21St Match Race Germany 2018 16 to 21 May 2018 (Pentecost) Langenargen / Lake Constance

21st Match Race Germany 2018
16 to 21 May 2018 (Pentecost)
Langenargen / Lake Constance (Germany)

Inspired by the Comeback in the America's Cup: Match Race Germany and the Match Race Super League power into the future on one hull
Langenargen/Düsseldorf (25 January 2018). With plenty of tailwind from the America's Cup, Match Race Germany towards it’s 21st edition and the Match Race Super League in the second season are sailing into a bright future – on one hull. Both, the leading German duel classic and the international Match Race Super League gain an increasing popularity after the co,eback of monohulls fort he 36th America’s Cup. "For sailing, the best news is that the America's Cup has returned returned to monhully," says Finland's Mati Sepp, not only number six in the matchrace world ranking list but also the organizer of the Matchrace European Championship this year in Estonia. Says Sepp, „Match Race Germany is a landmark of European Sailing and it is a great example of organising a high level sailing event!“.

MORE THAN 100 PERCENT GROWTH FOR THE MATCH RACE SUPER LEAGUE
The development of the international Match Race Super League, which was co-initiated last year by Eberhard Magg, Harald Thierer and Morten Lorenzen and dedicated to the original matchracing on one hull, reflects the revived desire amongst Sailors and their fans for duel sailing on monohulls. "The still young but highly dynamic Match Race Super League has grown extremely fast and has been able to increase the number of regattas and of participating teams by more than 100 per cent within the first year," co-founder Eberhard Magg comments. "The uptrend is very visible and sends a clear signal." More than 15 match race regattas in range of Grade 1 to Grade 4 in 13 countries on four continents have already joined the Match Race Super League. "And we expect further growth this year“, says Match Race Germany’s Sports Director and the Match Race Super League’s coordinator Eberhard Magg, „some organizers are still in promising negotiations with their partners. In addition, we have inquiries from the fifth continent, Africa."
Magg goes on explaining, „we experience that the desire of sailors and fans for the most exciting form of duel sailing – classic matchracing – is rising constantly. The Super League drivers are working hard to be able to award an official World title in their discipline again in the near future. We are optimistic that we can convince World Sailing through our movement and the strong numbers.“ 2018 Match Race Super League regattas are scheduled in Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Poland (2), Germany, Finland, Montenegro, France, Estonia, New Caledonia, USA (2), Singapore, New Zealand and Bahrain. More will be added in the coming weeks. The Super League season’s opener ist he Porto Alegre Match Cup in Brazil from 23 to 25 March.

THE TITLE DEFENDER HAS CONFIRMED HIS PARTICIPATION
Early in the year, the current holders and defenders of both titles, Eric Monnin and his Swiss Albert Riele Match Race Team, submitted their entry to Match Race Germany and set the benchmark for the German Grand Prix. "We will benefit from the fact that we have finally broken the spell with our victory last year," says Eric Monnin. In his eleventh attempt, the Swiss helmsman and his crew were able to conquer the coveted German crown. "The fact that we finally won Match Race Germany gives us confidence for this year's edition. On the other hand, expectations could now be higher – either self-made or predetermined from the outside. That usually makes it harder. "The return of the America’s Cup to monhulls may have surprised some people but myself rather less“, says Monnin,"the combination of "fast straight-line driving, but slow maneuvers" is not easy to handle in matchracing on multihulls. The fact that the AC has now said goodbye to the multihulls can certainly give some impetus to monhull matchracing.“

Monnin's advice to the competition, which is preparing for the matchracing summit over Whitsun: "Lake Constance is primarily known for its weak winds, but can also present itself from another side. You should be able to adapt well to changing conditions. The combination 'Big Boats & Light Winds' requires a lot of sensitivity. We look forward to Langenargen every year and enjoy the familiar atmosphere and the entire program during the Whitsun week." On the competition side of things, Monnin's team set a clear goal for the 2018 season:" We will focus on the Match Race Super League."

