Perfection and Synchronization
Lean Maritime supports Olympic sailors Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel
Their mission for gold begins: three qualification races separate helmsman Erik Heil and coxswain Thomas Plößel from their start in Tokyo 2020. The first decisive race is scheduled for today at the Worlds in Auckland (New Zealand) - at 11 p.m. German time. Their competition: four strong German 49er teams. All five teams are competing for the German national place in the 49er boat class. Lean Maritime supports Heil and Plößel (HP-Sailing) in their competition for the Olympic ticket.
Olympic qualification: Lean Maritime sails along
Road to Tokyo: Lean Maritime supports the German 49er team HP-Sailing. Photo: wecamz
Heil and Plößel have been flying over the water together for two thirds of their lives. Lean Maritime is now sailing with them. The slim logo variant on the mainsail of the 49er skiff gives the boat as little extra weight as possible, because sailing a skiff is considered demanding - technically difficult and tactically challenging. At up to 30 knots - around 55 kilometers per hour - it is the fastest and most spectacular boat of all the Olympic classes. "The 49er is complex and a lot of fun. It's physically and mentally demanding and never gets boring," says Heil. Just the right challenge for Heil and Plößel - it's not for nothing that they translate the "HP", which stands for Heil and Plößel in HP Sailing, with a wink as "High-Performance".
Recipe for success: coordination, communication, concentration
Difficult conditions suit Heil and Plößel. They become really good when they "take risks" and sail "aggressively at the limit".The Olympic qualification of the 49er requires quick decisions, courage and cunning.Plößel loves this challenge - especially in combination with the speed. The effort involved is also what makes sailing so appealing to him. During today's qualifying regatta, coordination, communication and concentration are once again mandatory for the experienced team - every second. Because it is precisely the small units that matter. It is not for nothing that Plößel follows the strategy "little by little - to success.
Follow along: High performance in the 49er
Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel know what an Olympic medal feels like. In 2016, they won bronze in Rio. The next goal: collecting points! The German team that collects the most points in the next three qualifying events will be allowed to sail for a medal in Tokyo 2020:
Worlds 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand (November 29 to December 8)
Worlds 2020 in Geelong, Australia (February 8-15)
Trofeo Princesa Sofía 2020 in Palma, Mallorca/Spain (April 27 to May 4)