2000 boats at KielerWoche

X-Yacht Worlds and Europeans and the European debut of the Elliott will feature in June's regatta

ISAF Sailing World Cup the world tour of Olympic sailing makes a stop in Kiel over 20-28 June. The event will be significant as it was mark the European debut of the new Elliott 6 Olympic women match racing class.

Additionally, the 127th year of Kieler Woche will feature three high-class international championships: the X-35 Worlds, X-41 European Championship and the 505 SAP European Championship With 3 million visitors expected, 10,000 masts on the Kiel Fjord, 4,500 sailors, 2,000 boats, 360 starts, 50 nations, 40 sailing disciplines, 11 racing areas over nine days Kieler Woche is again looking forward to outstanding numbers. With the Olympic sailing classes Kieler Woche is one of the world's largest sailing events and also the most diverse with traditional boats to kiteboards, dinghies and keelboats and offshore racers.

After five regattas in Australia, USA and Europe, the ISAF Sailing World Cup has a stopover in Kiel prior to the finals in Weymouth in September. “The ISAF Sailing World Cup will bring a new focus to Olympic sailing, demonstrating the excitement, skill and passion of the sport” said Göran Petersson, ISAF President.

Special attention will be given to the women during this year’s Kieler Woche. From 20 - 24 June, 24 crews from nine different countries will be match racing for the Kieler Woche trophy in the new Elliott 6m.

Another highlight will be the SAP 505 European Championship. On top of the list of around 100 crews will be Kieler Woche trophy record-holder Wolfgang Hunger from Strande and Dane, Jörgen Bojsen-Moller. Each of them has won the class 16 times over the last 30 years.

The X-yachts are becoming a fixed feature at Kieler Woche. After their World Championship in 2007 and the European Championship in 2008, the X-35ers are competing again for their Worlds in Kiel. Similarly the X-41 fleet will be coming to Schilksee in order to determine their European Champion on racing area Alpha.

Chairman of the Kieler Woche Offshore Race Committee Eckard von der Mosel is sure that due to both classes value of the events happening on the Outer Fjord during Kieler Woche: “Top-class sailors of the Baltic Sea have gathered within the X classes. Their regattas will be the high-end races in the northern district. That is why we will always keep open a slot for them during Kieler Woche.”