Kiel Week adopts new format

One of sailing's grandest and oldest institutions, the ISAF Grade 1 Kiel Week is adopting the new Olympic Format for 2006, with the top ten crews across the Olympic Classes going into a Medal Race shoot out on the final day.

Kiel Week up to date
By adopting the new format, the 124th Kiel Week will be ensuring it remains right up to date when racing takes place from 17-25 June 2006. The same format will be used in Qingdao, China at the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, and has already been adopted by the two ISAF Grade 1 all Olympic Classes events so far this year, Sail Melbourne and the Rolex Miami OCR.

Racing close to the people
'With the new system with final races we will increase the tension and we are able to present the finals right in the front of the harbour. That will bring more emotions from the water direct to the people on the dockside, where they can follow the races very closely,' explained Jobst Richter from the Kiel Week organizers.

Youth also try the same format
The same system will also apply for younger sailors in the 420, 29er, Pirat and Laser Radial to give them an early chance to experience the new format. Registration forms are already online at the event website - www.kieler-woche.de.

The key points of the new Olympic Format adopted by ISAF in November 2005 are: