Two World Championships

Warnemunde Week will incorporate a number of other events this year

The opening of the 71st Warnemuende Week will take place this coming Saturday. About 2000 sailors in 25 classes from more than 30 nations are expected to start in Warnemuende/Germany.

During the period of nine exciting days filled with top sailing in international, Olympic and offshore classes, two World Championships will be included: The single-handed OK-Dinghy class is holding its Worlds during Warnemuende Week. More than 25 percent of the participants made their way from New Zealand and Australia to sail for the title. And a strong British fleet is registered as well.

The International 14 class will sail their team worlds for the first time ever in Germany. In the Europe Laser Cup a huge international fleet including several Olympic starters will show thrilling fights as well. Another highlight shows the International German Championship of the Olympic Starboat class.

For the well-known British OK-sailor, Nick Craig, the collecting of titles seems to be one of his favourite hobbies. This year the 34-year-old is trying to win his fourth World Championship. The current number one in the world ranking list has won the world title in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and additionally became European champion in 2002. He showed good form in this year's Kiel Week, ending up third. It will be interesting to see whether he is able to defend the title against the latest winner of Kiel Week, Thomas Hannson-Mild from Sweden. Local champion and former world title holder Karsten Hintz will try to beat Craig as well. The OK-Worlds kick off on Monday, 7 July. 82 sailors compete in this class until the finals on 12 July.

Immediately after the OK Worlds, the International 14 team World Championship will take place. These races will be more than a good training for the class’s worlds that follow after the Warnemuende Week. The oldest internationally renowned dinghy class sails their team worlds as a tradition of the 'good old times'. The first race of this kind was held in 1913 in England. 90 skiffs are expected to participate in the Worlds.

The Laser Europe Cup is regarded as the last check before the Olympic Games. Polish Olympic participant Maciej Grabowski will take the chance to compete in an international fleet of 70 sailors from 20 nations. Undoubtedly the Olympic Laser Radial class for the female sailors is top for number of participants. 170 competitors form 20 nations have applied for racing in Warnemuende.

Having just won the title at Kiel Week, surfer Romy Kinzl, is on her way to Warnemuende with the main intention to apply for an individual nomination for the Olympic Games in China. In Warnemuende she will participate in the German Championship of the RS:X class. "Of course I would prefer to perform my training in Olympic waters but in this day-to-day situation my coach cannot accompany me. So I will start my final preparations very relaxed at home and wait for the decision on 15 July. "Warnemuende is my beloved spot in surfing aspects and I am looking forward to big waves and great racing," states the German athlete.

The Hamburg based Star sailor, Alexander Hagen, had to give way to Frederik Loof (SWE) and Robert Scheidt (BRA) during Kiel Week 2008. Together with his crew Frithjof Kleen the Star master became third and will now fight for the national title in Warnemuende. "I am familiar with the race course in Kiel but have only sailed in Warnemuende twice – it seems to be quite tough", said Hagen.

During the second weekend of the 71st Warnemuender Woche great fun and best entertainment will be concentrated around the BMW Sailing Cup at the Warnemuende beach: 48 sailors from Rostock will participate in this amateur regatta in order to win a ticket to the BMW German Championship held in Warnemuende later this year. "We succeeded in promoting the BMW Sailing Cup to the local clubs", the chairman of the car company, Wigger, seems to be delighted with the great appeal to the second edition of the Amateur Sailing series in Warnemuende between 11 and 13 July.

All friends of offshore racing are very welcome at the 71st Warnemuende Week, too. Monday morning (7 July) more than 64 yachts will start off for the long distance race around the Danish Island of Bornholm. Shorter offshore races will be held throughout the week: the Kuehlungsborn Regatta, Seaside Resort Regatta and the Hangover Race.