Women’s Match Racing in Kiel - 4 years earlier than the Olympic discipline in 2012

The selection of the Olympic Yachting disciplines for 2012 by ISAF (International Sailing Federation) in November 2007 included a women’s Match Racing discipline.

Promptly – in fact 4 years before the Olympic Sailing Competitions in Weymouth/GBR in 2012 - the organisation of Kieler Woche 2008 reacted on the latest ISAF decision and integrated this women’s keelboat discipline into Kieler Woche 2008 (June 21 to June 29).

Consequently, the Kieler Woche organisation consisting of 4 German yacht clubs (Kieler Yacht Club, Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, Hamburger Segel-Club, Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) will be the foremost event management worldwide to include the future Olympic women’s Match Racing immediately.

“We shall try our best to offer spectacular racing in the “heart” of the city of Kiel, close to the shore line and centre of the county capital” confirms Jobst Richter, Race Director of the Kieler Woche organisation. Furthermore, he announced that the “action” will take place on the inner Kiel Fjord in the area of the “Debitel Stage” along the Reventlou camp (June 25 to June 29), thus attracting hundreds of visitors and spectators attending Kieler Woche 2008.

Manuel Hünsch, match race expert of the partner club “Hamburger Segel-Club” will be the event manager; he is known for his excellent match race regatta experience in all over Germany. Streamline yachts (a popular boatclass for match racing) will be available for the competition. “These 7.15m Loa keelboats with double trapeze and spinnaker are most suitable for match racing” states M. Hünsch, who will be in charge during Kieler Woche 2008 and is an experienced judge and umpire.

Most of the racing of Kieler Woche takes place on several courses way out on the outer Kiel Fjord; consequently, visitors and spectators mainly can follow the action on the water via TV, aboard spectator boats or from a rather distant shore line along Kiel Fjord.

The newly invented exciting Women’s Match Race within Kieler Woche 2008 - performed close to the shore and in the centre of the city, and explained by experienced commentators -, will definitely increase the interest of yachting enthusiasts and visitors.

Only a few days after the announcement of this innovation, Kieler Yacht Club received first entries: the present match race “queen” in Germany, Silke Hahlbrock, Hamburg as well as Ulrike Schümann (Olympic “hopeful” in Yngling 2008) already announced their coming. The entry list will include 12 superb teams from all over Europe, all of which have to belong to the “top 50” of the Women’s World Match Race Ranking List. (hmb)

Kieler Woche (June 21 to June 29, 2008)
Part I: International Classes: June 21 to June 24.
Part II: Olympic Classes: June 25 to June 29.
Part III: Women Match Race: June 25 to June 29
Part IV: Offshore:
June 21 to June 24 mainly: ORC International and ”IDM under ORC International”.
June 21 and June 26 to June 29: 12er
June 25 to June 29: X-35 Europeans, Farr 40
June 27 to June 29: Cruiser/Racer - Yardstick, ORC, and One-Design-Classes

Premium Partners of Kiel Week 2008 like BMW (presenter), HSH Nordbank AG , debitel AG and boot Duesseldorf as well as numerous co-sponsors like b+m Informatik, B+S Card Service, Canon, Dimension-Polyant, Fürst Bismarck Quelle, Helly Hansen, Hugo Hamann, International Farbenwerke, Jever, Kielnet, Lankhorst/Hohorst, Nexus, Segler-Zeitung, ThyssenKrupp, Tutima contribute successfully to 126th edition of Kiel Week.

Further information: www.kieler-woche.de

Press contact:
Hermann Hell
hermann.hell@svg-verlag.de