Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst GT 1456x180px TOP

128th Kiel Week Day 1 - 42 brilliant races to start with

by Andreas Kling 19 Jun 2022 08:06 NZST 18-26 June 2022
Norgwegians dominate the ILCA 4 fleet on race course Juliett with Kiel lighthouse in the background on day 1 of the Kiel Week Regatta © ChristianBeeck.de / Kieler Woche

Medium to fresh westerly winds at a summery 23 degrees gave the 128th Kiel Week in its 140th year a picture-perfect sailing start on Saturday (18 June).

On seven courses plus the Eel Regatta for offshore yachts to Eckernfoerde 42 races were completed - the full programme. In the Gold Cup of the Folkboats, Danish dynamite ignited - the Northern Lights claimed the first four places with helmsmen John Wulff and Søren Kæstel on equal points at the top. In the 29er Euro Cup, New Zealanders George Lee Rush and Sebastian Menzies excelled with three bullets.

"These were ideal conditions that could hardly have been more beautiful," cheered organisation manager Dirk Ramhorst, "all sailors' hearts beat faster today." At noon, he had opened the regatta together with Kiel's Lord Mayor Ulf Kämpfer and City President Hans-Werner Tovar alongside Duesseldorf trade fair boss Wolfram N. Diener for premium partner boot (boat show) and all six German sailing medallists from the 2020/21 Olympics in Japan. At the same time, ten international boat classes started in the first part of Kiel Week (until Tuesday, 21 June).

Under the camera eyes of KielerWoche.TV, the 29er skiffs were in the spotlight, which could also be easily observed close under land by thousands of guests at the Olympic Centre Kiel-Schilksee. Equal on points with the Kiwi duo, Carl Krause and Max Georgi from Germany took second place with two victories on the day. "Three class races with up to five Beaufort at the end, it could hardly be better," enthused German mate Johann Sach about the first day. Crew of his brother Anton, last year's winners rose from fifth to third to a win and are only two points behind the leaders in sixth place in the overall standings. "Our starts were good, that was the main thing," said the 17-year-old, "through the four groups everyone is still close together."

The Folkboat crews had opened their Gold Cup on Friday evening with a cheerful march under samba rhythms to the stage in the Olympic Centre, and on Saturday they celebrated their first two races in Caribbean conditions. On the Foxtrot course off the eastern shore of the Kiel Outer Fjord, the three-man crews didn't give each other another metre after the celebrations before. After all, the Gold Cup is considered an unofficial world championship. And Denmark's Per Jørgensen and his crew are determined to defend this title, but after the opening day they have to make do with fourth place behind Jens Thurøe.

The Contender class is also in Danish hands for the time being. Jesper Armbrust scored two bullets with one discard (8th) and took the lead ahead of his favoured compatriot Søren Dulong Andreasen (4th/1st/4th). The Danebro is also blowing over the Europe class with Casper Fink and Simon Christoffersen on one and two.

The Hungarians Szabolcs Majthényi and András Domokos also have two first places in the Flying Dutchman with a dropped fourth. In an internationally very diverse field of participants in the gender-open ILCA 6, the Romanian young woman Ebru Bolat took the top spot among 114 athletes in two starting groups, tied on points ahead of the Norwegian Sverre Langaas-Holt. Defending champion Ole Schweckendiek from Kiel was close behind in third place, again tied on points with Ukraine's Oskar Madonich.

The Norwegian Nanna Sofie Juell-Bergan took the lead in the junior class ILCA 4 ahead of her compatriot Gudleik Berg Kjøpsenes. In a tough duel with the Dane Bo Petersen, André Budzien from Germany kept the bow in front twice in the OK dinghy and is the first leader.

German Heiko Kröger remains a banker in the 2.4mR inclusion class. He was only denied the first win, which he had to give to Christoph Trömer (Germany). After that, the 2000 Paralympics winner showed his usual sovereignty twice. Even after twelve victories at Kiel Week, his hunger for success is far from satisfied. The 56-year-old just finished third at the European Championships and was happy about the performance in Strander Bucht: "For me, it's the first time sailing in Kiel this year. It's always like coming home."

