Lutz Beucke (GER) Qualify for Tokyo

Tina Lutz and Susann Beucke of Germany have won their selection trials and will race in Tokyo. The pair are leading Kieler Woche which is the third leg of their national trials and since they were already leading the trials have mathematically locked up Olympic selection.

The German duo are long time campaigners but have yet to attend a games. They won the 2017 European Championship in Kiel, so clearly they are comfortable in the Kiel waters and sailed beautifully on the first day of gold fleet to move into the lead.

Segelreporter, the German sailling online magazine has the full story.

In their third attempt at the Olympic Games, Tina Lutz / Susann Beucke (Chiemsee / Strande) bought the ticket for Tokyo. After they failed in 2012 in the 470 and 2016 in the 49erFX-Skiff due to the internal German competition, they have now sailed an unassailable lead over the 2016 Olympians Victoria Jurczok / Anika Lorenz (Berlin).

The outstanding two races can cause some postponements in the Kieler Woche evaluation, but mathematically it is no longer possible for Lutz / Beucke to lose the Olympic elimination. In the three-part qualification, which includes the last two World Championships and now the Kiel Week, they are now by far the best German team.

In addition, the crew can go into the final day of Kiel Week with great self-confidence. Because after a strong series and with the day’s victory at the end of Saturday, they took over the Kieler Woche leadership.

Capsized in Auckland

On the penultimate day, Lutz / Beucke showed that they are among the best skiff crews in the world, especially given the prevailing strong wind conditions. That was one of her strengths for a long time when she started her career in the 49erFX. But she got lost a bit in an effort to match the light wind dominance of the lighter competitors. But last year they made a leap forward in both areas, which they also attribute to the collaboration with Briton Ian Barker, 49er silver medalist from Sydney 2000.

At the 2019 World Cup off Auckland , they lost the bronze medal in the last race due to capsizing , and Susann Beucke admits that this mishap still haunted her on the last downwind stretch. But on their home track in front of Strande, at the right time and in perfect conditions for them, they showed that they had also developed mentally. The victory in the last race came about through a perfect balance between attack and risk.

Because the course on the TV train right in front of Schilksee presented itself like a potato field. In very changeable winds with short waves, the skiff women delivered a Formula One show at top speed, including various flaps.

Celebration in the family circle

The results were mixed up, only a few teams showed consistently top results. Above all Tina Lutz and Susann Beucke. In their home territory, they have not made a slip in the entire series of eleven races. With the victory in the last day’s race, they even catapulted themselves to first place overall.

With that you can go into the final day with complete peace of mind and even chill the sparkling wine. “We have no words. We are super happy with the day, have outgrown our possibilities. From the outside it must have looked calm, but from the inside it didn’t feel like that at all,” reported Susann Beucke and explained. “Everything is shaking. We have been under tension for months. Tonight we’re celebrating something with the family. “

Tina Lutz added: “I’m completely exhausted.” After fulfilling the Olympic criteria, winning the Kiel Week would be the icing on the cake. The pursuers Stephanie Roble / Maggie Shea (USA) are hanging close to the rear, only one point behind. On the third-placed Britons Charlotte Dobson / Saskia Tidey, however, the points cushion is already large.

49erFX results two races to go: