Frasch leads German team to challenge for I14 World Championship title

Germany's Bjoern Frasch & Oliver Peter © Mary Pudney

Touristen Express' Bjoern Frasch and crewman Oliver Peter are leading the way for a German challenge at the International 14 World Championship to be held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, in Victoria, Australia, from 3rd to 17th January, 2015.

The multiple World Championship competitor expects another three northern German teams to soon lodge their entry. "There will be four German teams coming to the Worlds. The boats are already on their way to the UK to be shipped together, with the UK boats, to Australia," Frasch said. "Since the Germans are always lazy, they're not the first in the entry list," he jokingly added.

The other teams are GER28's Georg Borkenstein and Eike Dietrich, GER230's Axel Reinsch and Peer Blohm, and GER13's Julian Retzlaff and Fabio Pfisterer.

Borkenstein was the best-placed German in this year's European Championship in Kiel, finishing in fifth place in the 31-boat fleet. At last year's World Championship in Toronto, Canada, he was again the best placed German, finishing in 12th place while Reinsch took out 19th. "Unfortunately they always had bad luck with broken masts so the result could have been better.

"Axel (Reinsch) is on the same level but does not have any time for practicing. We will see how he will do with the new crew," Frasch said.

Frasch has competed in eight previous World Championships – Denmark (1995), USA (1997), Australia (1999), UK (2000), New Zealand (2005), Germany (2008), Australia (2010) and Canada (2013).

His crewman Oliver Peter has been racing with Frasch since 1993. The "old couple" as Frasch said, are not likely to be at full fitness by the start of the World Championships. He admits they have limited time in which to practice and have had a light regatta program for the last two years. Preparation problems aside, they still plan to have plenty of fun.

For his third visit to Australia Frasch is expecting Geelong to turn on the best racing conditions. "Sun, warm weather, flat water, lots of wind, great racing on a high level, cool beer, cool people and a great party.

"We are really looking forward to Geelong as Australia is such a great place. Not only is the nature great, but also the people. What we (Australians and Germans) discovered in the last championships is that there is a special relationship between Germans and Australians.

"We haven't done any study of Geelong as yet. We trust the Australian blokes. If the Vickerys, Jeffres, Klemm, Phil Strong, Marc Krystic, Lindsay Irvin etcetera tell us to come, we come," Frasch said.

Standard Entries close on 14th November 2014. Late entries may be accepted after this time with a late entry administration fee of $AUD100 applying, until the close of entries on 12th December 2014.

Notice of Race available at www.i14worlds2015.com/regatta-documents

Enter online at www.i14worlds2015.com/online-entry

www.i14worlds2015.com