Germany's ILCA 7 medal hope for the Paris Games, Philipp Buhl (Sonthofen), is sailing in fifth place so far on the way to Marseille in Kiel. His training partners Jean Baptiste Bernaz from France are in the lead ahead of the Norwegian Hermann Tomasgaard. Anna Barth and Emma Kohlhoff from the host Kieler Yacht-Club relinquished their overall lead from Saturday in the 49erFX to Inga-Marie Hofmann and Jill Parland (Düsseldorfer YC/NRV Hamburg).
Buhl prepares for the Olympics
For Buhl, Kiel Week is an important preparation for the Olympic Games. That's why results are not his top priority. The 34-year-old is primarily concerned with gaining as much practice as possible for Marseille. That's why he would have liked to have sailed more on Sunday in view of the weak wind forecast for the coming days - even if it wasn't easy on the course: "It was difficult. With the wind direction close to land, the gusts and turns are simply difficult to predict. It takes a lot of luck to be in the right place. But it's also a task to use your skills when you're not in a good position. That worked quite well for me."
There is plenty of training content five weeks before the games. "I still have to do something in all areas." Above all, starting is on the programme. "That's probably a lifelong process," says Buhl. He wants to optimise his positioning 30 seconds before and after the start signal. With seventh and twelfth place, he remains in the top group. None of the top riders were spared setbacks on day two, with Frenchman Jean Baptiste Bernaz defending first place overall despite finishing twelfth and 24th.
Büsselberg in Ilca 6 below level
Good results at Kiel Week would be particularly important for ILCA 6 sailor Julia Büsselberg. After all, the Berlin native still wants to recommend herself for a nomination for the Olympic Games. However, her start to Sunday went wrong. Things looked good for a while on the first cross. Büsselberg went to the right side and was always in the front group in the shifting wind. However, shortly before the first mark, the wind shifted in the wrong direction, she slipped back into the midfield, and from then on she continued to drop back, eventually finishing in 33rd place. The leader of the first day, Switzerland's Maud Jayet, was hit even harder. She had to retire from the race after a false start. As it was already her second mishap, the Swiss athlete's path to a top position in these days of Kiel is blocked.
Polish Olympic starter Agata Barwinska, on the other hand, had a beaming smile on her face after winning the first race of the day: "It was very tricky under all the clouds. With so little wind, I wanted to avoid making mistakes and always had to look out for the gusts." She is also using Kiel Week as intensive preparation for the Games: "We don't have many regattas before the Olympics. That's why this is a good test. Kiel Week is the perfect event for this." That's easy to say from her point of view, as she jumped to first place in the overall standings with another fourth place on the day, ahead of Denmark's Anna Munch and Monika Mikkola (Finland).
In the second race of the day, Julia Büsselberg at least got a boost with seventh place: "I got the right start and then sailed into the pressure. But the wind was difficult and kept breaking. I always thought my maths degree would help me in sailing to understand the geometry. But after the first race today, I'm not so sure anymore."
Danish lead in the 49er
Unimpressed by the wind changes, the Danish 49er sailors Frederik Rask/Jakob Precht Jensen continued their strong performance. With two victories in the three day races, they were also able to cope with a tenth place. They lead the field ahead of Richard Schultheis/Youenn Bertin (Malta) and Tytus Butkowski/Borys Podumis (Poland).
"It was very twisty today and up and down in strength. You had to keep a good overview. On a day like today, we are happy with the results," said Frederik Rask, who wants to have fun above all else after narrowly losing the Olympic elimination in Denmark. The Kiel Week event with its large fleet is ideal for this. The duo are now already looking ahead to 2028 and, after some time off, they are also planning their future as a combination for the Games in Los Angeles.
German podium in the 49er FX
There has been a change of leadership in the women's Olympic skiff. But the colours in first place remain black, red and gold. Inga-Marie Hofmann, seventh at the World Championships with Catherine Bartelheimer in March, is sailing with Jill Paland on the foresheet at Kieler Woche. After the duo had to find their feet on the first day, they are now in the fast lane and took first place overall in the 49erFX ahead of Charlotte Henkel/Carolina Horlbeck. The Norwegians Pia Dahl Andersen/Nora Edland are currently in bronze. Anna Barth/Emma Kohlhoff, who were still in the lead after finishing first, slipped to fourth place.
470s, 420s, 29ers
In the 470s, after two more races on day two, the Berlin mixed duo Laura Pukporski/Thorben Schlüter remain the German leaders, although they achieved their strike result in the last race of the day. The performance of Esther Rodenhausen/Luisa Sophie Becker from Hamburg in the 420 was impressive in the shifting winds. Three races, three wins was their unblemished record on day two, which took them to first place overall. The day was a little bumpier than the opener for Poland's Ewa Lewandowska/Krzysztof Krolik in the 29er Euro Cup. But even a slip-up with seventh place could not dislodge them from their place in the sun, which they now occupy with a clear lead.
REWE Kids Cup
While the cracks battled for every metre out on the Bay of Kiel, the youngsters showed off their skills at the REWE Kids Cup on the Bay of Strande. The 23 girls and boys were first of all instructed by two-time 49er bronze medallist Thomas Plößel and completed three thrilling races on their Optimists. Jarik Egge from TSV Schilksee won ahead of Preetz-based Emma Nitsch and Raika Harlass. "What could be better than enthusiastic children who love their leisure activities and are also ambitious," said REWE sales manager Björn Bannow, who rewarded all the kids with gifts and the podium with 100-euro shopping vouchers. Premium partner REWE remains loyal to Kieler Woche and plans to repeat the REWE Kids Cup in 2025.
