Kieler Woche: Countdown to the world's biggest sailing event begins

The organisers around the Kieler Yacht-Club (KYC) are expecting eleven international boat classes and sailing athletes from around 50 nations in eight Olympic disciplines from 22 to 30 June. The Ilca 7 in particular is expected to be of top international calibre. Philipp Buhl is hoping for a successful Olympic dress rehearsal, where he wants to prove himself against greats such as the reigning Olympic champion Matt Wearn or the Norwegian Hermann Tomasgaard.

A total of over 650 participants have already registered on the inshore courses, and just under 150 starters are also on the list for the lake courses. You can still register at a reduced rate until next Tuesday, after which the entry fee will gradually increase.

Kiel as a springboard into the world

"Most German sailing Olympians have their sporting home in Kiel for good reason. The training conditions are ideal. In addition, Kiel Week offers a top competition and season highlight right on our doorstep," said Head of Organisation Dirk Ramhorst, emphasising the importance of the regatta week. The hopefuls in the junior squads of the German Sailing Association (DSV) are already preparing for the 2028 Olympics and are expected to face strong international competition at the starting lines of the upcoming Kieler Woche. The international classes Ilca 6, open to women and men, and 29er with the European Cup for crews of two are likely to be particularly crowded again.

Kiel continues to open up to foiling

In addition, the Kieler Woche wants to continue to reflect the Olympic sailing programme in order to live up to its claim as a target competition for top-class sport, says Ramhorst. This year, this will again include iQ foilsurfing for women and men in separate classifications. From 2025, the organisers also want to get the kitefoil scene excited about Kiel Week. Ramhorst: "We are listening directly to the classes and national sailing associations with intensive customer management in order to fulfil their wishes and needs."

Lena Erdil is therefore now in charge of acquiring top athletes from Germany and abroad. The two-time surfing world champion and Kiel Week winner 2021 and 22 on the iQ-Foil has been beating the advertising drum for Kiel Week since the beginning of the year. The Kiel native is a permanent member of the team at Point of Sailing, the marketing and event agency of the Kiel Yacht Club. The 34-year-old will use her authentic contacts with international athletes from the scene "to raise awareness of how professionally the regatta is organised with perfect conditions on land and on the water", something she has experienced herself and wants to pass on. Kiel's trump cards have not yet been played, especially in the young foiling disciplines of kitesurfing and surfing.

World Championship for the 2.4mR

This year, the 2.4mR will take centre stage in the international boat classes. The formerly Paralympic keelboat, which is always sailed openly including solo, will also host the open world championship in Schilksee from 29 July to 3 August. Kieler Woche is also regarded as a dress rehearsal for this event with an expected impressive number of participants. "I'm expecting all the big names on the fjord," says co-favourite Heiko Kröger, who has already won 13 Kiel Weeks.

Aid campaign for Ukrainians

The Ammersbek native is also President of the international 2.4 mR class association and launched a remarkable campaign at the Kiel Meeting at boot Düsseldorf. The Kiev Cruising Yacht Club from the Ukraine asked him for help in setting up a sailing project for people with disabilities, primarily war victims. "Sailing can improve physical rehabilitation and psychological healing from trauma, offering those affected a new focus and distraction at the same time," explained Heiko Kröger, "teamwork promotes social reintegration and strengthens lost self-determination and self-confidence." Heiko Kröger is working with club commodore Gennadii Starikov to develop a training concept and is collecting donations for the purchase of a used 2.4 mR boat, which will ideally be launched at Kiel Week under the UKR sailing mark.

With the support of the German Sailing Association (DSV), boot Düsseldorf has also initiated a fundraising campaign in favour of young Ukrainian sailors. There is a special donation page on boot.de. Exhibitors at the trade fair as well as sailing clubs and private donors can find out about the simple procedure here. In addition, the DSV has set up an account for monetary donations, which can be paid into under the keyword "Help for Ukrainian Sailing Federation". "This campaign is very close to my heart, as it is about supporting children who have been brutally torn away from their sport by the war and have no chance of practising it again for the time being," said Wolfram N. Diener, Chairman of the Trade Fair Management Board.

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