The Travemünde Week 2025 focuses on speed and spectacle. From 18 to 27 July, sailors from eleven nations will meet on the Baltic Sea to compete for titles and ranking points in 20 boat classes. The five catamaran classes in particular promise fast-paced action. Three international, five German and one North German titles will be awarded during the ten-day event. The direct combination of sailing and maritime festival also makes the Travemünde Week a land-based event.
New concept for the kick-off
The organisers are relying on a new concept for the opening day in 2025. The first regatta start signal will be given immediately after the traditional "Hoist the flag!" signal at the opening ceremony on 18 July. The sea-going yachts line up in the Trave between the Passat museum ship and the Trave promenade. In front of the spectators, they fight for the best starting position for the Rund Fehmarn long-distance regatta. Daniel Günther, Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein and patron of the Travemünde Week, sends the sailors onto the course with a flag signal.
Perhaps there will be a special highlight. In May, the Trave Humpback whale sighted. Most recently, a specimen off Hiddensee on. It is unclear whether it is the same marine mammal. Perhaps it will appear again at the Travemünde Week?
Focus on international championships
Topcat catamarans will be in the spotlight in 2025. International champions will be crowned in three classes. The K1 class, the flagship of the Topcat fleet, will be sailing for the European Championship title and the World Cup. The 5.5 metre double hulls are among the fastest centreless catamarans. Top teams from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland will be battling it out for the titles during the Travemünde Week from 21 to 26 July. The best European teams will also be competing in the smaller K2 and K3 classes.
In addition to the catamarans, numerous other boat classes will ensure a varied programme on the water. The Hobie 16 will open the ranking list regattas on the first weekend. Record European champion Detlef Mohr, who continues to be the measure of all things in this class, will be taking part. The competition in the Formula 18 class will be a highlight. The brothers Helge and Christian Sach, 22-time winners of the Travemünde Week, will meet Olympic bronze medallist Paul Kohlhoff.
The Dyas class organises two championships at the same time: The first is for the North German title, followed by the German championship. Other national titles will be contested in the J/22, Varianta and Seascape 18 classes. Ranking points will also be awarded in the 470s, Finn dinghies, H-boats, keel draft birds, corsairs and Olympic dinghies. The youngest participants will start in the Open Skiff class, sailing their German Nationals from Priwall Beach.
Showdown in the Trave
The Trave Races, commented show races directly in front of the promenade, are a highlight for spectators. The highlight is the Volksbank Rotspon Cup on Wednesday between Lübeck's Mayor Jan Lindenau and Kiel's Lord Mayor Ulf Kämpfer. "This will be a great duel between the two major sailing cities in Germany," says Frank Schärffe, Managing Director of Travemünder Woche GmbH. The Trave will become an arena for sailing and will advertise the upcoming Travemünde Weeks.
Fewer messages
Jens Kath, Sports Director of the Travemünde Week, is relaxed about the lower number of entries this year: "We are missing the large number of entries, as we tend to have small but fine classes at the start. These ripples are a bit pronounced at the moment. Next year, the picture will change and we will have numerous large classes at the start." The organisers are taking the opportunity to give some volunteers a break before a very large team of race officers is needed again in 2026.
The regatta programme
International championships
- 21-26 July: World Cup and European Championship Topcat K1
- 21-26 July: International Championship K2
- 21-26 July: International Championship K3
German title fights
- 19-21 July: German Open J/22
- 22-25 July: International DM Varianta
- 24-26 July: International DM Dyas
- 24-27 July: German Open Skiff Class Nationals
- 25-27 July: German Open Seascape 18
North German Championship
- 20/21 July: NDM Dyas
Ranking list regattas
- 19/20 July: Hobie 16
- 19-21 July: H-Boat
- 19-22 July: Finn Dinghy
- 19-22 July: Corsair
- 23-26 July: Keel migratory bird
- 24-26 July: 470s
- 24-26 July: Olympic dinghy
- 24-27 July: Formula 18
Sea course ORC/Yardstick
- 18/19 July: Long distance (Rund Fehmarn)
- 20 July: Up & Down
- 26/27 July: Middle distance
Festival on the Trave
The Travemünde Week is not only a sporting highlight, but also a maritime festival. Two large stages, a big screen, glittering lights and stalls for feasting and shopping provide entertainment on land. A special children's and family day rounds off the programme.
