Ocean Race Europe: Sailing capital Kiel - more than 100,000 starting fans expected

Thousands of fans had already gathered in Kiel's starting harbour for the Ocean Race Europe at the opening ceremony. Tens of thousands followed in the Ocean Live Park over the past few days. On the start Sunday, more than 100,000 spectators are expected on the shores and on the water. Offshore sailing is embraced in the Sailing City - also for the Olympic goals of the future.

Kiel is and remains the sailing capital of Germany. The teams, the visitors and fans and the Schleswig-Holstein hosts in the starting harbour for the Ocean Race Europe have impressively demonstrated this this week. "It's fantastic to see how so many players have worked together to put on such a great event," said Boris Herrmann, paying tribute to the city "where I myself lived for several years and where I did most of my sailing in Germany". He presents his team for the Ocean Race Europe here.

"Ocean's Seven" before the start

While the teams offered guests and fans an impressive sailing spectacle directly in front of the Kiellinie on Friday and Saturday with their speed races in gentle summer winds, which were not relevant for the Ocean Race Europe in sporting terms, the streams of visitors swelled once again with the fantastic weather in the north. The highlight is yet to come with the start of the Ocean Race Europe on Sunday at 3.50 pm. NDR will be broadcasting a live dockout, parade and start programme lasting several hours from 1.15 pm.

With sailing, marine conservation activities and lots of infotainment centred around the Ocean Race Europe, the festive atmosphere at the Kiel Sailing Mile will reach its climax this weekend. Anyone visiting the Ocean Live Park should not miss the stage programme with the sailing stars or the Blücherbrücke. After just a few steps across the highly frequented wooden planks, you will reach the dock where "Ocean's Seven" are moored: the seven Imocas that will start the European race on Sunday.

Ambrogio Beccaria's Italian "Allagrande Mapei Racing" (sister ship to "Paprec Arkéa", but with a different sail plan) is moored right at the front. Next to it is "Biotherm", which Frenchman Paul Meilhat steered to fifth place in the Vendée Globe and now wants to at least make it onto the podium with his crew. It is followed by Alan Roura's eye-catching "Amaala" (Switzerland/Saudi Arabia) in its new black and blue livery and the already familiar blue and green "Holcim-PRB".

Ocean Race Europe: Skipper premiere for Rosalin Kuiper

Nico Lunven steered her to sixth place at the Vendée Globe before Rosalin Kuiper will now contest her first major race as skipper of a top team on "Holcim-PRB". The neighbouring Imoca of the Canadian team Be Water Positive will be sailed by Scott Shawyer with a newly assembled team.

As the Ocean Race winner in the 2023 world race, the boat is known as a rocket. Her crew wants to take her around Europe as fast as possible in the new mix. Well-known and popular Brit Pip Hare from the Vendée Globe, who lost her mast in the solo race around the world, is part of the team. In addition to the Canadians, the focus is on "Paprec Arkéa", one of the many favourites for the second edition of the Ocean Race Europe.

"Paprec Arkéa" skipper Yoann Richomme had steered his powerful projectile to second place in the Vendée Globe, beaten only by Charlie Dalin. Boris Herrmann's "Malizia - Seaexplorer" is the colourful exclamation mark on the outer wing of the Imocoa fleet at Blücherbrücke. The biggest fan clusters are forming in front of the home team's Imoca these days.

Free admission to front row seats

If you walk along the dock here, you can see the boats almost up close. And also the sailors who are busy working on or below deck, carrying equipment back and forth and, if possible, even taking the time for a chat with the fans. Admission to the Imoca harbour and the entire Ocean Live Park with its attractions is free.

"Biotherm" skipper Paul Meilhat was in Kiel for the first time at the start of the new millennium - back then as a young laser sailor - and took part in Kiel Week. Later, he also sailed the fjord as a skiff sailor in the 49er. He remembers the former laser sailor Robert Stanjek, for example. Paul Meilhat watched the German three years ago in the 1st Ocean Race Europe. Meilhat did not take part, but watched the victory coup of the German "Einstein" from afar.

"This time it will be different," says Paul Meilhat, looking ahead to the second edition of the race around Europe starting on Sunday, in which his team is one of the podium contenders. The first Ocean Race Europe took place directly after the Covid pandemic. The race was short, with last-minute participants and organisation. Meilhat remembers: "It didn't reflect the top level of Imoca sailing, even though there were some very good people taking part. But now the top five boats of the Vendée Globe are more or less here. Two are missing, but the field is really very good. The top sailors are at the start."

The stars of offshore sailing in Kiel

This also attracts the fans, who can experience the "Who's Who" of international offshore sailing and the powerful foilers live as they race across the inner fjord in Kiel like hardly anywhere else. Kiel's Lord Mayor Ulf Kämpfer, the city's teams and the much-praised army of volunteers have done a great job to make this Imoca summit in the Sailing City possible. Now they are celebrating it with the teams and fans.

Rosaling Kuiper said: "It's really wonderful in Kiel - a great starting harbour for the Ocean Race Europe! The people are all so friendly, we have really enjoyed our days here." Ulf Kämpfer took a look back at the brilliant Kiel fly-by in the Ocean Race around the world at the opening of the Ocean Race Europe sailing week. Two years ago, the fleet "only" raced into the inner fjord before continuing the leg to The Hague without stopping.

I'm super proud that we've managed to do this and that so many people are here." Ulf Kämpfer

Ulf Kämpfer recalled the fly-by: "I was standing at about the height of the buoy, about 200 metres away. If you were there: we had perfect weather! If you take a step back and think about what actually happened: five boats sailed into the Kiel Fjord, made a turn and sailed out again. And 100,000 people watched. How awesome will it be this time?"

Fighter promotes Olympic sailing in Kiel

Ulf Kämpfer continued: "Everyone knows Kiel Week. It's great! But we always want to have great sailing outside of Kiel Week as well. Of course, everyone remembers 2002 and the 'illbruck'. I had just moved to Kiel at the time and it was great to experience this sailing enthusiasm." After the successful fly-by in the Ocean Race, the city then fought around the world to become the starting harbour for the Ocean Race Europe.

"We did it and that's great, because these sailing boats are something very special. Sailing has to become more spectacular - especially when we think about the Olympics. And this sailing sport is incredibly spectacular. Then landlubbers like me can understand how it works and get excited. And that - I believe - is the next level of sailing. And we have it in Kiel. That's great!"

The happy Lord Mayor did not miss the opportunity to hammer in another peg for Kiel's Olympic ambitions as a potential partner of all four German bidders to host the Games in Germany. Kämpfer said: "It won't take place in Warnemünde this year. But in Kiel! Everyone knows that we have Kiel Week in Kiel. But there are many sailing regattas in the world that take place in private. But in Kiel and Schleswig-Holstein, we are sailing enthusiasts."

We are a harbour city. We are cosmopolitan. Sailing is a cosmopolitan sport. And we demonstrate this with events like the Ocean Race Europe." Ulf Kämpfer

Kämpfer's link to Kiel's Olympic ambitions: "Everything together is what makes the Olympics what they are: great athletes, but also people who are enthusiastic about it. That's what we want to have in these five days. But we also want to have that in Kiel again in 2040." Part one of the ambitious plans went well until shortly before the start.

The motto for Kiel's XL Olympic ambitions could also be taken from the large white letters on black Malizia T-shirts hanging in Ocean Live Park at the German racing team's stand. The words are reminiscent of a cheer often used by Boris Herrmann and his fans: "Push, push, push". This also fits in well with the first starting signal in the Ocean Race Europe on Sunday, where the first bonus points will be awarded after just a few minutes at the Kiel lighthouse.