"MATCH RACE GERMANY IS THE LIGHTHOUSE OF THE EUROPEAN MATCHRACING SCENE!"
Mati Sepp explains more reasons why the return of international matchracing to monohulls is the right idea and important for sailing in general: "For me, international sailing is all about monohulls because multihulls are too expensive and the vast majority of sailors worldwide are sailing and competing on monohulls. That's why the return of the America's Cup to past tradition is the best thing for sailing! I hope that we will sail on monohulls again for the World title in the near future, because it is a very popular sport. Hopefully, the Match Race Super League will provide an ideal stage for this." Sepp is looking forward to returning to Lake Constance after his premiere at the 2017 Match Race Germany, describes it as a lighthouse oft he discipline: "Match Race Germany is a landmark of the European Matchracing and a great example of the organization of a high-level sailing event in all it´s apects." Regarding the sailing challenge of the leading German match race regatta, Sepp says: "Lake Constance offers highly demanding wind conditions. Sailors have to be able to adjust to everything from light and rotating winds to strong winds and high waves. It can all can change in minutes! It's a really great regatta that requires tactical excellence and fast adaptability from the crews."
MATCH CENTER GERMANY: THE ROCK IN THE SURF
As a solid rock, the team of Match Center Germany, based right at the shores of Lake Constance in the beautiful Gondola Harbour of Langenargen and working in cooperation with the Yacht Club Langenargen and its members, is responsible for organizing and hosting Match Race Germany, which is held since 1997. Event Director Harald Thierer holds all the threads of the land organization in his hands and conducts the sailing orchestra of exhibitors, co-organizers, partners and sponsors alike. Already at the beginning of the year, Thierer can promis: "We continue growing! We also owe this to the trust of our well-known and long-term, loyal big partners such as the dtm group, Ultramarin / Meichle & Mohr Marina, ZF AG, Skoda, Nauti Sattler, Württembergische Versicherung and MHP - A Porsche Company. Over the next few months we will be able to announce new highly motivated crew members to become proud members of our partner family as well as details on the infotainment and festival program."

WHAT THE PARTNERS ENJOY: 30,000 VISITORS, EXCITING SAILING AND AN INSPIRING STAGE AT LANGEANRGEN’S GONDOLA HARBOUR
The lasting success of Match Race Germany for mor than two decades inspires it´s partners. Jan Moll, Managing Director of the dtm group, explained during the „boot“ in Düsseldorf at the first major press conference during the world's largest water sports exhibition in January: "The dtm group has been successfully involved as a boat partner at Match Race Germany for more than three years. In addition to the excellent event in Langenargen with more than 30,000 visitors, an essential factor for the cooperation is of course the exceptionally exciting sailing that we can present to our (VIP) customers. For us as a company, in addition to everyday technology, it is important to experience emotional moments together with our customers. There are hardly any better platforms around to do so than on the occasion of Match Race Germany."
Host of the press conference with news and background information about the 21st edition of Match Race Germany at the boot on 25 January is Match Race Germany partner LIQUI MOLY. Said Jan Volk, Director of Business Development Boat and Marine: "Match Race Germany is one of the sailing highlights and a magnet for many sailing enthusiasts as well as tourists at the shores of Lake Constance and on the water.

Thanks to the segmentation that Liqui Moly has consistently and continuously been promoting for several years, we, as an event partner, can virtually address all visitors directly and bring them into contact with our brand. Whether for car, motorcycle, bicycle, aviation or marine purposes - Liqui Moly is active as a lubricant specialist in all these segments and uses Match Race Germany as a happy, successful and rousing stage for our products."
The Team of Match Race Germany will inform you about news about the sporting highlights and the festival program regularly in the coming months.

TV, PRESS CENTER & FACILITIES

Due to the strong increase in TV interest last year, we would like to invite colleagues from all interested broadcasters to plan their coverage together with us in good time. Our successful TV production team from last year is back on the spot and invites you to discuss individual station wishes with us. Press boats for your teams are available on site as well as our experienced press team. You’ll find the the Media Center in Langenargen’s Gondola Harbour Langenargen, including workplaces offering all important production and technical facilities for the colleagues of the broadcasters, the writing guild and photographers. Looking forward to seeing you there!

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