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The 470 Junior World title went to Eyal LEVINE and Amir YAM from Israel after a thrilling Medal Race, which saw them defeat Sime FANTELA and Igor MARENIC (CRO) on countback. More than 2,600 sailors from 37 nations (the most international fleet ever) celebrated a premium maritime festival in perfect summer sunshine.

On ten courses about 350 races were sailed in 32 classes in this year's Travemuender Week. The highlight was set by the ISAF Grade C1 Tornado European Championship, won by a dominant performance from Roman HAGARA and Hans Peter STEINACHER (AUT).

A Success

All in all, the response to the week was very positive. 'We got a lot of praise from the sailors,' said the organising duo Karin BÖGE and Claus-Dieter STOLZE. 'Mostly for the fair races and a good combination of sailing and social events.' Their aim is to further improve the good image of one of the world's largest sailing events, and continue to bring top class championships to Travemuender Week.

'The competition in this year's edition was stronger than ever before, at least as far as I can remember,' said race officer Walter MIELKE. 'But it suffered also from the most difficult weather conditions I have experienced since 1980.' Not one single day saw the 'normal' gradient wind. About 350 races were sailed exclusively with a thermal sea breeze that usually built up in the afternoon heat.

Even the eagerly anticipated awaited Medal Race, sailed by the top ten 470 sailors of the Junior World Championship, was started in very light thermal winds that arrived around 1400 local time on the final day. The Croatian team, that led the series after the eight race series had a bad start and picked the wrong side for the first upwind leg. The Israeli crew LEVINE and YAM took advantage and sailed to second place. In the end it was a very tight race, seeing the Croatians crossing the line as fourth team, but it was not enough to secure them gold.

'We knew we had a chance to win and we are very happy that we made it to gold in the end,' said LEVINE.

PEPPER Wins Star Battle

The 13th ISAF Grade 2 District Championship of the Olympic Star class was won by Hamish PEPPER and crew Carl WILLIAMS (NZL), followed by Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ and Dominik ZYCKI (POL). Bob BAIER (GER) became International Champion of the A-Catamaran class with Jean Louis LE COQ (FRA) in second place.

More than one million people came to this year's Travemuender Week to see the spectacle on the water and to party on shore. The next Travemuender Week will be held from 20-29 July 2007.