Rosa Donner wins spectacularly: comeback on the winner's podium!

Rosa Donner wins spectacularly: comeback on the winner's podium!

The 2025 sailing season has produced some impressive performances. This year two athletes in particular stood out: Rosa Donner and Ole Schweckendiek. Both have proven their skills in major championships and have successfully established themselves on the international sailing scene.

Rosa Donner made a strong comeback at the final 49erFX OPEN SERIES event, which took place September 25-28, 2025. Together with her partner Lafrance Berger she was able to sail a total of six races. Despite challenging conditions that varied from strong winds on the first day to light winds on the second day, the duo put in impressive performances, winning two races and never placing lower than fifth. Their victory not only marks a return to the top group, but also shows the success of months of hard work and intensive training, as Klick Kärnten reports.

Successes at the U21 World Cup

More exciting competitions took place in the summer of 2025, including the U21 World Championships in the 49er class in Rungsted, Denmark, which took place from July 30th to August 3rd. Although only seven of the fifteen planned races could be sailed, the teams from the Kiel Sailing Club (SVK) achieved considerable success. Pablo Rüegge and Linus Abicht secured the title of U21 world champions in the 49er, while Malena Rüegge and Liv Wicki took second place as U21 vice world champions in the 49erFX. Sophie Schneider and Victoria Egger-Buck from WYC also became U21 world champions in the 49erFX, as Bodensee Aktuell reports.

Despite changeable wind conditions, which led to calm conditions, especially on the last two days, the SVK teams were able to demonstrate their performance. Rüegge and Abicht finished in a disappointing 11th place after a weaker first day, but improved to the top step of the podium thanks to excellent results. This was all the more remarkable since both athletes had previously missed several competitions due to injuries.

Ole Schweckendiek's triumph

Ole Schweckendiek recorded another outstanding success, winning the title at the U21 World Championship in ILCA 7 in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland on August 29, 2025. The 20-year-old sailor beat his competition with a lead of ten points. 140 international sailors competed in this event and Schweckendiek, who had previously won several titles in the U19 and U21 classifications, once again proved his class. The challenge was to face challenges such as start delays and capsizing on the downwind course. Despite a difficult penultimate race in which he finished 19th, a solid 15th place in the last race was enough for the title, as can be read on Seglervereinigung.de.

Schweckendiek's success not only marks the end of his junior career in ILCA 7, but also the beginning of his challenges in the senior rankings, which will begin in 2026. The coach of the German Sailing Team also praised his tactical maturity and his understanding of the competition.

The outstanding achievements of Rosa Donner, Ole Schweckendiek and the SVK teams testify to the strong position of sailing in Germany and the potential of young athletes working towards international success. All athletes are now looking optimistically at the upcoming competitions, which are already in sight.