Tuttlingen/Germany (Leibinger) – Company Paul Leibinger participates in the Lake Constance regatta „Rund Um Bodensee 2011“. Due to the good economic situation the production of the Tuttlingen based producer of inkjet printers for the industry, camera systems and numbering machines runs with full sails. To take advantage of the breeze, Paul Leibinger participates in a regatta for the first time as a sponsor. But the Tuttlingen based high-tech-company doesn’t participate in just any regatta: The “Paul Leibinger – Raffica sailing team” starts at the biggest regatta on Lake Constance, at the “Rund Um Bodensee”, short “Rund Um”. This worlds second biggest inland regatta strechtes over 100kms and requires greatest knowledge in sailing and topfitness of the crew. To make sure of both, Paul Leibinger has chosen the winner of the “Rund Um” 2004 and 2009 for sponsoring, the Raffica-Sailing Team from Hungary. On the sails of the boat Raffica, the Leibinger logos will proudly shine. When Raffica captures in 2009 after twelf hours the victory and got the blue band, the team was no surprising winner: On the contrary: By participating in regattas on Lake Geneva and Lake Garda, the team Raffica gained international respect. The Raffica is a boat class Libera. It distinguishes itself by its low weight, a sailing surface of up to 400 square meters. Because of its low draft, the boat can easily flip over. The inclination on the sideways have to be levelled by the twelf person crew by leaning far over the kerb. The challenge of the “Rund Um” is the fact, that it is a night regatta. In contrast to daylight, “the signs at the sky can’t be seen at night,” explains Peter Sternbeck from the organizing Lindau Segler-Club. Clouds and wind can merely be seen, “the sailors have to watch out all the time and react in time, when a storm comes up,” says Sternbeck. A break of the mast is not seldom at the regatta on Lake Constance. “But we have a big contingent of security such as water police and guards. In addition to that strict safety regulations are in force,” the member of the Lindau Segler-Club board calms down. The skippers especially have to look for their sonar. Experienced sailors know, that close to the shore, there often is more wind than in the middle of the lake. But since the water level of Lake Constance this year is very low, sailing close to the shore is dangerous and the boats could run onto ground. Start and finish of the “Rund Um” is in Lindau. The first buoy that must be surrounded, is in the water in Romanshorn, then the boats must sail to Constance, Ueberlingen and back to Lindau. Until now the race lasted 24 h, the inland sailors had one day time for the 100km long route. Since there were slacks in the last couple of years, this year the time has been extended for one and a half hours. Because the sailors don’t fear the storms, they fear the slack. And especially in June, the wheather must be very unpredictable, residents of Lake Constance say. From thunder stroms out of the blue sky, wind storms to slacks, everything can happen. Last year, about 300 boats started, but only 31 came into finish in between the time limit, the rest gave up of took too long. The wheather forecast predicts for June 17th a wind strength two to five knots, but meteorologists often fail. It remains exciting. The starting signal for the 61. “Rund Um”, that takes place every year, will be given on Friday 17th at 7:30 p.m. on Lake Constance in front of Lindau harbor.

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