Susann Beucke makes her debut at the Ocean Race, the prestigious offshore regatta around the world. The silver medalist from Tokyo 2021 also wants to set an example for other women with her start.
Susann Beucke is taking part in the Ocean Race for the first time, a regatta around the world
You can see and hear Susann Beucke how much she cares about her Happy start at the Ocean Race. “This is a great opportunity for women,” says the 31-year-old German sailor in an Instagram video. “It's a great opportunity for me to be part of this really experienced team.” According to Beucke, she is convinced that all team members “will reach their limits”.
The experienced French skipper Kevin Escoffier brought Beucke on board the Swiss team “Holchim PRB”. Although she is still a newcomer to offshore sailing, the German has a lot of talent and motivation, Escoffier, Ocean Race winner of 2018, explained his decision for Beucke: “She is mainly used to sailing with a reduced crew or single-handed [ alone on board – editor's note] – which will also be an advantage for our crew, since we will often be alone on deck when sailing.”
Seven stages, 60,000 kilometers
The Ocean Race, which leads around the globe, has been around for half a century. It is one of the most prestigious offshore regattas in sailing and is held every three years. The current edition should have started in 2021, but was postponed twice due to the corona pandemic. A total of 32,000 nautical miles (60,000 kilometers) will be sailed in seven stages. On January 15, eleven teams will set out from the Spanish port city of Alicante on their competitive journey through the seven seas. The boats are expected to arrive in Genoa, Italy, on July 1st. Two boat classes will start. The 18 to 20 meter long high-speed yachts made of carbon can cover distances of around 600 nautical miles (1100 kilometers) per day.
In addition to Beucke, skipper Escoffier also called on the three-time circumnavigator Abby Ehler from Great Britain to his team. The boat crews rotate from stage to stage, at least one of four team members must be a woman. The organizers of the Ocean Race have set themselves the goal of having as many women as men at sea by 2030 at the latest.
Since its premiere in 1973, 136 women have taken part in the regatta, which is considered the toughest team -Challenge in offshore sailing applies. The first German women were Gisela Bunck and Anke Schulz, who sailed in 1981/82.
“Life's dream comes true”
At the forthcoming Ocean Race, Beucke is the only German woman in the starting field. Among the men are three Germans: co-skipper Robert Stanjek and sailor Philipp Kasüske in the German-French “Team Europe” and skipper Boris Herrmann with his German “Team Malizia”. Beucke can pick up important tips from Herrmann, who made headlines last year at the legendary single-handed sailing regatta “Vendée Globe”. The 41-year-old is a family friend and a mentor to the sailor.
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“For me, a lifelong dream is coming true,” says the native of Kiel about her forthcoming start in the Ocean Race. In 2002, when the “Illbruck” team was the first and only German crew to win the regatta, Beucke followed the finish line in Kiel with her family at the age of nine: “There were 300,000 people there. It was incredible. I've been dreaming ever since from taking part in the Ocean Race myself. It's about to start. It's a fantastic feeling.”
Olympic silver in Tokyo
Sailing has played a huge role in her life “as long as I can remember,” says Beucke. “Sanni”, as she is called in her circle of friends, took part in competitions in small sailing dinghies from an early age. At the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Beucke and her teammate Tina Lutz won the silver medal in the 49 FX boat class – the number 49 refers to the hull length (4.99 meters) of these sailing boats.
Tina Lutz (left) and Susann Beucke at the 2021 Olympic regatta
After the success of Tokyo, Beucke ended her career in the Olympic boat classes and turned to offshore sailing. For this she moved her residence to the city of Lorient, the sailing stronghold on the French west coast. Last fall, Beucke competed in the “Solitaire du Figaro”, a solo regatta in the Atlantic. She reached her destination of Saint Nazaire, although her two sails broke on the final leg. “It was an extreme challenge,” said Beucke afterwards. “I've never experienced such a strong wind. I was very afraid and had to fight it.”
Campaign for equality
After switching to offshore sailing, Beucke also called hers launched the “This Race is female” campaign. She wanted, wrote Beucke, “to encourage women to tackle things, no matter how difficult it gets – to change the image of how women should behave and to give women more visibility.”
Sailing with a message – Beucke on her boat in the “Solitaire du Figaro” regatta
She's not about men ruled out, says the sailor. “But to really be equal, we have to push the women a bit.” Especially on the high seas, like now in the Ocean Race, women could “show what they're made of,” says Beucke. “Because the long distances are about willpower, a willingness to take risks, a thirst for adventure and a strong personality.”