Sailing program for Sunday, 19 June

From 10 a.m.
Aal-Regatta race back (from Eckernfoerde to Kiel-Schilksee), Offshore Sailing (Yardstick, ORC and Multihull).

11 a.m.
Gold Cup Nordic Folkboats, 29er Euro Cup, Contender, Europe, Flying Dutchman (FD), ILCA 4, ILCA 6 (open), Wazp and OK dinghies

2 p.m.
2.4 metre

Related Articles

Big entry for RS Feva Sail GP Inspire Program
One hundred young sailors, from all over NZ, sailing 50 RS Fevas will compete in SailGP Inspire One hundred young sailors, sailing 50 RS Fevas from all over New Zealand will compete in SailGP Inspire program, which is sailed in conjunction with the SailGP regatta in Auckland. Posted on 21 Dec
PredictWind supercharges Marine Weather
New safety features arms users with better decision-making Insights PredictWind has bolstered its marine weather forecasting platform with a new Lightning Display Feature and upgrades to existing features, designed to enhance user safety. Posted on 13 Dec
The unforgettable PIC Harbour Classic returns
Live concert by Six60, part of the Moana Auckland Festival after PIC Harbour Classic The PIC Harbour Classic, one of NZ's premier sailing events returns with an unforgettable blend of thrilling sailing and exciting festivities. It will take place from Feb 28th to March 1st, 2025,with Six60 concert after the racing Posted on 12 Dec
Top Kiwi boatbuilder and sailor dies at 91yrs
Jim Mackay a leading builder of racing dinghies, surfboats and racing powerboats has passed away Jim Mackay was best known through the early 1960's as a builder of wooden racing dinghies for the Olympic Finn and Flying Dutchman Dutchman classes, using cold moulded veneer construction. He was an active builder and racer in powerboats and surfboats. Posted on 12 Dec
Big turnout for superyacht season launch
Owners, captains, crew and more than 100 of New Zealand's industry gathered on Auckland's waterfront Auckland's annual Superyacht Welcome Function took place Thursday night with the largest crew turn out to date for the event, which marks the opening of the 2025 summer cruising season in New Zealand. Posted on 5 Dec
How to report marine pest sightings
As fantastic as our surveillance teams are, they can't get around it all. They need your help! From Northland all the way down to Hawke's Bay, our regions include a vast amount of coastline. As fantastic as our surveillance teams are, they can't get around it all. They need your help! Posted on 3 Dec
Bay of Islands Sailing Week: Sponsors announced
Enter now to assist regatta planning and creation of another excellent BOI SW regatta The countdown is on for Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2025, New Zealand's premier multi-boat regatta, scheduled for January 21-24. Posted on 1 Dec
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling - regular entries close on December 31 Seasoned sailors Rob Bassett and Brett Russell are rallying competitors to join what Peter Montgomery has called “the best-big boat regatta in NZ” as entries roll in for the 2025 Bay of Islands Sailing Week (BOISW). Posted on 12 Nov
SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody - Now just €50
Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: Was €120 | Now €50 - Order yours today! Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: WAS €120 | NOW €50 - Order yours today! Ideal Xmas gift for America's Cup fans! Get your souvenir hoody on the America's Cup champion! Posted on 7 Nov
Vendee Globe: 'Crazy Kiwi' racing on renewables
Conrad Colman plans on repeating his 2015/26 feat racing without the use of fossil fuel In the 2016 Vendee Globe, Conrad Colman became the first competitor in Vendee Globe history to finish without using a drop of fossil fuel during his circumnavigation. He plans on repeating the feat in the upcoming Vendee Globe race. Posted on 30 Oct
CBGTG_summer24_digital_728x90 BOTTOMMotomuck SaltyMuck Static 728 x 90 px BOTTOMPredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOM