Teams gear up for Kieler Woche
With the opening of the mega event on Saturday, June 21, 2008 in the presence of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Peter Harry Carstensen, Prime Minister of the County of Schleswig Holstein and Kiel's Mayor Angelika Volquartz about 4,500 yachtsmen/-women from more than 50 nations will participate in this year's Kieler Woche (June 21 to June 29) and aim for victory and success on the race courses. Some of the boat classes are more attractive than others, and show entry records, e.g. the rising generation of 420 sailors (204 starters), and 29er teams (94 entries), and the Olympic single-hander Laser (151 starters).
'Heiko 24mR - www.kieler-woche.de/'
A total of 1400 entries in the International and Olympic Regatta Programme, about 250 offshore teams, and multiple crews in the cutter races as well as the 'Classic Yachts', - this year's participation of competitors from all over the world looks much better than last year. 'After we experienced less participation over the last 3 years, we are more than content to now reach an entry level which exceeds the one of 2004' expresses Jobst Richter (56), Chairman of the KYC (Kieler Yacht Club) Race Committee.
And even the list of VIP guests reflects the importance and attraction of Kieler Woche 2008: The President of the German Olympic Sport's Federation (DSB) and IOC Vice President Thomas Bach, - the triple America's Cup skipper Russell Coutts (NZL), - the 12 German Olympic team members who qualified for the Olympic Regatta in Qingdao, - and the international elite of Starboat sailors ..... they all honour Kieler Woche with their presence and/or participation.
'We are open for the vast complexity and variety the sport of sailing offers to everybody. We welcome traditional boat classes and familiar friends of Kieler Woche, as well as new concepts and ideas they may come up with' states Jobst Richter in view of the overall diversity in sailing generally and Kieler Woche especially. The world pr?miere of the yellow jersey for the overall leader, - the spectacular blade-riders and Moth dinghies as 'class of the year', - women's Match Racing at the Debitel port in the centre of the city, - the integration of handicapped competitors into the open 2.4mR Class, - the X-35 European Championship, - the International German Championship for Offshore yachts (IMS), - the newly invented 'Schabernack-Cup' for offshore amateur- and cruising teams, - the Tallship Parade on June 28, - Navy Cutter races around the inner Kiel Fjord, - and the line-up of Classical Yachts (mainly wooden hulls) on the opening day, June 21, - all these attractions of Kieler Woche 2008 offer a brilliant and broad 'fire works display' in sailing which is unique in all over the world.
'Special thanks go to our various partners who contribute immensely to this annual vast spectrum of the Kieler Woche race programme. The sponsors not only support us financially, but whole-heartedly identify themselves with our sport, thus contributing with their own ideas and high calibre engagement' adds Jobst Richter.
The following facts and figures underline this Kiels' outstanding situation: 3.2 million visitors - 10.000 masts/spars on Kiel Fjord - 4.500 competitors - 1.850 boats - 500 starts - 50 nations represented - 10 race courses - 9 days' duration = be equal to ONE KIELER WOCHE !
Top Teams in the Starboat Fleet
Competitors of Kieler Woche not only stand for quantity, but also for top quality, as the registered Starboat fleet shows quite clearly. Top candidate Robert Scheidt (35) wants to add a Kieler Woche victory to his trophy cabinet back home. The Brasilian champion won 9 times (!) the Laser Worlds, and 2 Gold Medals (1996 and 2004) and 1 silver medal (2000) at Olympic Regattas. In Kiel Scheidt will challenge the present Star World Champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz (33), POL who also competed successfully in past Olympics by winning Gold in 1996 and Bronze in 2004. Third top team in the Star Class is helmsman Frederik L??f (SWE) who won Bronze /Finn in 2000. L??f changed from Finn to Star in 2001 and became instantaneously European - (with Magnus Liljedahl) and World Champion (with Christian Finnsgard) in the international top Star fleet. Since 2002 Anders Ekstr?m joined L??f as crew and hence this team won one World Championship, two European Championships as well as 4 vice-championship titles over the last 6 years.
Match Racing Women at Kieler Woche
During Kieler Woche 2008 some elite crews of this future Olympic Match Race discipline (2012) will start as new generation in women's sailing. A fleet of 10 teams representing 6 nations (GER, FRA, GBR, ITA, AUT, NZL) registered for this newly invented women's Match Race discipline. Silke Hahlbrock (GER), number 4 of the match race ranking list is the local hero.
Medal winners well represented in Kiel
Several Olympic medallists will compete in Kieler Woche 2008, amongst them in the Star Class Robert Scheidt, BRA (Olympic Gold 1996, 2000 and 2004), Mateusz Kusznierewicz, POL (Gold 1996, Bronze 2004), and Frederik L??f, SWE (Bronze 2000), - in the 470 Women Class Therese Torgersson/Vendela Santen, SWE (2000 Bronze), - in Finn Dinghy Rafael Trujillo, ESP (Silver 2004), - and in 49er Xavier Fernandez/Iker Martinez, ESP (Gold 2004).
Yachting enthusiasts and Kieler Woche fans who cannot attend this years' mega event directly, can follow the happening in and around Kiel, especially the action on the water, via the Internet Live Centre www.kieler-woche.de
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QLD
