Success at J22 World Championships: Felix Laukhardt and his Undine Crew Finish Fifth

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Status: 07.09.2023, 4:50 p.m

By: Theresa Ricke

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The successful Undine crew: Carl Herrmann, Felix Laukhardt and Thomas Laukhardt (from left). © vvg

Felix Laukhardt from the Undine Offenbach Sailing Club took fifth place in a boat with father Thomas at the J22 World Championships. we spoke with him

Offenbach – Felix Laukhardt is one of the most successful young sailors in the region – in 2020 he became German Laser Champion. His family is firmly connected to the Undine Sailing Club in the third generation. In the interview, the sports student talks about the J22 World Championships, sailing on the Main and his family, who are particularly enthusiastic about this sport.

Felix Laukhardt, you have just returned from the J22 World Championships in Travemünde. There you finished fifth together with your father Thomas and Carl Herrmann. Satisfied?

I’m very happy with our placement. We spun around together beforehand about where it could go. And since we still have little experience in the boat class, the top ten was what we dreamed of. Fifth place is incredible. In the end it even just didn’t become the fourth.

What was your highlight at the World Cup?

We won a race against the Netherlands, who later became world champions. Apart from us, only one other team managed that.

You get around a lot with sailing. How often are you still on the Main?

This is very different and depends on how much time there is between the competitions. If there is little time, my boat will be loaded, if there is a little more, it is ready for me at my Undine club. On the other hand, it depends on the wind conditions and I am heavily involved in my sports studies in Frankfurt.

In class J22 you sail with your father. In the laser they are both coaches. What’s it like being in the boat together?

It’s different than sailing with others. You’ve lived together for so long and communicated through sailing. You communicate on a different level. The important thing is that I can tell him my opinion clearly. This might be a problem for other types of relationships, but not for us.

Felix Laukhardt also remembers from the World Championships in Travemünde that the wind was unreliable. © vgg

Her mother is also an active member of the Undine club. What is the benefit of growing up in a sailing family if you want to do the sport yourself?

Sailing is always present with us, sometimes it’s even a little too much in the foreground (laughs). But when I was young, it was a huge advantage for me that the support for my sporting ambitions came all by itself. It’s harder for children whose parents don’t know it. Because the children cannot simply be handed over to the club and that’s it for the parents. If you want to go regattas, the parents have to contribute a lot and always go along. It would have been much more difficult for me to get this far without the help of my parents. I am very grateful for that. Today my girlfriend is also a great support.

How connected are you and your family to Undine?

I’ve always been in the club. I am the third generation, my grandparents are also still members. The club has done a lot for me: I learned to sail here, I have two boats from the club, so I feel very connected. They continue to support me with entry fees. I am also supported by the city of Offenbach and my sponsor AquaEquip. Whenever possible, I try to take part in SCU events. Unfortunately, I have to miss the MaaCup at the weekend because I’m competing in a regatta in Schotten, which is more important to me.

What championship are you currently preparing for?

At the beginning of October are the German championships at the Müritz. I compete in the boat class ILCA 7. Until then I’m still working on my start, that’s my biggest weakness. In addition, I neglected my fitness due to the university stress. It is important to catch up on the entire strength-endurance package. Since I’ve had relatively few training sessions this year, I’m hoping to finish in the top 15.

Theresa Ricke conducted the interview

Traditional championship on the Main

SC Undine invites you to the Maa Cup 2023 on September 9th and 10th on its premises (Am Leinpfad, directly at the Carl-Ullrich-Bridge). The traditional sailing regatta is a fixed date in the sailing calendar and has been held regularly for decades at one of Offenbach’s sailing clubs. The aim is also to win the challenge cup Maa-Cup: The club team with the two best rated dinghies and the two best rated cabin boats and open keel boats receives the cup. (tr)

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