Kieler Woche Day 5: Fabian Wolf on Gold-course in iQFOiL
by Kieler Woche 25 Jun 07:39 NZST
21-29 June 2025
Fabian Wolf went straight through to the final of the top four at the iQFOiL Games at Kieler Woche © Felix Diemer / Kieler Woche
In the 49erFX and men's iQFOiL classes, German athletes are on course for gold ahead of the Kieler Woche finals.
Sophie Steinlein and Catherine Bartelheimer from Bavaria in the skiff, as well as Kiel native Fabian Wolf on the foiling windsurf board, will enter Wednesday's (June 25) medal races as leaders. Other top contenders include Denmark's Anna Munch (ILCA 6), Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini from Italy (ILCA 7), as well as foilsurfer Marion Couturier and Erwan Fischer/Clément Pequin in the 49er (all from France). The finals will begin at 11 a.m.
Tuesday (June 24) served as a warm-up for the hot finale of Kieler Woche, once again marked by harsh conditions with stormy gusts and heavy rain showers. While the top athletes positioned themselves for medals, others were simply happy to have made the top ten cut to qualify for the medal races. Even some favorites were not spared from capsizing. A total of 23 nations is represented in the Olympic class decisions.
In the 49er, Bavarians Jakob Meggendorfer and Andreas Spranger put themselves in a strong position with two good races despite one discard. The duo is in third place, within striking distance of the leading French team Erwan Fischer/Clément Pequin and Hernan Umpierre/Fernando Diz from Uruguay. "We didn't position ourselves well at the start once. But the other races were good. In the final, we'll go all-in and try to seize our chance at first place," said Andreas Spranger.
Sophie Steinlein is hoping for her second Kieler Woche gold in the 49erFX. Three years ago, she sailed to first place in a mixed team with two-times Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Plößel. Now she aims to do it with her crew Catherine Bartelheimer. They take the lead with a tenth and a fourth place on Tuesday ahead of European champions Marla Bergmann/Hanna Wille, who had to abandon one race, and Freya Black/Saskia Tidey from Great Britain in third.
"It could have gone even better. We were leading in both races but couldn't hold it," reported Steinlein, who sails for NRV Hamburg. "In the choppy conditions near the shore, it was crucial to get through without capsizing. But overall, we're more than satisfied, especially since we've only been sailing together since the beginning of the year." The young duo's goal is clear: "We want to win Olympic gold - and this year's Kieler Woche!"
iQFOiL surfer Fabian Wolf (Kiel) also has his sights set on gold in his home waters. On Tuesday he moved into first place and, like Poland's Tomasz Romanowski, has already qualified for the four-person final. Their two opponents will be determined in the quarter- and semifinals. The women's iQFOiL final will also definitely feature a German athlete. Sophie Meyer (also from Kiel) secured a direct spot in the final alongside the leading Frenchwoman Marion Couturier.
The top sailors in the ILCA 7 class had hoped for more races. After just one, the race committee called it off due to gusts up to eight Beaufort and sent the sailors back to the harbor. With 18th place in the only race of the day, Philipp Buhl (Sonthofen) slipped to fourth but still has a chance for bronze in the final. Italian Lorenzo Chiavarini maintained his lead ahead of compatriot Dimitri Peroni and Ireland's Finn Lynch.
In the ILCA 6 women's class, Denmark's Anna Munch moved into pole position for the medal race with consistently strong results and top performances on Tuesday. Her lead over Maxime van de Werken-Jonker (Netherlands) and Maria Erdi (Hungary) makes her the clear favorite for Kieler Woche gold.
Several 29er crews already celebrated Kiel Week victories on Tuesday. Within the Eurocup, medals were awarded in the open age and U17 categories for men, women, and mixed teams. Norway's Nicklas Holt/Philip Forsund celebrated overall victory in the men's division. The duo had previously won the YES Regatta two weeks ago and are strong favorites for the World Championship in August in Porto, Portugal. The best women's team came from Great Britain: Lila Edwards/Amelie Hiscocks. In the mixed category, Selma Hard/Lukas Wolfgang from Sweden took the win. The performance of the host Kiel Yacht Club was outstanding, sweeping all titles in the U17 age group. Hanno Rix/Maximilian Reuner won the boys' division, Amelie Röpke/Karlotta Heisterkamp the girls', and Tjelle Bonatz/Fiona Weimann the mixed.
There were many happy faces at the conclusion of the Wingfoil Racing German Open, the first-ever wingfoil regatta at Kiel Week. Especially for German Yannik Holste, who won 15 out of 16 races. "It was a blast. The location is great, easy to get in and out. With westerly winds, the seaweed was a bit of a problem, but the collection boat 'Seekuh' helped a lot. I think this event has great potential to grow," said the Kiel native.
An official European Championship title was also awarded on Tuesday in the small L30 yacht fleet. The team led by Hungarian Csaba Medgyesi won ahead of Ukrainians Oleksandr Mukhin and Dmytro Sushchevskyi. The championship action continues on Wednesday, when the ILCA 6 men's world champion will be decided off Kiel. Wind conditions are expected to be more favorable for the sailors.
The championships will be stepped up the final gear on Wednesday when the young men of the ILCA 6 will decide who will become world champion off Kiel. Before the final day, the gold fleet managed at least one race to continue the final round on Wednesday. The Italian Alessandro Cirinei can go into the decision very relaxed. With a second place, he secured another top position and is now already 24 points ahead of the Ukrainian Semen Khashchyna. A further four points behind is Cirinei's compatriot Nicolo Giuseppe Cassitta. But there is still a question mark over the Italian triumph. Cirinei is carrying a race retirement from the first day. He therefore cannot afford another discard on the final day.
Full results here