Kiel Week: Olympic atmosphere and plenty of variety at the 130th edition

"That was the new Kieler Woche weather," beamed Dirk Ramhorst after two decades in the KiWo team, ten of them as head of organisation, "and the best advertisement for 2025." For the next few years, the head of organisation wants to inspire the Olympic foiling disciplines, which were missing this time, and improve the appeal of the international classes. Regatta director Fabian Bach agreed: "If the level of service on the courses and on land is and remains first-class, the athletes from home and abroad will honour this with their entries."

The best examples of Kieler Woche's appeal were the more than one hundred Ilca 7s in the first half, with Germany's Olympic medallist Philipp Buhl coming second. And in the second half, 71 international OK dinghies started, with victory going to the Swede Niklas Edler. "In both classes, we met the participants' wishes in terms of the number of races and the location of the regatta course," said Chief Race Officer Fabian Bach, who has been involved in Kiel for 15 years and also at the Olympic sailing competitions in Marseille. This is not always successful, but should be continuously optimised.

• Portrait: Philipp Buhl - on the hunt for an Olympic medal

Eleven different countries reflected international diversity in the list of medallists in the eight international classes of the second part. Germany narrowly won the nations' ranking over all nine days ahead of Denmark. The greater breadth across all 16 boat classes tipped the scales in favour of the hosts with four gold, four silver and five bronze medals. The Danes also won four titles over the course of the week, but "only" achieved a total of ten podium places. But it was not only the home nation and the neighbouring country that dominated the action. There were medallists from all over Europe - and even the well-travelled athletes from Thailand, Australia and New Zealand were represented in the medal table with a top-three finish each.

Kiel Week as intensive Olympic preparation

In the largest single class of Kiel Week, in the mixed field of men and women in the Ilca 6, the Finn Monika Mikkola showed what Olympic standard is all about. She had already won the series one race before the end, but she stayed on the water and sailed the final race as well. This meant that she had competed in 20 races over the past nine days, as she had already taken part in the Olympic part.

Her wish list for the days afterwards was quickly explained: "Two days of just eating and sleeping." The Kiel Week serves as her preparation for the Olympic Games and challenged her in many ways: "The Olympic part was tough and the international part was especially mentally challenging." The 28-year-old's fighting spirit was impressive. Even after a weak start, she kept working her way up to a top position and eventually won ahead of New Zealander Zach Stibbe and former Opti World Champion Weka Bhanubandh from Thailand. The best German was Morten Ben Borchardt from the Kiel Yacht Club in fifth place.

In the Ilca entry-level class 4, Switzerland's Jean Glauser pulled off a start-to-finish victory. He started the series in first place and finished with a win on the day, relegating his compatriot Tristan Schnitzer and Norway's Henrik Birkeland Westby to the following places.

Varied races and close duels for victory

In the trapeze dinghy classes, more guests from European countries made their mark. In the Flying Dutchman, record-breaking world champions Szabolcs Majthenyi/Andras Domokos from Hungary fended off the attacks of reigning world champions Kay-Uwe Lüdtke/Kai Schäfers (Berlin/Hanover) and world championship bronze medallists Kilian König/Johannes Brack (Hanover). "Many thanks to the German teams who put us under pressure with their teamwork. That pushed us on," said Majthenyi. He was sure of success before the final race. The German chasers therefore decided not to take part in the final race. König/Brack thus won Kieler Woche silver ahead of Lüdtke/Schäfers.

In the Contender, on the other hand, the situation was still confusing even on arrival ashore. "I've won? Is that sure?" Jesper Armbrust asked, regardless of the congratulations. Max Billerbeck (Kollmar) had put him under pressure again on the final day. But in the end, the victory went to Denmark. And third place also went to a Dane, Sören Dulong Andreasen. "I love Kiel Week," said Armburst, "the party and the action on the water."

The Swede Niklas Edler could only agree with this. He has been competing at Kiel Week for 25 years - first in the Laser, now in the OK dinghy. He has never stood on the podium. Now he made it - and at the top. "It was a great Kiel Week with very different conditions. Consistency was the key to success. I always tried to race safely at a good level. I managed to do that." Behind him were Steen Christensen (Denmark) and Benjamin Hammerö (Sweden).

Heiko Kröger secures 15th Kiel Week victory

There was a double success for Denmark in the J/70 category, with Kim Christensen taking the Kieler Woche gold medal despite a slip-up in the last race. He and his crew won ahead of compatriot Frederik Hvalsö and Kai-Uwe Hollweg from Bremen. The J/24 and the 2.4mR were responsible for the German successes on the final Sunday. There was even an all-German podium in the J/24. Fritz Meyer won ahead of Stefan Karsunke and Manfred König. All three crews come from Hamburg, where the once largest keelboat class in the world is strongly represented.

The victory in the 2.4mR for Heiko Kröger (Hamburg) shows how perfectly prepared the 15-time Kieler Woche winner is for the World Championship in four weeks' time at the same venue. Last year, the 58-year-old won the World Championship gold, and now he wants to repeat his triumph in August off Kiel. There will be no way around him. Proof of this thesis? With nine victories in eleven races and two second places, Kröger ensured the clearest victory during the entire Kiel Week. He triumphed over Megan Pascoe (Great Britain) and Davide di Maria (Italy) and also earned the Kieler Woche Commodore's Cup. Kröger: "I gave it my all and even bruised a rib at the end when I tried to repair the wobbly steering gear. After 25 years, I have found the fastest setup. The boat doesn't just run, it races."

The event on the "Mile" in the Schilksee harbour apron was also very well received by the public from near and far as well as the sailors. KielerWoche.TV showed live races from the media track on the stage every day, partners and sponsors entertained and informed the guests in the afternoon, and there was live music in the evening, which was enjoyed by active participants and fans alike. Many thousands of people voted with their feet, and not just for the sailing fireworks on Wednesday and the cover band United Four the following day.