Not everything went according to plan this year at the traditional ORC kick-off to Kiel Week, the two-day Welcome Race. The number of participants was already significantly reduced due to the long-distance regatta of the International German Championship (IDM) taking place at the same time. The starting field in front of the Düsternbrook marina on Saturday morning was initially the usual size. However, the 30 or so IDM yachts, many of which usually sail to Eckernförde every year, started half an hour earlier than the rest and stayed on a northerly course behind Kiel Lighthouse.
Andreas Lochbrunner, President of the German Sailing Association, should have realised his mistake there at the latest. He had inadvertently started with the IDM boats, but - as intended for the Welcome Race - turned off with the "Resolute" in the direction of Eckernförde. Despite his early arrival, he had to settle for a DNS (Did not Start) in the results on Saturday.
Things did not go as hoped for two other crews either. Just under half an hour before the actual start, the "Pogo 1" collided with the 82-foot yacht "Calypso" from the Kiel Yacht Club on the inner fjord. Although nobody was injured, both boats suffered serious damage. The incident meant the end for the Pogo. Although the "Calypso" set course for Eckernförde, it did not cross the finish line and started its return journey under engine power on Sunday.
The remaining 59 boats left the Kiel Fjord on Saturday in a westerly wind, initially under colourful sails, before a cross lasting several hours followed behind Stollergrund Nord. Karsten Hochfeldt's trimaran "Trifeldt" was the first to reach the day's destination after 3 hours and 43 minutes.
However, only the return race the next morning from Eckernförde to Kiel was decisive for the classification. While most of the yachts had to sail out of the almost ten nautical mile long Eckernförde Bay under gennaker, the boats with spinnaker had a particularly good chance in around five Beaufort directly from astern.
First place in ORC I went to Jan Reiners' Luffe 48 "Phoenix" and second to the "Peter von Danzig" from the Akademischer Segler-Verein in Kiel with skipper Hans-Heinrich von Maydell. Third place went to the "Edelweiss" with Thomas Reinecke's crew. Heiko Päsler's "Static Electric" won the ORC II class, while Hans Genthe won the ORC II/IV class with his "4 Sale". Among the multihulls, the "Trifeldt" once again came out on top.
For Kieler Woche 2017, significantly larger packages are once again expected in Eckernförde harbour. The organisers are planning to combine the Welcome Race with the traditional eel regatta, which has been held at Whitsun for the past ten years.
