Wieser/Auracher with third world championship title in a row

World Championship of the Tempest
Despite one race remaining, gold and silver have already been awarded at the Tempest World Championship. And the defending world champions are also the new ones. Markus Wieser/Thomas Auracher (Starnberger See) were able to keep the Berlin brothers Lars and Leif Bähr (2, 2, 1) on distance with two victories and a second place. Taking into account the discards, the title fight is decided. On shore, winners and runners-up high-fived each other. „You guys were absolutely equal. It was fun with you guys,“ Wieser said. „Not just because we won the title, but because Tempest is a really cool boat. It’s a bit like a Flying Dutchman – not quite as fast, but just as nice technically. Since I usually sail a lot in professional owner-driver yacht cicuits, I really wanted to do some sailing myself. And the Tempest is just a lot of fun.“ Nevertheless, the Tempest season is now over for Wieser. Next stop: European Championship of the 6mR off Cascais/Portugal aboard Dieter Schoen’s „Momo“. Crew Thomas Auracher, on the other hand, is planning the German Open of the Tempest on Lake Starnberg with Rudi Houdek.

For the runners-up, too, the World Championship was only a short excursion in the Tempest. „This was only our fourth regatta in the Tempest ever and the first one this year,“ Leif Bähr reported. „That’s why we are super happy. It was mega fun to present the class here in Kiel in this setting. It’s great for our uncle (former president of the German Sailing Association, Rolf Bähr) that his nephews continue sailing in the Tempest,“ said Leif Bähr. His brother and helmsman Lars added: „It was an honor to sail against Markus and Thomas. It’s a pity that it’s already decided.“ In their race analysis, the Bähr brothers were complaining about the wind picking up a little too late: „In the first race today, the first buoy was near to the coastline, where we caught a 40-degree windshift on the wrong side. Markus was through with that. And with a little stronger wind, it probably would have been easier for us overall.“

The best prospects for third place are former world champions Christian Spranger/Christopher Kopp from Chiemsee, but they were not satisfied with the day. „We made too many tactical mistakes, let the competitors out of our sight and didn’t see the shifts properly,“ said crew Kopp. „But we would be happy with third place. The top ten are all great, and the top two are just better.“