Home Waters, World Dreams: Anton Gießner's Road to the RS Aero Youth Worlds 2026

Anton Gießner's Road to the RS Aero Youth Worlds 2026 © Anton Gießner

Racing the Youth Worlds on Home Waters

At just 17 years old, Anton Gießner is the reigning RS Aero 5 German Youth Champion. This summer, he joins the line up at the RS Aero Youth World Championship, 20-24 July. As part of the wider RS Games 2026, this event carries extra significance. For Anton, the biggest youth event in the RS Aero calendar is happening on home waters in Travemünde, Germany.

RS Sailing caught up with Anton to hear about his transition into the RS Aero, his experiences as a youth sailor and what he's looking forward to at the RS Games at Travemünde Woche.

Anton Gießner's Road to the RS Aero Youth Worlds 2026 - photo © Anton Gießner

Anton sails on Geierswalder See, a lake in eastern Germany, where he credits much of his formative sailing years. "I started sailing when I was 10 at a small sailing school where I learned in an Optimist."

Childhood trips to the Baltic Sea with his grandparents also left a lasting impression: "We always used to watch the boats coming in and out of the harbour. Since I was young, it was a dream to own a sailing boat myself one day."

After progressing through the Optimist, Anton moved into the Open Skiff, where he built valuable international experience before stepping into the RS Aero.

A Temporary Solution That Became a Passion

Initially, Anton saw it as a short-term single-hander option while he looked for a partner to crew a double-hander with. That plan changed quickly. "Within half a year, it was so much fun that I decided to keep sailing it!"

The biggest adjustment moving to the RS Aero was adapting to the larger 5 rig. "It just took a little while getting used to." And early results showed just how quickly he adapted; by his second event - the German National Championship 2025 - he was already competing for the win.

Why the RS Aero?

What keeps Anton hooked on the RS Aero is the balance between simplicity and performance. "It's not too complicated to sail, but it can still reach high speeds when handled correctly."

For Anton, the RS Aero rewards one key quality above all else: endurance. "If you can keep the boat stable in strong winds, you can gain valuable metres on the sailor in front of you."

Training days are all about big breeze and pure enjoyment. "When I'm training, I really like strong winds because I can go off course and just have fun for a while." When racing, though, he prefers a more tactical 10-knot setup. And waves? Almost always welcome. "Waves always upgrade a session!" he grins.

For anyone considering an RS Aero, Anton's recommendation is simple: "Try it at least once. It has huge potential for fun. It's easy to handle and can achieve really good boat speeds."

A Champion in the Making

Anton's sailing résumé already includes some impressive achievements in the mix. In 2025, he became German Youth Champion in the RS Aero 5, adding to an Open Skiff career that included participation in two World Championships and two German Championships.

"I'm most proud of my performance at last year's RS Aero German Championship." While winning the Youth title is a huge achievement in itself, he was also a contender for the Overall title. "I almost won the RS Aero 5, but missed out by just two points."

Anton Gießner's Road to the RS Aero Youth Worlds 2026 - photo © Anton Gießner

Looking Forward to the RS Games

Young, talented and eager to test himself against the world, Anton is pumped for the RS Aero European and Youth World Championships 2026 on home waters. He joins as one of the many inspiring sailors who make the RS community such an exciting place to be.

"It's my first big Worlds event in the RS Aero," he says, "and the first time I am going without my friends from the past years to a Championship."

Although this is his RS Aero debut on the international stage, Travemünde itself is familiar territory.

"I raced there three times in the Skiff, so I know the area a bit. I've always liked it because it offers great sailing conditions." The combination of Baltic breezes, sea conditions and the energy of Travemünde Woche makes the venue one of Europe's classic regatta destinations.

As for his personal goals? Refreshingly grounded. "I want to finish somewhere in the middle of the fleet and have fun with all the other sailors."

For many young sailors, that balance between competitive ambition and community spirit captures exactly what the RS Games are all about. Thank you for sharing with us, Anton. We hope you have a great time at the RS Games 2026!