IMCA Germany October 2001

Things are developing very well over here. We got some new active members in 2000 and 2001. For the first time since the 1970s, we counted 30 sailors in the National ranking list. A strong fleet appeared in Berlin; at the moment 6 sailors, and next year we should certainly have more. Originator of that is Andreas Block who also inspired David Balkwill to found the French fleet.

We feel, that a small class like the moth needs some guys who don´t stop to push things. If you interrupt that just two or three years, you will get problems. Most of our sailors are 30 to 40 years old, with more than 10 years in the class. In the last two or three years, younger sailors have steped in and pulled others along with them.

Sven Kloppenburg was first in the European Championships in Denmark. He was the first German since 1976. IMCA-Germany was heavily involved in organising the Europeans.

Dirk Koepe
Secretary
IMCA Germany
dirk.koepe@web.de

The Int. Moth Class Europeans at Horsens Sejlclub 2001

Early August a fleet of some astonishing small racing dinghies showed up at the rigging meadow of Horsens Sejl Club.

Some 26 helms out of 5 different European countries arrived, not just only warmly welcomed by the club and their representatives like Erik, Hugo and Lars. Furthermore the City of Horsens expressed their support, inviting all participants and relatives into the town hall, for a welcome celebration by the city mayor Mr. Vagn RY Nielsen.

Next morning sailors from Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Germany rigged up the sails to get prepared for the first race.

Some visitors wondered already on the strange slim “rocket – like” shaped hulls of these just 3,35 m long free design, single handed racing dinghies. Well, the very liberal class rules do permit any shape, basically as long as the length, width (2,25m) and the sail area of 8 square meter are kept. Combined with very little boat wheigt down to 35 kg (thanks to design and carbon materials) and athletic sailing technique it’s the secret of the boats surprising speed in fair winds.

The club had layed out a short distance M – Course, which proved to be a perfect set for these boats, assuring extremely fast speeds on the reaches and avoiding the Moth Sailor’s hated downwind course. Also, the M-Course required 3 jibes at the buoys giving always good entertainment for the professionally acting race committee: some breathtaking stunts in capsizing were enthusiastically reported!

In the 60s the Int.Moth Class was sailed in some numbers in the Svendborg area, even Moth boat building was strong at that times. Since then the activity dropped, being reactivated by the danish fellow Jan Drost now, sailing his Moth at Vejle and Horsens Fjord.

The first day had 3 races in medium, partly stronger winds and the more experienced sailors showed tight racing with “workout” and speed, others were fighting with the elements making it to the finish line within time limit.

The Int. Moth Class is definitely not a mass phenomena, more like a strong worldwide family, very active in keeping racing and proved always leading innovation since the beginning in 1928.

The second and third day showed lighter winds, giving the lighter and more inshore experienced helms a better chance, so a good range of different conditions was experienced.

Finally two sailors were almost equal in dominating performance: Patrick Ruf of Switzerland(9 points) and Sven Kloppenburg of Germay(8 points), the new European Champion. Third being Tim Steinlein of Germany.

The Moth Class enjoyed a very nice series at Horsens Sejl Club, which was even topped by the final price giving ceremony (we would rather like to say “fiesta”, with all the music and fine dinner,…).

We enjoyed very much the well taken words of Lars and Hugo and the class appreciates the honour, being considered on the fabulous Vitus Bering Pokalen.

We all had a very good time, enjoying nice sailing on the fjord, a warmly welcoming Horsens Sejl Club and a very capable race committee. The sailors would have loved to stay longer, just remembering the freshly tapped “beer on the shore” after the day’s sailing work… .

We definitely would like to come back to next years early summer series.

Maybe we meet with some new Danish Moth helms and boats, there were some rumours on construction initiatives for the winter time – let’s see what happens!

Joachim Huelsmeyer
German Moth Class