The Team
14 meters long, 8.6 tonnes, 257 square meters of sail area and a mast height of 23 meters: facts like these make sailors’ hearts beat faster – especially when those hearts belong to the members of the all-women crew who have made the “Tutima” yacht into their second home.
Kirsten Harmstorf-Schönwitz / skipper
Her real name is Kirsten, but everyone calls her “Kirsche” (“Cherry”). She began sailing soon after she first saw the light of day. An experienced helmswoman of an all-women crew since 1994, she has successfully competed in numerous national and international regattas and championships. After 12 years aboard a J24 and four years aboard a Bashford41, she was entrusted with the responsibility of serving as the skipper of the “Tutima”.
Born: 4 December 1972
Profession: insurance broker for seagoing ships
Sailing since: her birth
In the crew since: 2009 (the starting year of the Tutima women’s project)
Place of residence: Hamburg, Germany
Successes: J24: Best Women’s Team in world and European championships; Bashford 41: various successes in the Baltic Sprint Cup; Tutima: all successes of the Tutima since 2009
Stephanie Kühn
With nothing but a few sailing experiences from her teenager years, this native of Rendsburg began regatta sailing somewhat late in life. Nicknamed “Heidi”, she pursues a career in event management and is the organizational talent among the Tutima’s crew.
Born: 16 September 1975
Profession: graduate businesswoman
Sailing since: 2006
In the crew since: 2010
Places of residence: Hamburg & Wolfsburg, Germany
Successes: participated in various regattas aboard Melges24; various successes in Swan Cup / Swan European Challenge; German champion in sea-sailing (inshore) 2010 (TP52); various successes with the Tutima since 2010
Regina Kühn
“Reggie” has known that “sailing + pink” is a good combination ever since she was a schoolgirl, when she sailed countless regattas on the Baltic aboard her club’s pink “youth ship”. These were followed by exciting seasons aboard the X99 and missions in J24 and J80 crews. Keeping loyal to the pink hue, Reggie is looking forward to sailing at full speed aboard the Tutima racing yacht.
Born: 5 May 1983
Profession: teaches physical education and German
Sailing since: football became boring
In the crew since: 2015
Place of residence: Wismar, Germany
Successes: overall winner of the Baltic Cup in 2004 & 2006 OSC IV; participated in various X99 German and Scandinavian championships; various successes with the Tutima since 2015
Kristin Lehmkuhl
“Kiwi” began sailing during a stay in New Zealand in 2009. She later gained additional experience in 420ers and aboard big ships. She has shared her passion for sailing with the crew of the Tutima since 2011.
Born: 30 September 1992
Professional: student
Sailing since: 2009
In the crew since: 2011
Place of residence: Leer, Germany
Successes: team racing in New Zealand in the 420er in 2009/2010; various successes with the Tutima since 2011
Jasmin Rapprich
Having spent just a few days at sea, this native of Hamburg became infected with the sailing virus in 2006. After sailing training, initial regatta experiences aboard pirates, several seasons with a J24 and Platu 25 as part of an all-women crew, diverse guest appearances in high-seas regattas, and three seasons aboard the X332 “Rubix”, “Mini” is happy to be sailing as part of the crew of the Tutima.
Born: 23 October 1988
Profession: businesswoman in the shipping industry
Sailing since: 2006
In the crew since: 2014
Place of residence: Hamburg, Germany
Successes: participated in various German and European championships in pirates, J24 and Platu 25; various high-seas regattas (including the Baltic Sprint Cup in 2008 and 2009); vice-champion in ORC 3 Inshore; various high-seas regattas (including the Baltic Sprint Cup in 2008 and 2009); vice-champion in ORC 3 Inshore
Kerstin Schult
This Berliner was born into a sailing family and learned to sail in early childhood. She soon realized that she wanted to combine her hobby and her career, so she became a sailmaker. As a former competitive athlete, Kerstin sailed in the Olympic Women’s Match Race discipline until the beginning of 2012.
Born: 28 February 1984
Profession: sailmaker
Sailing since: her birth
In the crew since: 2012
Place of residence: Hamburg, Germany
Successes: Olympic campaign with the Elliot 6m; Women’s Match Race European Champion in 2009; participated in various world and European championships
Katharina Sophie Tietz
Water is Katha’s element. She gained her first sailing experiences aboard a Laser Bahia on the Alster, followed by cruises with her family. She guarded German beaches as a DLRG lifeguard for many years. She switched from the sunshine of the beach to the spray aboard the Tutima in 2016 – and has had “nothing but sailing in her head” ever since.
Born: 13 October 1994
Profession: bank clerk | B.Sc.
Sailing since: 2007
In the crew since: 2016
Place of residence: Hamburg, Germany
Successes: various successes with the Tutima since 2016
Ariadna Velázquez
Born in Mexico, “Ari” discovered her passion for sailing at age 15. She gained her first experiences aboard a J-24. She was a member of the only ORC Mexican women’s sailing team in 2005, participating in various regattas in the Pacific. She also sailed aboard the Tutima’s sister ship on the Mediterranean.
Born: 14 July 1978
Profession: designer
Sailing since: 1993
In the crew since: 2013
Place of residence: Hamburg, Germany
Successes: various successes in Catalina 37; Women’s One Design in Long Beach, MEXORC / Copa Mexico; J24 Mexican Championship and World Championship; regatta participant on Melges 24 European Championship; diverse ORC regattas in the Mediterranean; various successes with the Tutima since 2013
Svenja Carlsen
Before Svenja began regatta sailing in 420ers as a teenager in a sailing club in Hamburg, she had already gained her first sailing experiences aboard her parents’ boat during many sailing trips on the Baltic. The 420er was followed by a very instructive time in Match Race and the J24.
Born: 11 February 1987
Profession: civil engineer (M.Sc.)
Sailing since: earliest childhood
In the crew since: 2011
Place of residence: Munich, Germany
Successes: European Student Championship (Women); match racing in La Rochelle in 2007; various successes with the Tutima since 2011
Lina Borggräfe
Anyone who was born on the island of Föhr cannot possibly avoid contact with water. Lina began opti sailing at age five and later came to pirates, where she gained her regatta experience. After smaller missions aboard the Platu 25, Lina has enjoyed sailing aboard the Tutima since 2015.
Born: 9 May 1996
Profession: apprentice shipbuilder
Sailing since: 2001
In the crew since: 2015
Place of residence: Flensburg, Germany
Successes: participated in various championships in pirates (3rd place in the U-17 rating in the German championship in 2011); U-19 European Champion (2013); various opti regattas in the North Sea
Annika Neumann
Annika made her first heroic attempts at sailing aboard her opti “Käptn Schlotterbein” and has remained loyal to water sport ever since. This student enjoyed many lovely sailing evenings on the Alster aboard the wooden pirate that she restored. She first came aboard the Tutima early in the summer of 2011 has been part of the crew ever since.
Born: 9 March 1992
Profession: student of business administration / insurance broker
Sailing since: she was six years old
In the crew since: 2011
Place of residence: Hamburg, Germany
Successes: various successes with the Tutima since 2011
Laila Engler
Many sailors experience stress during demanding situations like the last five minutes before the start of a race, but Laila finds these situations relaxing because they enable her to forget all about the stresses and strains of daily life.
Born: 16 November 1989
Profession: industrial engineer
Sailing since: her birth
In the crew since: 2010
Place of residence: Kiel, Germany
Successes: German champion in 2008 on the Melges24; various successes with the Tutima since 2010 (including German Vice-Champion in Offshore in 2013)