Sailing World Cup

Late season start as a pre-Olympic skirmish

Lukas Haberl/Tanja Frank, who finished fourth at the European Championships, are currently ahead in the Olympic race.

(Bild: OeSV | Dominik Matesa )

Before the internal duel for an Olympic ticket for the Games in Paris, the "Trofeo Princesa Sofia" awaits Nacra 17 sailors from Easter Monday. The traditional World Cup regatta will serve as a first assessment of where they stand.

While some of their national team colleagues from the other boat classes have already competed in the World and European Championships this year, the "Trofeo Princesa Sofia" World Cup off Palma de Mallorca, which starts on Easter Monday, is actually just the start of the Olympic season for the two red-white-red Nacra 17 boats.

Olympic Games in their sights: Lukas Haberl, Tanja Frank, Laura Fares, Matthäus Zöchling (from left to right).

(Bild: OeSV | Dominik Matesa )

Almost five months without a competition
"We haven'tcompetedin a regatta for almost five months now - but we've been training really hard," says Lukas Haberl from Upper Austria, who, together with Tanja Frank from Neusiedl, took fourth place at the European Championships in Portugal in November to secure Austria's ticket to the Olympics. The pair are currently ahead of Laura Farese/Matthäus Zöchling from UYC Neusiedler See in the internal qualification for the Games. "This regatta is a test of where we stand," says Frank, knowing that the "preliminary skirmish" for the hot duel for the Olympic ticket begins off Palma de Mallorca.

Laura Farese and Matthäus Zöchling.

(Bild: OeSV | Dominik Matesa )

"On a higher level"
 "I'm delighted that things are starting again, the last training impressions were positive, especially with the starts and speed we should have made a step forward again. Our skills are definitely at a higher level now," says helmswoman Farese with conviction.

We have trained a lot and now have to try to integrate the things we have worked on into the races.

Nacra-17-Vorschoter Matthäus ZÖCHLING

Her cox Matthäus Zöchling also sees the Trofeo Princesa Sofia as the last test for the World Championships at the beginning of May: "After we decided not to compete in Hyères, this is our last opportunity to get some ideas for improvements before the World Championships. We've trained a lot and now have to try and integrate the things we've worked on into the races."

Valtentin Bontus wants to get back into the Medal Series in the Formula Kite class.

(Bild: OeSV | Dominik Matesa )

"Take the momentum with me"
 Just one week after his fourth place at the European Championships, kite-foiler Valentin Bontus wants to confirm his good form again off Palma de Mallorca, "take the momentum with me and build on his performance in Los Alcázares". At the regatta, the athlete from Yacht Club Podersdorf will be using new equipment "to get more test results for the absolute peak event of the Olympics." His goal is once again to take part in the Medal Series. This is unlikely to be achievable for Clemens Kübber in the strong ILCA 7 field. "But I'll give it my all and push hard," promises the man from Neusiedl, who has been working hard on his fitness recently.