Please select your home edition
Edition
CompareBoatInsurance Leaderboard

128th Kiel Week Day 2 - Magic Kiwis lead the 29er Euro Cup

by Andreas Kling 19 Jun 2022 20:06 BST 18-26 June 2022
The Kiwi duo George Lee Rush and Sebastian Menzies scoring bullets in a row again at Kiel Week's 29er Euro Cup © Sascha Klahn / Kieler Woche

Strongly shifting, northerly light winds made the second day of racing at Kiel Week on Sunday (June 19) a tactical challenge for all sailors. Some sailed steeply downhill in the overall ranking after the dream day before, others climbed to the intermediate podium.

George Lee Rush and Sebastian Menzies from New Zealand remain the top of the list in the 29er class. The Kiwis continue to dominate the Euro Cup, which is open to all continents. Carl Krause and Max Georgi from Rostock are second, tied on points with Keo Devaux/Enaël Rio from France. Firmly in Danish hands: the Gold Cup of the Nordic Folkboats. Søren Kæstel and his crew Erik Andersen and Alex Lindegaard are in the lead at half-time ahead of four compatriots. Unchallenged acts the Ammersbek 2.4mR crack Heiko Kröger.

After the champagne sailing the day before, the principle race officer Fabian Bach had a challenge to master. He was right to send nine out of ten international classes on the courses in the morning. Because little by little there were challenging but fair races everywhere. "In the 29ers, we dispensed with the fourth planned because the breeze was getting weaker and weaker", said Bach, "three other classes had to make do with two out of three."

The traditional Folkboat class only schedules two races per day with long upwinds anyway and remains on stand with four out of eight in total. Local hero Ulf Kipcke used his knowledge of the area to win the day, but with his father Dieter and Gero Martens on board he is only sixth as the best German. Only Danes are ahead of them. Carl-Otto Hedegaard is second ahead of John Wulff. Cup defender Per Jørgensen fell far behind due to an early start disqualification instead of the day's victory.

Before the qualification for the gold fleet of the best 29ers, the four groups were reshuffled. This did not affect the victory of the two New Zealanders. Apart from a point penalty, they were always first at the finish. "We've been in Europe for several months, and we're also sailing the European Championships and the Youth Worlds," says the helmsman. The duo has only been on board together for half a year. His crew still puts the performance into perspective: "So far it was 'only' success in the preliminary round." Last year's winners Johann and Anton Sach from Zarnekau in Ostholstein are in sixth place.

In the gender-open ILCA-6 class, New Zealander Caleb Armit took the lead on equal points with three daily victories from Romanian Ebru Bolat, who did not compete in the last daily race. Kiel's Ole Schweckendiek is only two points back in third despite an early start disqualification. With two day wins, Germany's Andre Budzien extended his lead in the OK dinghies ahead of Bo Petersen of Denmark and New Zealand's Greg Wilcox.

Just ahead is Norway's Gudleik Berg Kjøpsnes in the ILCA 4 classification, while his Scandinavian colleagues Casper Fink and Simon Christoffersen (both Denmark) lead the Europe standings ahead of Sweden's Sebastian Knaack. The strong Danish performance in Kiel is underpinned by Jesper Armbrust and Søren Dulong Andreasen at the top of the Contender. Equal on points bow to bow the Hungarians Szabolcs Majthényi/András Domoskos go into the half-time break of the Flying Dutchman with the local Kay-Uwe Lüdtke and Kai Schäfers, who afforded themselves an early start disqualification.

"Everything on course, but I have been cold out there," reported Heiko Kroeger after returning from track golf, where the 2.4mR Paralympic champion from Sydney (2000) added two day wins to his winning streak. "Only at the first race of the day two slipped through my fingers just before the finish when the wind almost fell asleep in between," said Kröger, who is aiming to win Kiel Week for the 13th time.

Only the foiling Waszp class waited in vain for enough wind to fly on Sunday. The return race of the offshore yachts from Eckernförde to Kiel was already terminated halfway in order to do justice and fair results. Also for Monday, the forecast from Kiel meteorologist Dr. Meeno Schrader is "exciting, with holes and spins, but in between probably sailable."

Find out more at www.kieler-woche.de

Related Articles

Kieler Woche Day 10
Seven nations celebrate victories at the finale On the final sailing day of Kieler Woche 2025, there were beaming faces all around the Olympic Centre in Schilksee. Eleven decisions were made on Sunday and alongside Germany, Denmark, France, GB, Malta, Sweden, & Hungary were able to celebrate victories. Posted on 29 Jun
SGS Gold at Kieler Woche goes to France and GB
The best German team, Theresa Löffler and Christopher Hoerr, finished fifth With a victory in the final medal race of the Kieler Woche, the British team of Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris secured gold in the 470 class on Sunday (June 29). Posted on 29 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 9
Hosts without Sailing Grand Slam medals, but leading in five classes The final six medals in the mixed classes of the Olympic Sailing Grand Slam (SGS) at Kieler Woche will be awarded on Sunday (June 29) without any German contenders. Posted on 29 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 8
Mourniac & Retornaz take the lead in the Nacra 17 class A dream day ahead of the second weekend at the Kieler Woche regatta off Schilksee: Moderate to fresh westerly winds with strong gusts, alternating sun and clouds, provided ideal sailing conditions for all participants on Friday. Posted on 27 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 7
British mixed dominance in dinghy and catamaran After the second day of the Sailing Grand Slam in the Olympic mixed classes, Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris are leading the 470 class even more dominantly than John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the Nacra 17 on Thursday (June 26). Posted on 26 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 6
Double gold for France in Olympic classes Perfect sailing conditions marked the final of Kieler Woche in the Olympic skiff, dinghy, and surf classes: On Wednesday, June 25, the waters off Schilksee offered fresh to strong, challenging winds with flat waves. Posted on 25 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 5
Tuesday served as a warm-up for the hot finale of Kieler Woche Sophie Steinlein and Catherine Bartelheimer from Bavaria in the skiff, as well as Kiel native Fabian Wolf on the foiling windsurf board, will enter Wednesday's (June 25) medal races as leaders. Posted on 24 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 4
IDM Inshore Gold to Flensburg and Denmark The weather conditions during Kieler Woche on Tuesday continued just as they had on Monday: sustained winds well over 20 knots and gusts exceeding 30. Posted on 24 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 3
A Tough Test for Athletes and Equipment Fresh to strong south-westerly winds with stormy squalls pushed participants to their limits on Monday at Kieler Woche. Posted on 23 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 2
The Olympic skiffs sorted themselves into gold and silver fleets after four daily races Subtropical sailing conditions with a light but sufficient breeze delighted the athletes on Sunday (June 22) on the second regatta day of Kieler Woche. Posted on 22 Jun