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WITZMANN, ranked at 102 in the recent ISAF World Match Race Rankings, and his team won against the upcoming young Polish team of Marek STANCZYK. STANCZYK showed some impressive sailing and based on this performance will surely make his mark on match racing in the near future.

The qualifying rounds last Friday and Saturday were held in light winds. The very small sailing area (between the shore and a former border peer between East and West Germany in the River Spree) provided exciting racing. Often the teams tried to pin each other against these boundaries and the rule situations were not always particularly clear.

On Sunday the wind finally arrived and the remaining teams were eager to show the potential of these fast three man (and woman) Streamline boats. With two crewmembers in the trapeze the boat accelerates quickly and a lot of athleticism is required.

Unfortunately the superbly organized event dinner the night before proved to be fatal for the young match racing team of Jan Eike ANDRESEN (GER). After great racing against the highest ranked competitor at 23 in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings, Stefan MEISTER (GER) in Sunday morning's first race, it seemed as if Team ANDRESEN started to suffer from a massive hangover. In the end they finished in fourth place, being beaten by Tino ELLEGAST (GER). ELLEGAST, sailing with his sister Petra, sailed very conservatively and took advantage of some serious misjudgments by ANDRESEN.

The competitors (from Germany, England, Austria, Russia, Poland and Switzerland), and especially the thousands of spectators enjoyed this very intense match racing battle in Berlin's city center. Spectators and competitors alike are looking forward to seeing the soon to be published event documentary, that will help pass the time until the Audi Spring Battle 2006.

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