Sailing Grand Slam
This year, Kieler Woche will be characterised by the Sailing Grand Slam, the new joint platform for the five most prestigious sailing regattas in the world. In addition to the ten Olympic disciplines, twelve international boat classes, including the ILCA 6 Men's World Championship and the German Sailing Championship, will be hosted from 21 to 29 June. In addition to Kieler Woche, the Sailing Grand Slam previously included Palma de Mallorca/Spain and Hyères/France. This will be followed by regattas in July in Long Beach/USA on the 2028 Olympic site and in September in Almere/Netherlands.
More about the new Sailing Grand Slam...
"The Sailing Grand Slam promises Olympic sport at the very highest level, which we will live up to with optimised competition conditions," said Dirk Ramhorst, Head of Organisation of the Kiel Week regattas. To this end, a separate event area will be created for the foiling board classes iQFOiL and Formula Kite on the eastern shore of the Kiel Fjord opposite the Kiel-Schilksee Olympic Centre.
"Kiel's experience with sustainable major events and the reliable planning area make it the best possible location," explained City President Bettina Aust and Lord Mayor Ulf Kämpfer with the backing of the state government and the state parliament, who have committed themselves to Kiel across the board.
Full Olympic programme
In addition to eight of ten Olympic classifications, the first part of Kiel Week will be characterised by the Men's World Championship in the ILCA 6 dinghy and the Eurocup of the 29er. The German Sailing Championship, starting with the traditional eel regatta on Saturday morning, will run throughout the entire period. Last year's winner Jens Kuphal from Berlin wants to defend his title with an XR 41 from the Danish shipyard X-Yachts, which celebrated its world premiere at boot. "We are curious to see the potential, even in a top international comparison," says the skipper and helmsman, looking forward to the boat and Kieler Woche.
More about the XR 41...
Olympic bid 2036
The top management of Kiel Week marketer Kiel Sailing.City also reaffirmed, in line with the state of Schleswig-Holstein, the claim and willingness to support and enrich a German Olympic bid for 2036 or 2040 as a location for sailing competitions as well as for coastal rowing and open water swimming.
