Hilger Erdmann, Kiel Week's weatherman for 19 years, was the man most in demand. When the signs pointed to storms in the middle of the week at the start of the Olympic week races, the 60-year-old meteorologist had to work overtime.
From the perspective of the German Sailing Federation, there were good to very good results to report. The yngling team Kristin Wagner/Anna Höll/Veronika Lochbrunner, who qualified for Athens, won, as did the perennial favourite from the Paralympics in the 2.4 mR yachts, Heiko Kröger from Kiel.
Four German teams finished in second place. Bavarian Finn sailor Michael Fellmann made it onto the podium, as did Mistral surfer Toni Wilhelm (only ousted from first place in the last race) and 49er Olympians Marcus Baur/Max Groy. The Europe sailor Petra Niemann also managed second place in fourth place. Roland Gäbler/Gunnar Struckmann in the Tornado and Stefanie Rothweiler/Monika Leu in the 470 came third in their classes.
The windjammer parade on the final Saturday was once again well received by the public, with the lead ship "Gorch Fock" and numerous celebrities presenting a conciliatory picture of Kiel Week. The Roosevelt Cup for the team with the best series went to Kiel disabled sailor Heiko Kröger.
The yachts were celebrating the 50th Aalregatta to Eckernförde at the start and had to sail in strong winds throughout the week. During the 96 nautical mile race to Fehmarn and back, the carbon mast on Klaus Murmann's 26 metre long "Uca" came down from above. In the IMS 600 class, Dutchman Peter de Ridder took victory and the title with his "Checkmate".
Team boss Jochen Schümann presented his Olympic team to DSV boss Dierk Thomsen. The fact that the (as yet) unqualified laser sailor Mathias Rieck also took part in the meeting suggests that the DSV will apply for a hardship clause for him from the National Committee for Germany.
