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Human Interest
This Article Last Updated: May 17th, 2012 - 11:02:52
Timo Jacobs died at the age of 29 years on Sunday (13th May 2012) in Hamburg, Germany of a heart attack possibly caused by the inflammation of the heart muscle due to a viral infection. Jacobs was an A-squad athlete and constantly under medical supervision, and had passed all medical checks without problems. No preliminary heart damage was known.
The week before his death Timo sailed Stars at the Heinz-Nixdorf-Trophy with Johannes Babendererde and everything was fine. On Saturday before his death he sailed on Lake Alster in Hamburg in a Dragon event and watched the fireworks of the Hamburg Harbor Anniversary with his girlfriend in the evening. Timo had recently started a job with the North Sails OneDesign loft in Hamburg and had made an easy transition from a full time sailor to his new profession.
A friendly giant, nicknamed "Junior", Timo Jacobs grew up in a family of passionate yachtsman in Luebeck, starting sailing at six years old. First was the Optimists, and later the Europe dinghy and the youth Pirate. He participated in many offshore classics such as the Fastnet Race and Gotland Rundt. He partnered with Johannes Babendererde in 2009 in the European Championship in Kiel and at the 2010 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro. They won silver at Kiel Week and were number two in the Star World rankings at the end of 2010.
The competition to be the German Star class representative at the 2012 Olympics was among four teams and very intense. The coach Joachim Hellmich of Sailing Team Germany said, "Timo was the one of the team who was the fairest and most relaxed. His emotionality and positive demeanor was a large part of the glue that held the team together. He was very humane and a great sportsman."
"The time Timo spent on earth was too short, but as his team mate I can say that the time he had was great with a lot of wonderful moments and adventures," said Babendererde. "Talking to his parents at the hospital, they said they were 'glad' he sailed the Star as he had many good experiences in his 29 years. We will remember Timo as a great sailor and a very well-adjusted and open minded person. In spirit Timo will always be on board with me."
A website for Timo has been set up at www.timo-jacobs.com to which condolences can be added.
Timo will receive a funeral at sea in the next week.
Articles:
http://www.yacht.de/sport/news/trauer-timo-jacobs-gestorben/a71995.html
http://segelreporter.com/blog/2012/05/14/segelszene-trauert-starboot-vorschoter-timo-jacobs-gestorben/
http://www.sailing-team-germany.de/
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