When Paul Kohlhoff sets off for his Nacra 17 in the morning in the direction of Strand Bay, he likes to take a short coffee break with mum Thea or dad Peter. Both live opposite the Schilksee Olympic Centre in neighbouring Strande and are very close to the centre of German sailing.
Paul Kohlhoff himself lives with his partner Jana and son Bruno in the centre of Kiel, not far from Blücherplatz and the market square. This is where the festival heart of the Schleswig-Holstein state capital beats loudly during Kieler Woche. With 3.8 million visitors, a new Kieler Woche record was set last year. Bremen-born Paul Kohlhoff grew up in this "Sailing City" and feels like a Kieler through and through.
Paul Kohlhoff learnt to sail in Kiel
The 28-year-old learnt to sail at the Kiel Yacht Club, where he currently forms the most successful Olympic crew with 24-year-old Alica Stuhlemmer from Kiel. After their unforgettable bronze success in Enoshima, the helmsman and his foresailor have qualified for the Olympics together for the second time in a row. For Kohlhoff, it is even the third Games after the premiere with Carolina Werner in 2016. Because the Olympic regatta starts on 28 July (for the Nacra 17 fleet on 3 August), some of the national sailors who have qualified for it, as well as the top international players, will have to sail past Kieler Woche this year. They are already preparing for the Olympic medal hunt in Marseille.
"Unfortunately, the top people have no place in Kiel at this time of year, because every day of training in the Olympic sailing area, which is not always open, counts," says Kohlhoff, explaining the absence of the Olympic elite at the 130th Kiel Week. With its topography and varied sailing conditions, the Bay of Marseille is so different from the Kiel Week area that the German sailing summit is not suitable as a preparation event this time.
How Kohlhoff sees Kiel Week
What spontaneously comes to Paul Kohlhoff's mind about his home sailing area in Kiel and the sailing conditions? "Westerly winds and flat water. That means hardly any waves and exciting racing with lots of turns and gusts," he says and smiles. He continues: "The Kieler Woche area is cool for all kinds of fast boats, i.e. anything that foils and planes. What I like to sail is fun in Kiel. In everything except an easterly wind, which is just as marvellous for many others as a westerly wind is for us."
When Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer go out on the water for training or regattas, they prefer to do so from Strande. "I grew up here and feel a strong connection to Kiel and the area. Sailing has been a family favourite here since I was a child," says the helmsman, who was also a very good footballer in his youth until he had to choose a path. He chose the sport for which Kiel is world-famous: sailing.
Precisely because Paul Kohlhoff is often travelling as an Olympic sailor, Kiel offers him a home port with a high feel-good factor. He says: "Kiel Week puts the sometimes undervalued city of Kiel in the spotlight and offers many opportunities for presentation. I think the organisers have done this well in recent years."
Father Peter Kohlhoff's family yacht is moored in Strande, a picture-book sailing area right on the doorstep. "The water here is good, its quality is almost sensational," says Paul Kohlhoff. "Only when it gets too warm and the weather is difficult can there be problems with seaweed." This type of invisible underwater obstacle can become a problem for foiling boats and boards in some areas. Seagrass, which is problem-free for many boat classes, can pose a risk of sudden stoppages for kiters, for example, who race across the water on their narrow foils at speeds of up to 70 or 80 kilometres per hour in the best conditions.
To Kiel Week as a 13-year-old
Paul Kohlhoff competed in his first Kiel Week in 2008 as a 13-year-old 29er helmsman, sailing to 50th place with Tim-Kilian Krämer after the recent changeover. He started 14 times in total at his home week in the youth skiff and from 2014 in the foiling Olympic catamaran Nacra 17. In 2015 and 2016 he won in Kiel with Carolina Werner, last year he came second with Alica Stuhlemmer. Together, the two from Kiel are now heading for Marseille. Their goal is to win their second Olympic medal since 2021. "Despite the helpful experience, it hasn't become any easier because the level has risen even further," says Paul Kohlhoff, who will once again be sharing his room in Marseille with 2020 Ilca 7 world champion Philipp Buhl, who is also aiming for his third Olympic summit attempt. "We're good friends," says Kohlhoff about the Olympic men's flat share, "we have great respect for each other and are both keen to perform for Germany. That unites us. At the same time, Philipp inspires me. He doesn't let ups and downs get to him, he does his thing."
Kohlhoff's third Olympic Games
Paul Kohlhoff wants to go all the way with Alica Stuhlemmer in Marseille and fight for his second Olympic medal. But not before he's refuelled with Kieler Woche emotions. Kohlhoff says: "We have often been successful here, so the feeling is correspondingly good. I think Kiel Week is a cool event. The DSV Lounge in the centre of Schilksee has developed well. We feel at home there."
The "living room" of the Olympic sailors is located in the Schilksee Olympic Centre. This is where the German Marseille starters will gather one last time before travelling straight back to France. Paul Kohlhoff is looking forward to Kiel's farewell on course for the Olympics with great anticipation: "I'm really looking forward to the team presentation. I consider it a great honour to be part of it. It's a great feeling to be introduced to the Kiel Week visitors as part of the Olympic team."
The GER sailing team for the XXXIII Summer Olympics will present itself on the final day of the first Olympic half of Kiel Week at the German Sailing Association's national base. 26 June is also Paul Kohlhoff's 29th birthday. We can guess what he will be wishing for - 37 days before the first starting signal in the Bay of Marseille.
