Boat Transport Company

 As expected when sailing Kiel Week a variety of conditions were
encountered by the sailors this year, although lighter winds prevailed
for the Olympic Classes portion of the regatta. Usually run after the
International classes, that’s any one-design from an Optimist to an
X-35 and everything in between! They sailed the Olympic classes first
this year to make the tight logistics easier for sailors going to
Portugal for the ISAF Worlds afterwards.
 If you have never been here it is much more than a multi-class
sailing event. It is a sailing celebration, this year being the 125
anniversary of the event. They have a carnival type set-up in downtown
Kiel with food, rides and of course, lots of beer gardens! There are
nightly concerts on 5 stages with live music for every taste,
including some of Germany’s most popular acts. Tall ships and dinner
cruise boats are berthed along the waterfront at night. BMW has a
spectacular promotional set-up around a large water fountain where
they match race 22′ sport boats outfitted with shallow draft keels on
a 100 meter windward leeward course!
The regatta is run out of the Olympic Center, a marine facility
purpose built for the ’72 games. This is a few miles out of town, on
the north side of the canal entrance. It is very impressive with
sponsor flags and signs everywhere. It is a bit of a cross between a
boat show and a carnival. Tourists walk throughout the area intently
watching the activities of the alien like sailors. I have never seen
so many people interested in the activity at a launching ramp or hoist
before! There are even autograph hounds, they seem to pick sailors at
random or just because they are from a far away place.
A large tent is set-up in the middle of the fairway where they do
everything from registration to weather briefings, daily television
newscasts and award ceremonies to a nightly raging party for the
hardcore sailors! There are many shops, some temporary others are year
round including a sail loft. My skipper pointed out that he had never
seen so much foul weather gear and yachting attire for sale in one
place. Restaurants, food stands, and the ever present beer stands
abound. There is also a regatta technical bureau; this is where it is
all organized from. A large press center is housed next door. Four
yacht clubs join together to take care of the race committee work. BMW
provides a bunch of vehicles to move trailers and sailing equipment
around, they are more than happy to fulfill most requests. One I had
to go for a speed test on the autobahn was denied!
The sponsorship at Kiel Week is outstanding they must have an
extremely large budget to provide all these services and
infrastructure. They even boast an on the water repair service. It is
the only one like it in the world. They have three large RIB’s
patrolling the racing area, staffed by master riggers, sail makers and
boat builders. They have the tools, supplies, hardware and know-how to
get you back into action quickly should you have a breakdown or
collision. This service is provided free of charge to all sailors, you
even get to keep very nice carbon tiller extension should you happen
to break one!
The racing was good this year although we lost a day for lack of
wind, there were also postponements at the dock. The race committee
did an outstanding job in trying conditions, and did not waste a lot
of time in making the correct decisions. I thought there was marginal
signaling in the first race when they shortened course. In the medal
race there were too many boats around the racing area making for
choppy conditions. They were holding it close to shore, but probably
too close to the harbor entrance, so it could be seen by spectators.
When we crossed the finish line first in that race, I did not hear any
applause!
 Kiel Week is fantastic event, even gazing across the bay at all the
sailboats and Tall Ships sailing together is quite spectacular in
itself. Year after year regulars camp in tents on wet ground to be
there, sailing in conditions which are often very extreme and very
cold. At the end of the day when they are hosing themselves off in the
parking lot there is a smile on their face! Anyone looking for One
Design sailing at its best should check it out