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Kieler WocheKiel Week on the brink of a World Cup comeback?

Tatjana Pokorny

 · 22.09.2016

Kieler Woche: Kiel Week on the brink of a World Cup comeback?Photo: ©www.segel-bilder.de
The Olympic 49erFX sailors started the Kiel Week on Wednesday. Berlin's Victoria Jurczok and Anika Lorenz, who have been nominated for the Olympic Games, took the lead at the start
Kiel Week may be on the verge of a World Cup comeback. The World Sailing Federation's new invitation to tender is tailor-made for Kiel
Multiple Kiel Week winner Philipp Buhl would also be delighted with Kiel's comeback in the World CupPhoto: www.segel-bilde.de/Kieler Woche Multiple Kiel Week winner Philipp Buhl would also be delighted with Kiel's comeback in the World Cup

The German regatta queen Kieler Woche is fighting for her comeback in the World Cup for Olympic sailing disciplines. Three years ago, the world's largest regatta series in the north of Germany lost this privilege. Since then, the number of participants in the top sport has fallen. More and more often, the international stars sailed past Kiel.

Among the few international stars at Kieler Woche in 2016: the eventual Olympic champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke mainly came to study their medal rivals Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel. In future, more prominent Olympic sailors could set course for Kiel again if the comeback in the World Cup is successfulPhoto: www.segel-bilder.de/Kieler Woche Among the few international stars at Kieler Woche in 2016: the eventual Olympic champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke mainly came to study their medal rivals Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel. In future, more prominent Olympic sailors could set course for Kiel again if the comeback in the World Cup is successful

Kiel Week could now regain its lost status as early as 2017. The latest publication by the World Sailing Association has fuelled new hopes in the battle for World Cup status, which Kiel Week lost in 2013 due to its date at the end of June. What once did not fit into the international World Cup schedule is now even desirable: from 2017, after the French World Cup regatta off Hyères at the end of April, there is to be a "European final" for the World Cup in the period from "late June to early July". The announcement seems tailor-made for Kiel Week, which traditionally takes place in the last full week of June.

They won the Kiel Week 2016 in the Nacra 17 with aplomb and ahead of schedule, also because there was hardly any strong competition at the start: Paul Kohlhoff and Carolina WernerPhoto: ©www.segel-bilder.de They won the Kiel Week 2016 in the Nacra 17 with aplomb and ahead of schedule, also because there was hardly any strong competition at the start: Paul Kohlhoff and Carolina Werner

This year, the organisers of the event had been in intensive talks with World Sailing's new Secretary General Andy Hunt in Kiel about returning to the World Cup. They were able to impress Hunt's interest above all with a large audience, improved service for the sailors and outstanding media coverage, to which the main sponsors Audi and SAP contributed significantly. Andy Hunt was impressed during his visit to the German "Sailing City" and said: "In Kiel, sailing is combined with a festival in an exemplary way. This is the way forward. Many other major events can learn from this."

It remains to be seen which other European organisers will apply for the hosting rights for the "European Final" and possibly also change their unsuitable hosting date. The deadline for applications is 10 October. An evaluation committee will submit a proposal for the selection to World Sailing's Supervisory Board on 21 October. The Supervisory Board will make its decision on 26 October.

The 49er is one of the most attractive boats in the current Olympic programme. Here is a start at the Kiel Week 2016Photo: ©www.segel-bilder.de The 49er is one of the most attractive boats in the current Olympic programme. Here is a start at the Kiel Week 2016

Kiel, which had bid alongside Hamburg for the 2024 Olympic Games but failed due to the Hanseatic "no" despite its own success, is therefore facing a hot October. Kieler Woche organising director Dirk Ramhorst said: "We want to bring the World Cup to Kiel and believe we have proven our qualities to do so. We hope to be honoured for this with the award from World Sailing."

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Tatjana Pokorny

Tatjana Pokorny

Sports reporter

Tatjana “tati” Pokorny is the author of nine books. As a reporter for Europe's leading sailing magazine YACHT, she also works as a correspondent for the German Press Agency (DPA), the Hamburger Abendblatt and other national and international media. In summer 2024, Tatjana will be reporting from Marseille on her ninth consecutive Olympic Games. Other core topics have been the America's Cup since 1992, the Ocean Race since 1993, the Vendée Globe and other national and international regattas and their protagonists. Favorite discipline: Portraits of and interviews with sailing personalities. When she started out in sports journalism, she was still intensively involved with basketball and other sports, but sailing quickly became her main focus. The reason? The declared optimist says: “There is no other sport like it, no other sport with such interesting and intelligent personalities, no other sport so diverse, no other sport so full of energy, strength and ideas. Sailing is like a constantly refreshing declaration of love for life."

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