Kiel Week 2004 (19 to 27 June) will be dominated by the Olympic rings. A total of 37 of the 54 sailing nations competing in Athens have active participants at the start in Kiel. 15 medallists from Sydney, six reigning world champions and four reigning European champions underline the high standard.
The entire German national team, which will be travelling to Athens, will also be taking part. A total of 5000 sailors from around 50 nations will be competing. The 2000 yachts will complete around 420 races on the ten courses over nine days.
From the young sailor in the Europe to the experienced sailor in the tall ship, whether disabled sailing world champion or Olympic champion, whether skiff or keelboat sailor, whether kiter or windjammer parade - the Kieler Woche brings together the world's elite and presents the entire diversity of sailing in one week.
The mass (it corresponds to 12 times the number of Olympic sailing competitions) and the class of Kiel Week are unique in the world. "We would like to apply for the Worlds 2007 in Kiel with the 122nd Kieler Woche," says organisation manager Dieter Rümmeli (Kieler Yacht-Club) about the last big meeting of the world's elite before the Olympic Games (13 to 29 August) in Athens (Greece).
"Many nations finish their qualifications in various classes here," says Rümmeli, recognising the importance of the event. After Kiel Week, seven days remain before the final data for the bid for the 2007 Worlds (World Championships for all eleven Olympic classes) must be submitted to the International Sailing Federation ISAF in Cowes (England). Following the cancellation of Rostock, Pusan (Korea) and Halifax (Canada), there will be a purely European competition. In addition to Kiel, Cadiz (Spain), Cascais (Portugal) and Medemblik (Netherlands) are competing for the Worlds.
In addition to the Olympic part of Kiel Week (23 to 27 June), which also includes the 2.4mr disabled class, the international part (19 to 22 June) with 17 classes and the offshore area with around 260 yachts and the IMS 600 European Championship are the sporting highlights.
International part (19 to 22 June)
For years, the first half of Kiel Week (19 to 22 June) has belonged to the international classes (16 in total). This year's rotation class is the Bénéteau 25 and a new addition is the trend sport of kitesurfing, which will be presented off Laboe. Kitesurfing is still a young water sport in which the athlete is pulled across the water by means of an oversized "stunt kite" (5 to 20 square metres in size) in his hand and a wakeboard-like board (110-180 cm long) under his feet.
Olympic part (23 to 27 June)
Kiel is a must-attend event for the entire national team of the German Sailing Association (DSV). This will be the last international comparison. After the Greek Open Championships (8 to 12 July), which were initially scheduled parallel to Kiel Week, were postponed at the intervention of the Kiel Week organisers, the DSV and many other associations, the way to Kiel was also cleared for those who would naturally like to test the Olympic waters. And whoever passes before Kiel also has a chance before Athens.
Whether Robert Scheidt (Brazil/seven-time Laser World Champion), the American star boat aces Marc Reynolds/Magnus Liljedahl or the entire German national team - they are all using Kiel Week as an international test of strength. Jochen Schümann will be watching his protégés in Kiel. The 49-year-old (three-time Olympic champion and Americas Cup winner with Alinghi) is DSV team boss in Athens and will use the opportunity in Kiel to see his crews compete with the world's elite.
Seebahnen (19 to 27 June)
Around 260 boats are expected on the sea courses (19 to 27 June). The sea course regattas will be enhanced by the European Championship of the IMS 600. "It's nice and important that a high-ranking event in sea sailing is taking place on the Baltic Sea again," comments Thomas Brügge (Kiel), who is now aiming for a European title with his "Extasy" after the second German IMS Championship.
The "illbruck" (Round the World Race winner in 2002) and the "SEB" will be returning. The VO-60 yachts will make a stopover in Kiel from Thursday to Saturday before returning to Gotland (Sweden). The Classic Race on the first Saturday (19 June), the cutter races during the week and the Windjammer Parade on the second Saturday (26 June) round off the sailing variety.
Visitors on land and on the water
Kiel is expecting around three million visitors again in 2004, and the entire fjord shore and numerous support boats (around 10,000 masts can be counted on the Kiel Fjord during Kiel Week) offer many different opportunities to experience sailing live. Thanks to the presenter BMW, the sport also comes directly to the city. With an original Americas Cupper (USA 61), Kiel's new boat harbour in the city centre will become a magnet for sailing fans and those who want to become one.
In addition, Kiel Week is accompanied by around 300 journalists from five continents and broadcast around the world via print, radio, TV and the Internet.
Partners and sponsors
Alongside presenter BMW, HSH Nordbank is a new sports and cultural partner of Kieler Woche. With its Race Repair Service, HSH Nordbank offers repair services directly on the water on some courses. The sailing sports partner boot Düsseldorf and the sponsors Helly Hansen, Anthros, Ascaion, Comparex, Corum, Deutsche Telekom, Holsten Brauerei, Hugo Hamann, International Farbenwerke, Lankhorst/Hohorst, Nordac/Company of Capgemini, Olympus Deutschland, San Pellegrino, Segler-Zeitung and Simrad make a major event of this dimension possible in the first place.
Dates:
Kiel Week 2004 (19 to 27 June).
Part 1: International classes (19 to 22 June):
505, Dragon, H-Boat, Flying Dutchman, Folkeboot, Kielzugvogel, Laser Radial, 420, OK Dinghy, Pirate, Contender, Europe M, Hobie 16, J24, Bénéteau 25, Kiting.
First start: Saturday, 19 June at 2 pm. Last start: Tuesday, 22 June at 2 pm.
Part 2: Olympic classes (23 to 27 June):
Yngling W, 49er, 470 W+M, Laser, Europe W, Finn Dinghy, Tornado, Mistral W+M, Starboat, Paralympic Class 2.4mR.
First start: Wednesday, 23 June, 2 pm. Last start: Sunday, 27 June, at 2 pm.
Seebahnen: 19 to 27 June.
IMS 600-EM, 21 to 26 June.
