Two weeks after the start of registration, there were more than 50 boats. How many starters are you expecting in Kiel in August?
I am sure that we will break the 100 barrier. The trend will quickly become apparent in the spring. We will fight intensively for attractive boats and great types. However, team-to-team advertising is crucial: sailors are the best motivators for each other.
Whilst the number of entries in the B and C classes makes a strong impression, interest in the large A class - as at other recent Northern European events - is manageable. Why?
That is the question that concerns us all. There is no Class A problem in Porto Cervo or at the New York Yacht Club, but there is in Northern Europe. I've been involved for 25 years now and can say that the boats have become bigger and bigger over a long period of time. A 40-foot boat used to be big, today it's a class B boat. Everything has become more complex and more expensive. The big boat scene has become more professionalised and takes part in selected regattas in the Mediterranean, which also has to do with the good weather due to the high daily costs ...
Wouldn't this realisation be a reason to reclassify the ORC classes?
A lot of thought goes into this. The Northern Europeans meet regularly in a group to which I also belong. A new categorisation is currently not feasible due to the desire for international comparability.
So will we only see small Class A fields in the north for the foreseeable future?
That is currently the case. Which in no way detracts from the performances of the best in the battle for the title. They are still competing at the highest level for titles and podium places, making for an attractive competition.
In Kiel there is a Gold Cup for smaller sports boats outside the three World Championship classes. How did this come about?
This is a special rule for Kiel, an offer from us to the sailors. We fought hard for it against the original ORC will and are proud of it. It also gives smaller boats the chance to take part in the World Championship. Otherwise they have their own world championship.
How is the World Cup organisation team staffed?
The ORC is the organiser in cooperation with the Kiel Yacht Club. Eckhard von der Mosel is the overall organiser and takes care of the big picture on land. As Principal Race Officer, I am responsible for the overall organisation on the water. We will have twelve measurers with just under a dozen helpers, a six-member international jury, three full race officer teams of 14 people each and other helpers.
What can the World Cup teams expect in sporting terms?
I think it will be one of the most demanding or even the most challenging World Championships ever in sporting terms. Until now, World Championships have only had either inshore or offshore days for which you could optimise your boat. We are combining short inshore and offshore races in one day, as already tested in Kiel. This is new. Several regattas before the World Championship such as Maior, Kieler Woche, Travemünder Woche or the German Sailing Championship offer many opportunities to familiarise yourself with the new system.
What will the World Championship long distance look like?
Probably like a big M: it goes from Kiel up the Little Belt, back down through the challenging Svendborgsund, up again in the Great Belt, under the bridge and back to Kiel. No boat should be travelling for longer than 36 hours.
