The wind on the Baltic Sea proved changeable, but the Racer of the Sea racing crew managed to complete seven valid races on Saturday. The event attracted an unusually diverse field of competitors to Kellenhusen: ten young people and six women took to the start line. On Sunday, no further races took place, as several attempts to start were thwarted by a lack of wind. The results from the previous day were therefore deemed the final results. Between races, the water sports centre became a testing ground for the latest equipment. Foil Drive offered several sets for free testing, whilst the online shop foilit.de showcased the latest Code Foils, Sunova products and various Parawings. The supporting programme ranged from a BBQ to a live DJ set in the evening.
A neck-and-neck race in wing foiling
Kim Holste and Kjeld Hansen were locked in a close battle throughout all seven races. In the end, the two riders were joint leaders on equal points. The tie-break rule had to decide the outcome, and it went in Kim Holste’s favour. Felix Neuling completed the podium in third place. Marleen Fritz from Saxony finished fourth in the overall standings, thereby dominating both the women’s and the Under-19 classifications. The young rider prevailed against the entire field, finishing ahead of numerous male competitors. On the women’s podium, Marisa Roch took second place and Svenja Spitzer third.
In the Under-19 category, Theo Eichhorst and Leo Neumann finished second and third behind Marleen Fritz. For Neumann, the event in Kellenhusen was his very first regatta. The debutant made it straight onto the podium. The youth category demonstrated the breadth of the young talent pool: ten competitors under the age of 19 took to the water. At the closing raffle, every Under-19 participant received a prize from the pool sponsors’ goodie bags. Not a single young sailor went away empty-handed. boot Düsseldorf had made free entry possible for all young people, thereby making an important contribution to the promotion of young talent.
Liutkus dominates in windsurfing
In windsurfing, the outcome was much clearer-cut. Giedrius Liutkus from Lithuania won all seven races, leaving his rivals with no chance. Behind him, a close battle unfolded for the podium places. Til Klöpping secured second place in the overall standings and was also the top U-19 competitor. Just one point behind him, Pelle Behrendt finished third. Felix Rhode and Linus Klöpping completed the Under-19 podium in second and third place respectively, behind Til Klöpping. The Flensburg-based surf shop Surfpirates acted as the prize money sponsor and provided additional prizes for the youth category.
Between races, participants and visitors had the opportunity to test the latest equipment. Foil Drive was on site with several sets and offered free trials of the E-Foil Assist. The online shop foilit.de, which specialises in foiling, brought along the latest Code Foils, Sunova products and various Parawings. The staff offered advice on equipment selection and set-up. In the evening, the competition took a back seat. At the BBQ, sponsored by EDEKA, people enjoyed a meal and chatted about the sport. Kjeld Hansen, who had come off the water just a few hours earlier as second in the wingfoil rankings, provided the music. The athlete took to the decks as a live DJ that evening and transformed the gathering into an event that went far beyond the results list.
A look ahead to upcoming events
“We are very proud to be able to host this event in Kellenhusen once again,” says organiser Oliver Tom Schliemann. “Participants, guests and families had a wonderful time at this fantastic venue. Thank you to everyone who made this possible — and see you next year.” The 1001grad team will be back in action as early as September. The One Hour Edition at Wittensee is scheduled for 12 and 13 September. A week later, on 19 and 20 September, ROTS/WOTS Flensburg follows. Both events are open to all age groups and are aimed at both windsurfers and wingfoilers.
For further information and to register, please visit 1001grad-events.de