128th Kieler Woche: With Caribbean flair and capricious weather: four German frontrunners and a lot of eel regatta euphoria

The 128th Kiel Week got off to a good start on its first weekend after the brilliant opening ceremony with the six Olympic medallists from Enoshima. However, after the sporting kick-off in sunshine on Saturday, the organisers and participants were challenged by a thunderstorm on Sunday and later by light and fluctuating winds. Nevertheless, the planned programme could largely take place.

On Sunday, 167 yachts returned from the Seebahn to the harbour in Kiel-Schilksee. "We experienced Caribbean conditions on the Baltic Sea during the Aalregatta on the outward leg to Eckernförde," summarised the overall race director Eckart Reinke. On the way back to Kiel, the medium-distance classic of Kiel Week could be finished cleanly with the help of a course shortening before the doldrums set in. The background: At the start of the return race from Eckernförde to Kiel, there was only a light breeze of between three and nine knots, and from varying directions. For this reason, the head of the race course, Ralf Paulsen, decided to time the yachts prematurely at the Stollergrund-Nord mark. As a result, they only sailed ten nautical miles instead of the planned twenty. "The weather forecast predicted that the wind would drop completely. Then we would hardly have been able to get them home," said Paulsen, explaining the decision, which was welcomed by the fleet.

The day before, the race from Kiel to Eckernförde had become a game of patience for the slow yachts. While Gerhard Clausen's "Calypso" (Hamburg) was the fastest boat to cross the finish line after just 3 hours, 30 minutes and 8 seconds, the finish line for the last boats could only be closed after seven and a half hours. The "Calypso" once again concluded the return race with the line honours for the first boat to cross the finish line. After 2 hours, 31 minutes and 5 seconds, the yacht, which was only sailed by two people (double-handed classification), was a few minutes ahead of the beautiful Brenta 60 "Almost Nothing" of Steffen Müller (Kiel) and the "X-Day" of Walter Watermann, each with a full crew, at Stollergrund-Nord.

DSV "Be part of the crew" campaign: asked a lot, explained a lot

The two races of the Aal Regatta were a special experience for the youngsters of the DSV "Be part of the crew" programme. In the process, participants from other boat classes were placed on the yachts. "I normally sail X-79s and was now on board the 'Piranha'," reported Annabelle Töllich from Flensburg. "It was great fun - a nice ship with nice people. I asked a lot of questions and was given a lot of explanations. The best moment today was when we hoisted the big gennaker at the end of Eckernförde Bay. The yacht jumped from three knots to nine knots in one go." After this eel regatta, Annabelle Töllich realised: "I'm happy to keep doing this."

System error creates atmosphere at the award ceremony

The approximately 1,000 active keelboat sailors experienced a special event at the award ceremony on Saturday evening in Eckernförde. A global system error in the regatta results service "Manage2Sail" meant that the results of the Aalregatta could not be uploaded. "Everyone only found out their ranking at the award ceremony," reported Reinke with a smile. The uncertainty about their own performance created a great atmosphere at the Eckernförde harbour tip when the teams were honoured. "I haven't seen so much cheering and euphoria for a very long time," said Reinke. The experienced sailor also noticed that the Yardstick groups were exceptionally strong this year. "There are many boats in the Yardstick category, beautiful boats, even those with foil sails. Such great boats! I would like to say to them: practise a bit, get a measurement certificate and come to the World Championship next year." The 2023 ORC World Championship will be held in Kiel for the second time after 2014. Reinke, also chairman of the DSV Sailing Committee, is one of the World Championship organisers and motors alongside Eckart von der Mosel.

There were four German leaders in the ten international classes after the second regatta day of the nine-day Kieler Woche: Heiko Kröger extended his opening lead in the 2.4 mR class with two more victories on the day. This means that the 2000 Paralympics winner is sailing confidently towards his 13th Kieler Woche title so far. André Budzien from the Schweriner Yacht-Club remains the best helmsman in the OK Dinghy after two more victories on the day. The Waszp class was not in action on Sunday in the light winds, in which Paul-Adrien Farien from Kiel therefore maintained his top position. In the Ilca 6 (open), Ole Schweckendiek from Kieler Yacht-Club took the top position in the field of 116 young helmsmen and helmswomen after six races. The races of the first international half of Kiel Week will continue until Tuesday, before the Olympic sailors start on Wednesday. Click here for all results of the Kieler Woche (please click!).