Kieler Woche 2015

Kieler Woche 2015 - Day 3

by Hermann Hell 22 Jun 2015 22:28 BST 20-28 June 2015

Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar (AUT) are in the lead with 6 bullets on day 3 of Kieler Woche 2015 © Christian Beeck / www.segel-bilder.de

After three days of racing, the race directors of the Olympic classes can relax a little at the Kieler Woche. Although the weather forecast in the past days was not very promising, almost all races were sailed. On Monday they organisers were forced ta make quick decisions, since local weather systems affected the wind on the race courses in the afternoon. But since then, the major part of the program had already been sailed.

"Our concept worked", the head of organisation Dirk Ramhorst was happy about the good timing of the starts on the different days. Only the 2.4 boats suffered from the conditions after just one race on Monday. They were scheduled to race on the TV course after the skiffs, but were overtaken by the calm. So Heiko Kroeger (Ammersbek) could only gain one point aiming for his eighth Kieler Woche victory, chasing the leading Norwegian Bjoernar Erikstad. So Kroeger remains on rank two.

The 49ers did sail the most intensive program, being sent onto the race course even four times, since they were one race short. The finish of the last race was a bit strange. After the wind had stopped in the meantime, it then did push the crews very slowly across the finish line. Erik Heil/Thomas Ploessel were the first across the finish line, followed by four teams who ended up in a dead race and were rated collectively. It was another successful day for Justus Schmidt/Max Boehme (Kiel), who were part of the finishing quartet. They permanently sailed in the top group and could increase their lead over their training partners Heil/Ploessel. But they deny the idea of taking over the position of the European Champions Heil/Ploessel: "Eric and Tommy are still superior and can sail at the top of a high-level fleet. We are glad to have been able to take root in the training community", said Schmidt. The young team from Kiel did already get good individual results several times in the past. "Now our performance is more consistent. The speed is alright, and that's the key", stated Boehme.

In the women's skiff, the German sailors are jauntily changing positions. Victoria Jurczok/Anika Lorenz are now in rank two behind the leading mixed duo Annemiek Bekkering/Daniel Bramervaer, with the twins Jule and Lotta Goerge and Leonie Meyer/Eena Stoffers (all from Kiel) on rank three and four. Meyer/Stoffers, who already were in a podium position the days before, took it calmly: "We did try the coloured jerseys for the podium placements and decided to sail without one today", said Meyer.

Paul Kohlhoff/Carolina Werner in the mixed catamaran Nacra17 can now look forward to their first Kieler Woche victory after winning seven out of nine races. With 27 points, it is hardly impossible to push them from the leading position in the next two days.

Paul's brother Max Kohlhoff is also doing well at the Kieler Woche. After a slow start, he is now making his way up in the Finn fleet. Finishing second twice and winning one race in the last two days, he is now on rank five. "This is my first time at the Kieler Woche, where things are going really well", the sailor form Kiel is pleased. Deniss Karpak (Estonia) is still on rank one. The best German sailor of the fleet is Phillip Kasueske (Berlin) on rank four.

Tobias Schadewaldt (Oldenburg) is still on his way to victory in the Laser. With the big fleet being divided into the Gold and Silver Fleet, the 30-year old did finish two races in top positions (rank two and rank one). The European Champion Svenja Weger (Kiel) will not be able to reach the top position in the women's Laser anymore. But in the tenth position, she is still aiming for the Medal Race. But no competitor can keep up with the Croatian Tina Mihelic.

In the men's 470, the Croatians are also dominating the fleet. Sime Fantela/Igor Marenic demonstrate, that their victory at the the World Championship in 2009 was no accident and they are well able to top their placement at the Olympics 2012, where they were on rank four.

Lara Vadlau/Jolanta Ogar (Austria) did demonstrate a faultless series in the small 470 women's fleet. After six races, they can even discard a victory. "Thank God, we are in the fleet of the men. That's challenging for us", explained helmswoman Vadlua. After suffering from a cruciate ligament rupture due to a skiing accident, she just came back to sailing and is still working on getting back in shape. She is happy to participate at the Kieler Woche: "A cool event, you meet a lot of people - even if there are not many sailors starting in our class."

Results for all classes at www.kieler-woche.de

Warrer wins perfect port-tack start in the 49ers (from Andy Rice)

Today the 2008 Olympic Champion Jonas Warrer and Anders Thomsen pulled off a perfect start, tacking and crossing the fleet to win one of the 49er qualifying races convincingly at Kieler Woche (Kiel Week) 2015.

It was one of the key moments caught on Kiel Week's live TV programme showing on YouTube. The SAP Sailing Analytics revealed that the Danes sailed only 5 seconds more slowly than the theoretical perfect course to the first windward mark.

Warrer's win moves him up to 2nd overall, although Germany's Justus Schmidt and Max Boehme continue to impress as the most consistent performers in a variety of conditions on the Kiel Fjord.

The other featured class on the TV course was the 2.4mR keelboat, with the Paralympic competitors racing against some non-disabled sailors. Germany's Lasse Klotzing won the race, but Norway's Bjornar Erikstad still leads 8-time World Champion Heiko Kroger in the overall standings.

On Tuesday 23 June, the 49er FX women and the mixed-sex Nacra 17 catamaran fleet return to the TV course for the final day of qualifying before the Medal Races on Wednesday.

Currently leading in the 49er FX are Annemieke Bekkering & Daniel Bramervaer from the Netherlands, and Germany's Paul Kohlhoff and Carolina Werner who are dominating the Nacra 17.

The schedule for live TV at Kiel Week runs as follows these classes (subject to change) on the following days:

Olympic Week

Tuesday 23 June: 49er FX Women & Nacra 17 catamaran
Wednesday 24 June: Medal Race finals for 49er, 49er FX, Laser Men, Laser Radial Women, 470 Men & Women

Corinthian Week