Kieler Woche: With 470 high tension and Ole victory into the Olympic half-time

The 129th Kiel Week remained a waiting game on its second day. This time, however, with a happy ending. At 3.20 pm, after a delay of one and a half days, the Olympic half finally got underway. Things were particularly exciting on the 470 mixed course. Hopes of an intense competition between the best crews of the national sailing team were not disappointed, even without much pressure in the air.

Dream start for Diesch/Markfort, false start for the world champions

After three races, Simon Diesch/Anna Markfort (Württembergischer Yacht-Club/Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) were tied on points with Theres Dahnke/Matti Cipra (Plauer Wassersportverein) with a total of three points. Malte and Anastasiya Winkel (5 points), who qualified for the Olympic test regatta, will attack from third place on Monday. Only the reigning world champions Luise Wanser/Philipp Autenrieth (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein/Bayerischer Yacht-Club) had a false start and, after two early starts, did not make it past 14th place in the field of 17 boats.

470 helmsman and front runner Simon Diesch is the nephew and son of brothers Jörg and Eckart Diesch, who won Olympic gold in the Flying Dutchman off Kingston in 1976. His summary after three challenging races in flat conditions: "That was sensational. We started the day with a start-to-finish victory. Then we had a bit of a dip, but after that we finished in a solid second place."

Ole Schweckendiek obviously has talent and a knack" (Philipp Buhl)

Kiel helmsman Ole Schweckendiek, who is only 18 years old, impressed in the Olympic Ilca 7. The helmsman from the Kieler Yacht-Club, who has just successfully passed his A-levels with an average of 1.8 and is competing in his first full year in the Olympic Ilca 7 senior field, won the only race of the day in his group. The 2022 U21 World Champion is regarded as a great talent.

Laser World Champion Philipp Buhl, who is aiming for his third Olympic start in the Ilca 7 but was at the start of the Moth World Championship this week, said in the former British Olympic harbour of Weymouth: "I don't want to praise young sailors too early and too highly, but Ole obviously has talent and a knack. It's good to see that the generation after Julian Hoffmann is also strong. We are already well positioned in Germany in the Ilca 7." Julia Büsselberg sailed to 9th place in the Ilca 6, while Fabian Rieger and Tom Heinrich from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club were the best German team in the 49er, finishing 13th in the only race of the day.

"Lead transporter" leads in the 2.4mR

Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer slowly warmed up in the Nacra 17 in light winds. The bronze medallists from Japan followed up their fourth place with third place in the mini field of twelve Olympic catamarans. That was also good enough for third place overall in the flat start.

In the one-person keelboat 2.4mR, for once it was not subscription winner Heiko Kröger who took the lead after the first two races. The NRV helmsman initially sailed into fourth place with sixth place and a win on the day. The front runner is Oliver Thies' "Bleitransporter". The helmsman from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club leads after a win on the day and fourth place.

World Sunday attracts tens of thousands to the Olympic Centre

A total of 13 races in the dinghy classes were held for the visitors in Schilksee on Sunday. In addition, around 200 keelboats returned to Schilksee from the Aalregatta in Eckernförde. On Monday, Kiel Week will continue with the three-day Kiel Cup regatta of the "Big Boats" and the races on the Olympic sailing courses.

Click here for the results of the Kieler Woche.