Kiel Week under World Cup banner again from 2023
by Kiel Week 5 Dec 2022 14:31 GMT
17-25 June 2023
A crowded ILCA7 field, also among the world's best, awaits Kiel Week in the pre-Olympic year © Christian Beeck / Kieler Woche
From 2023, Kiel Week will be part of the group of four international top events that make up the World Cup in Olympic sailing.
In future, the regatta organisers and World Sailing want to coordinate dates and general conditions such as training opportunities to make it easier for the world's best athletes to take part in the entire series.
After Palma, Spain and Hyères, France in April, Medemblik, Netherlands will be part of the World Cup at the beginning of June. Kiel Week from 17 to 25 June with the Olympic classes in the first part forms the decisive final.
"World Sailing is committed to enhancing engagement with stakeholders across sailing in the best interests of our Member National Authorities and the sailors," said World Sailing Director of Events Alastair Fox. "Each of these regattas has a remarkable heritage and provide the foundations for both the Sailing World Championships and sailing in the Olympic Games. Ultimately, we are looking to partner with events on all continents to work together and make sailing in the Olympic classes a better experience for sailors around the world and more accessible for our MNAs in every region. Collaboration also creates opportunities for cross-promotion, and I know the team at World Sailing are looking forward to working with the respective event teams to develop further benefits."
The decision gives the organisers of Kiel Week, led by the Kiel Yacht Club, an additional boost.
"The World Cup status was our ambition and motivates the whole team to further improve the high standards Kiel has set in hosting the event," says head of organisation Dirk Ramhorst. Not least thanks to the support of the sponsors and partners, at the top Audi, REWE and boot Düsseldorf, Kieler Woche TV, trailer driving service, regatta weather forecast, and much more will be offered. The attractive social events with the festival mile on the apron of the Olympic harbour Schilksee is unparalleled internationally.
From a sporting point of view, the return of the Olympic boat classes to the first half of Kiel Week with the medal races on Wednesday has set the course. This means that the crews and soloists can train unhindered in the area for the days before the first start and prepare themselves optimally. This is in line with the wishes of the world's best. In 2023, all ten disciplines, including kite foiling, are to be raced at Kiel Week. Several nations are likely to use Kiel as part of their Olympic qualification.
The next World Cup will kick off with the Princess Sofía Regatta in Mallorca (1 to 8 April) followed by the Semaine Olympique Française (22 to 29 April). From there, it's off to the Allianz Regatta, which takes place in Holland from 31 May to 4 June. Afterwards, Kiel is the destination of the world's sailing elite. The dates for the 2024 Olympic year are also largely fixed. The World Cup calendar for the next four years Olympic period from 2025 onwards is to be set as early as next year.