IDM Windsurfer LT

International and German Championships at Lake Dümmer 18.09.2026 - 20.09.2026

The International German Championships for the Windsurfer LT Class at Lake Dümmer had plenty to offer: strong winds, close races, aching arms, and a final that remained undecided until the very last meter. Lasse Brudek competed successfully and shares his report.

There are regattas you remember because of a particular result. And there are regattas that stick in your mind because the entire weekend was simply special. The International German Championships for the Windsurfing LT Class at Lake Dümmer were both.

Even before arriving, it was clear: a leisurely glide across the water wasn’t exactly on the agenda. The forecast promised strong winds and gusts reaching storm-force levels. The large field of competitors allowed for racing in four weight classes. Right from the first start, you could tell how close the competition would be.

Friday: Four Races and Three Contenders
On the first day, four races were held right away. A leading trio quickly emerged: Leon Delle, Fred Hastman from the Netherlands, and me. We took turns in the lead and finished in the top three in every race. After four races, Fred led the overall standings. Leon was just one point behind him, and I followed in third place, another point behind. A regatta weekend could hardly have started any closer.

Saturday: The Dümmer Shows Its Teeth
On the second day, the wind picked up again. “Challenging conditions” quickly turned into “hold on tight and hope you make it across the course.”

In the first race, Leon didn’t get the trim just right and finished fifth. Fred came in second, and I came in third. In the next two races, Fred could only make it into the top three once more, while Leon and I engaged in an increasingly close battle for the lead.

Then it was time for the marathon race.

In keeping with the longer course, the wind picked up significantly once again. High waves and strong gusts turned the race into a real test of strength. Several equipment failures forced riders to drop out. Anyone who still wanted to complete the course cleanly needed not only speed, but also feel, concentration, and a certain amount of resilience.

The conditions suited me. I found a good rhythm, handled the wind and waves well, and won the marathon race ahead of Leon. Fred finished sixth.

This put me in the lead in the overall standings, though only by a single point ahead of Leon. Fred was just one more point behind.

The starting position for an exciting final day could hardly have been better.

Sunday: How to Almost Completely Squander a Good Starting Position
Three more races were scheduled for the final day. I took to the water as the leader and had the best starting position. A win in the first race would have been a huge step toward the title.

At least, that was the plan.

The reality consisted of two tactical mistakes and a fourth-place finish. Leon came in second, and Fred third. Not much remained of my comfortable lead.

In the next race, I wanted to do better. After a grueling comeback, I actually managed to pass Leon. Immediately afterward, however, my sail fell into the water and Leon pulled ahead again. Fred won the race; I finished fourth once more. After the strong position I’d had the day before, two fourth-place finishes were about as far from my wish list as calm waters are from a storm warning.

I was understandably in a bad mood and needed a moment to myself. I didn’t have much time to dwell on it, though, because before the final race, the situation was suddenly as simple as it was dramatic: Fred, Leon, and I were tied on points.

One race. Three racers. Whoever finishes first wins the title.
Before the start, the tension was palpable all around the course. For the three of us, however, the rest of the field seemed almost to disappear from view at that moment. We all got off to a good start.

Leon turned first and opted for the right side of the course. Fred and I crossed over to the left. At first, our side looked pretty good thanks to a wind shift. Then the wind shifted again, and suddenly the right side was faster after all.

At the first buoy, Leon was in the lead, I was right behind him, and Fred was third.

That’s when my comeback began. I pumped as hard as my arms and back would let me, closed the gap, and passed Leon just before the lower gate. There, we had to make another decision: I took the right buoy, Leon the left.

On the second upwind leg, a real neck-and-neck race developed. Sometimes Leon had a slight advantage, sometimes I did. The lead changed hands several times. Every gust could turn the race around; every small mistake could cost the championship.

At the upper buoy, Leon was once again just barely ahead of me.

Now all that remained was the final sprint to the finish. I mustered every last bit of energy I had left after three days of racing and pumped for every meter. Slowly, I closed the gap. Just before the finish line, I passed Leon again and won the race.

When I realized I’d won the race—and with it, the title—all the tension suddenly melted away. My cry of joy must have been heard all the way to the other shore. It was the most important, most exciting, and at the same time most beautiful race of the weekend. More Than Just a Results List

Being German champion again is unbelievably cool! But what I’ll take away from this weekend is more than just first place.

What sticks in my memory is the entire event: the large field, the close races, and the special camaraderie—where we talk shop together on shore and compete against each other without compromise on the water.

50% Fun, 50% Racing
No matter which club you came from or which weight class you competed in: This weekend showed once again why regattas like this are so much fun. Identical equipment, changing conditions, fair duels, and enough shared experiences to keep us talking about them for a long time to come.

And because, after three days of storms, a marathon race, and a nail-biting finale, it seems you can never get enough windsurfing, we’re jumping right back into it: The Bundesliga finals are coming up this weekend. Back at Lake Dümmer.

Our arms will get a brief rest until then. A very brief one.

All results: www.manage2sail.com/...

September 27, 2026 © DAILY DOSE  |  Text: Lasse Brudek  |  Fotos/Grafiken: Dr. Nathalie Kürten, Ralf Stubbe  |  translation: DE