Kiel, Germany, July 3, 2024
Kiel Week 2024 concluded with thrilling races and dramatic finishes in the 49er and 49erFX classes, showcasing the talents of sailors across varied conditions. The event provided a perfect stage for high-level competition and saw remarkable performances from teams around the world.
49er Men’s Skiff Medal Race
The 49er men’s skiffs started their medal race in 10 knots of wind. Danish team Frederik Rask and Jakob Precht-Jensen, with a significant points lead, were the favorites. Only the Maltese team of Richard Schultheis and Youenn Bertin had a theoretical chance to challenge them for gold. However, an early penalty for the Maltese gave the Danes a clear path. Rask and Precht-Jensen sailed a controlled race, finishing ninth, which was enough to secure overall victory. Reflecting on their win, Rask said, “We’ve had a few months to get over the disappointment of missing Olympic selection. Winning here is not like winning a medal at the Olympics, but it’s still really nice. We’ve had some really good sailing this week and it’s been a nice vacation too.” Polish team Tytus Butowski and Borys Podumis won the final medal race, moving up to second place overall, while Schultheis and Bertin settled for bronze.
49erFX Women’s Skiff Medal Race
In the 49erFX women’s skiff class, Germans Inga-Marie Hoffmann and Jill Paland entered the final race with a comfortable 17-point lead. Despite an initially unsuccessful start, they managed to climb to third place in the medal race, securing the gold medal by a significant margin. This victory was impressive, considering the pair had only teamed up for this regatta. Hoffman expressed her joy, saying, “Sunny, great conditions—it’s not always raining here,” she laughed. “We had a lot of fun in the boat this week, and I think that’s why we managed to do well sailing together for the first time.” The Norwegians Pia Dahl Andersen and Nora Edland took silver, while Germany’s Katharina Schwachhofer and Elena Stoltze claimed the bronze.
Kiel Week: A Celebration of Sailing
Kiel Week is always proud to host Olympic classes and offer a diverse mix of sailing events. From Youth Olympic classes to ex-Olympic classes, Kiel Week accommodates a wide age range of participants and presents a variety of sailing conditions. This unique combination makes Kiel Week a standout event in the sailing calendar, attracting top talent from around the world and providing invaluable experience for sailors of all levels.
Looking Forward
The regatta provided valuable experience for many teams as they prepare for upcoming international competitions, including the Olympics. German sailors Anna Barth and Emma Kohlhoff led the women’s 49erFX skiff class early on, demonstrating the depth of talent in the fleet. Kiel Week continues to be a crucial event for sailors to test their skills against top international competition. Kiel Week 2024 has once again proven to be a vital preparatory event for sailors aiming for Olympic success, offering challenging conditions and high-caliber competition.
