KIEL – The count down to Kiel week is on. The “Kieler Woche”, the greatest sailing event in northern Europe, will start in a few weeks. From the 19h to the 27th of June, five thousand yachtsman and women, coming from 50 countries, will take part in the “Kieler Woche”. There will be two thousand yachts, dinghys and surfboards, and almost 40 sailing events. Thousands of guests are expected and the Platu 25 class is an integral part of this sailing week.For the Platu 25 crews, the “Kieler Woche” is a prestigious occasion to compete with the best boats of the International Platu 25 fleet.
As the Platu 25 International class President Edoardo Barni remarked,“Every year we take part in the Kieler Woche. For the Platu 25 class it is an unmatchable occasion to be part of a big sailing celebration. After the “Primo Cup” in Montecarlo and the “Alpen Cup” in Austria, Switzerland and North Italy, it is an important appointment for us. Not just for the Platu 25 German fleet, but for all the National fleets. It will be a further training before the World Championship in Alicante from the 18th to the 24th July”.
The “Kieler Woche” is divided into Olympic and International parts. From 24th – 27th of June, following the Olympic classes (470, 49er, 2.4mR open, Women Matchrace/Elliott 6m, Finn-Dinghy, Laser, Laser radial W, Neil Pryde RS:X, and Starboat), the Platu 25 will race on race-area FOXTROT in the second part of the week, contemporary with 29er, 420, 505, Contender, Dragon, Europe, Flying Dutchman, Folkeboat, Formula 18, H-Boat, Hobie 16, J 24, Kielzugvogel and Dinghy. The Platu 25 class will have her own berth area and a “landing-stage-party” powered by the German Class Association as well.
Not just regattas. On June 26, the second Saturday of the Kieler Woche, a special programme highlight will take place. This is the day that the traditional sailing ships gather in the inner-firth for the great windjammer parade. This spectacle is also always a magnet for tens of thousands of spectators, who gather along the inner-firth to watch this grand event.
There will also be music stages, walk acts, comedians, clowns, magicians, acrobats and pantomimes. A nine-day programme packed with over 1.800 events to entertain three million guests from all over the globe. During this special Maritime weekitwill be possible to see an endless forest of masts on the banks of the Firth, with over one hundred windjammers and traditional sailing boats moored on the quayside.
The fascination of tall ships will be at the forefront in the windjammer parade with more than 100 ships taking part on the second Saturday of “Kieler Woche”. Destroyers, frigates, corvettes, minesweepers and high-speed launches from a whole host of countries will come together in Tirpitz Harbour for the meeting of the navy fleets and “Open ship”, while navy cutter regattas will be held in Kiel’s inner-firth.
So, “Kieler Woche” is a big sail event with a fascinating cultural program. The Platu 25 International class couldn’t miss it for anything.
More information on: www.kielerwoche.de/eng/englishdefault.php
English edited by Kev Scott (Thailand NCA) |