Warnemünde – Colorful sails, rolling Baltic Sea waves, and a thrilling grand finale: As part of the 88th Warnemünde Week, the Hobie 16 class crowned its new International German Champions. Following ten demanding races, Danish sailor Nicolaj Bjørnholt and his German crew member Stine Abratis (Deutscher Regatta Segelclub) claimed victory at the top of a formidable 37-boat fleet.
Suspense Right Down to the Final Day
While the Danish-German duo locked down the championship title, the battle for the remaining podium spots remained fiercely contested until the very end. Ulf Hahn and Katrin Wiese-Dohse (Segel-Club Kellenhusen) showcased ironclad nerves on the final day of racing: Snagging a victory and a 6th-place finish in the closing race, they surged up the standings to seize silver. In doing so, they edged out Ingo Delius and Sabine Delius-Wenig (Bocholter Hochschulsegler)—who had previously held second place—down to bronze. Overall, the top-tier fleet featuring sailors from Germany, Poland, and Denmark put on a masterclass in world-class sailing.
Perfect Sailing Grounds Off Hohe Düne
After stormy conditions initially dominated the opening of Warnemünde Week, the weather settled right on cue for the start of the Hobie regattas. With light to steady breezes picking up strength at times, the Baltic Sea provided ideal conditions for the high-speed beach catamarans.
“It was fantastic that the wind proved stronger and better than forecast. That allowed the signature Warnemünde waves to build up nicely,” crew member Stine Abratis celebrated after their success. The 24-year-old was particularly full of praise for the seamless logistics: “We launched from Hohe Düne, where we could push our cats directly off the beach into the Baltic Sea.”
Next Stop: European Championship in France
For mechanical engineering student and trained sailmaker Abratis and her helmsman Nicolaj Bjørnholt, the title marks the highlight so far of a still-young sailing partnership. The pair only joined forces spontaneously a year ago for the European Championship in Ustka, Poland. After intensive training sessions alongside the Hobie fleet in Aarhus, Denmark, their hard work has officially paid off.
Fresh off their IDM title, the duo already has their sights set on their next big milestone: In late August, they will compete at the European Championship at Lac de Carcans-Hourtin in France. There, Bjørnholt and Abratis—who previously enjoyed a highly successful sailing stint in the Hobie 16 with her brother Lasse—aim to launch a charge for a top-ten finish.
Championship Podium — Hobie 16 IDM
|
Position |
Crew Members |
Club / Country
|
|
1st Place |
Nicolaj Bjørnholt & Stine Abratis |
Deutscher Regatta Segelclub / Denmark |
|
2nd Place |
Ulf Hahn & Katrin Wiese-Dohse |
Segel-Club Kellenhusen |
|
3rd Place |
Ingo Delius & Sabine Delius-Wenig |
Bocholter Hochschulsegler |
Based on a report by the German Sailing Association (DSV). Photographer: Pepe Hartmann.