From 5 to 13 September, Kiel Week will be an international beacon on the previously rather gloomy sailing horizon in 2020: although and precisely because the world's largest nine-day regatta series on the fjord had to be postponed to the unusual early autumn date due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is now attracting many Olympic celebrities to the north of Germany in its second part from 10 to 13 September. The women's skiff discipline, for example, has an outstanding line-up. In the 49erFX, the Brazilian Olympic champions Martine Grael/Kahena Kunze, the Spanish world champion and Olympic match race champion Tamara Echegoyen with Paula Barcelo and the American World Championship bronze medallists Stephanie Roble/Maggie Shea will be competing with wildcards. Their German challengers, traditionally strong in Kiel, are Tina Lutz/Susann Beucke (Chiemsee Yacht-Club/Hannoverscher Yacht-Club), leaders in the national Olympic elimination, and the recently promoted team mates Vicky Jurczok/Anika Lorenz (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee).
The entry lists for the 126th Kieler Woche "reloaded" were filled within nine days of the registration portal going live and were even overbooked in many classes, meaning that the organisers had to make adjustments when allocating the maximum number of starting places in line with the specifications. In addition to the "overrun" junior classes 29er (Eurocup) and Laser 4.7, interest is particularly high among the Olympians. "We didn't necessarily expect this level of interest, but we had hoped for it. It shows that the athletes are looking forward to the regatta in Kiel and really want to be part of Kiel Week. This is great recognition for Kiel Week," said Dirk Ramhorst, Head of Organisation. At the same time, Ramhorst announced that his team would make "no compromises" in the areas of hygiene regulations, distancing rules and upper limits on the number of participants when planning and organising the event. The organisers also want to "take a very critical look at the status of international participants in their home countries".
In the Laser, five-time Olympic medallist and double Olympic champion Robert Scheidt, 47, will face the reigning Allgäu world champion Philipp Buhl, who is competing for the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and the Segelclub Alpsee-Immenstadt. The 30-year-old German had redeemed the local Olympic sailing sport at the beginning of the year shortly before the outbreak of the Corona crisis with his World Championship victory from the two-decade-long title drought in the Olympic disciplines and thus achieved one of his major goals. Olympic silver medallist Tonci Stipanovic and two-time Laser World Champion Pavlos Kontides will also be competing. In the Laser Radial, the entire top ten will be taking part: Olympic and World Champion Marit Bouwmeester from the Netherlands is the measure of all things and Svenja Weger (Potsdamer Yacht-Club) is hungry for success on her home turf. Other Olympic champions are the Nacra 17 duo Santi Lange/Cecilia Carranza Saroli (Argentina) and FX World Champion and Match Race Olympic Champion Tamara Echegoyen with Paula Barcelo.
The German Sailing Team will start the Kiel Sailing Gala with a chance of victory in at least four disciplines: alongside Buhl, the Rio bronze medallists Erik Heil/Thomas Plößel (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein) will face strong competition in the 49er. The 49erFX women of the DSV fleet are also among the favourites. And the Kiel Nacra 17 mixed crew Paul Kohlhoff/Alica Stuhlemmer are also aiming for a podium finish.
Here it goes for information about the 126th Kiel Week 2020.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
