Unstable winds are keeping the Kieler Woche organisers under pressure: a warm front and light rain initially led to postponements in the programme on day three of the world's largest sailing series. "We are doing our best, but the wind is now playing along again," Kieler Woche Sports Director Dirk Ramhorst was finally able to announce on Monday afternoon.
Then the previously unused iQFoilers with reigning world champion Sebastian Kördel from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein were finally able to get in on the action. The man from Radolfzell opened the Kiel Week in the best possible way with three victories in three races.
I'm glad that we managed to complete three races in just one and a half hours." Sebastian Kördel
Fabian Wolf on course for a podium finish
The opening dominator's impressions of the course: "I pretty much dominated the first two races, there was some wind. Then the wind died again in the last one. I was fifth at the last buoy, but I got them all. So it was a pretty cool start overall. The seaweed also worked in the start area. I had good speed and hit the laylines well. I'm happy that we got three races through in just one and a half hours tonight."
Behind Kördel is the Lithuanian Juozas Bernotas with two second places, which were included in the classification. This is because the three runs so far have already allowed for one striker. Fabian Wolf is also on course for a podium finish in third place, having achieved one second and two third places. This puts him right on course for the goal he set himself: "Beating Kördel is difficult, he's in the form of his life right now. But if I get everything together, then a second or third place should be possible!" he said in an interview with surf.
Theresa Steinlein is level on points at the top
Jonne Heimann finished the first day of racing in seventh place, followed by Jakob Ditzen, Lars Poggemann and Johannes Witte in 13th to 15th place. Elias Fauser is currently in 18th place ahead of Tjalve Böttger in 19th. With the exception of Sebastian Kördel, there are no big names at the start as the world's best are preparing for the World Championships in The Hague and the Olympic test event in Marseille.
It was a similar picture in the women's field with only six starters, who took to the water together with the men. However, the last run was not counted for them due to a lack of wind. Denmark's Laerke Buhl-Hansen and Theresa Steinlein are tied on points in the lead, with one first and one second place each. Behind them are Sophia Meyer and Alisa Engelmann in third and fourth place, while Lena Haverland is currently sixth.
There could be more heats tomorrow (Tuesday) before the Medal Races on Wednesday. And there, as is usual in iQFoil, the cards will be reshuffled once again, as the positions after the heats do not count towards the final result.
