Tell me, Mr Karner, do you have a dream job?
Definitely! My desk offers a 200-degree sea view. I get a lot of fresh air and work in a great team. Lots of friendly guests make it easy. That's fun. I was ill at the beginning of the year. A lot of good wishes reached me at home. That's great praise and confirmation of our work.
But it's not you and your colleagues who decide where the boats are moored during Kiel Week ...?
No, the Point of Sailing company does that. The co-operation with Sven Christensen's team, to whom we hand over the cleared berths, works very well. The boat and dinghy owners receive information about their allocated berth at the Kieler Woche regatta office together with their start numbers and documents.
And what is the participants' favourite place to lie?
Well, as close to land as possible (laughs). Then they don't have to walk as much. And the distances to the fried fish stall and the other stalls are shorter.
During Kiel Week, many of the 1,000 or so moorings in the Olympic harbour in Schilksee have to be vacated. Isn't that very unpopular?
Schilksee is one of the most popular harbours on the fjord. Everyone knows that the berths here have to be cleared for major events. It usually works quite smoothly. Nine harbours belong to Kieler Sporthafen GmbH. We are well networked with the other eight. We have so-called evacuation lists and move the boats to other harbours. In the past, we have almost always been able to supply everyone.
And what if a ship does break down?
There are always some who forget to move. In emergencies, we have a company that removes land berths for a fee. With water moorings, you have to phone them afterwards. It's a bit easier because it works in a more organised way. One person helps the other.
You came into office in 2010 as a sailor and car mechanic, are these the ideal basic requirements for a harbour master?
You could say that. If someone says on Saturday afternoon at Kiel Week that only cold water comes out of the showers, you have to be able to act quickly.
What could drive you up the wall?
That takes a long time for me. My glass is always half full. What can be annoying is when you have to explain things to people for the fourth or fifth time. For example, if someone empties their faeces tank onto a closed flap without inserting a coin, we have to clear it up. We do that, but the joy of it is limited.
Are you rooting for the Kiel Week sailors?
Yes, with all of them. We have the DSV base in our harbour. The national sailors are very successful. As you know many of them from the start, it's nice to see them at Kiel Week. Or you realise that someone you've already celebrated with is sailing on board with Boris Herrmann. Sailing is already a big family and the harbour in Schilksee is a great home for it.
What is your favourite thing about Kiel Week?
This incredible diversity! I grew up in Kiel, I know Kiel Week from the play line and from parties in my youth. As a sailor, I love the sport. I was already on the water a lot as a child and learnt to sail in the Opti. On the Schlei, I first sailed dinghies and then tall ships with a mate, later first as a guest and then as a permanent crew member on tall ships such as the "Twister" or the "Avatar". Water and sailing are important parts of my life. Kiel Week is and remains something very special with the many guests from all over the world.
Other interesting people:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
