third Thomas Malassa Ger-169 and extended my lead in the tour ranking with three wins in three races.
The next race I was a bit too relaxed and sailed first some safe runs with Blade 6.2 m? and the Exocet Warp Speed. Then I took a break to change the fin and choose a more flying setup.  The race was shortened to one hour because of safety problems- there were a lot of wipe-outs and the boat had problems to bring them safely to the beach…  so there were only 5 minutes left for a counting run. This race I was second placed only a four tenth part behind the first Thorsten Mallon Ger-818 and in third position Manfred Merle Ger-82.

The third race of the day was shortened to a 250 metre course, to make this tough conditions a bit easier for the most sailors.  The chance for setting higher top speeds was over.  I won this last race of the day again in front of  Manfred Merle and Thorsten Mallon.
After a hard accident and foot injury, Thorsten had to quit racing.  Sorry for him, he was the most competitive rival this season.
Next morning on the final day the wind was less and picked up slowly.  The fourth race of the event started in 18 to 20 knots.  I sailed first the Blade 8.5 m? with the Warp SL 71 changed later down to the SL 66.  The course was 500 metre long and slightly downwind.  In the last 30 minutes the wind increased and I took 7.5 m? and the WS 62. My max speeds were up to 33 knots, what was enough to win followed by Armin Höfer Ger-76 and Thomas Malassa Ger-169.
In the final race the wind reached again the 30 knot mark, so that the combination of 6.8 m? and SL 56 was well powered.  The wind shifted in the first minutes of the race to a really half reach direction.  In the start area you had enough power, but at the finish close to the beach it was tricky to hold the speed.  I was second placed, only 3 hundredths behind.  The winner Thomas Malassa,  who had better tactics to go a bit upwind at the start and later blast down to the finish line.
In the end I won five out of seven races this year and with two discards, the championship ranking was secured to defend my title.

After the light wind championship in 2007, I proved that I am also competitive in higher winds.  I was happy to win the Isle of Rügen trophy, and the top speed in the event with 35.7 knots average on 10 seconds too! "

Top5 German Speed Championship 2008

Men:

1. Michael Naumann  Ger-14 (Exocet / The Loft)
2. Manfred Merle  Ger-82 (Tabou / Gaastra)
3. Armin Höfer  Ger-76 ( - / The Loft)
4. Thomas Malassa  Ger-169 (Exocet / Gun Sails)
5. Thorsten Mallon  Ger-818 (F2 / North)

Women:

1. Kathrin Stein Ger-240 ( - / - )
2. Birgit Höfer Ger-117 (Tabou / Gaastra)

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