Volvo Ocean Race - Destination Kiel!
Kiel is one of the ports on the Volvo Ocean
Race Round the World (formerly Whitbread). For the first
time in the 28-year history of the classic yacht race a
German port has been involved in this major sailing event.
The nine-month regatta covers 32,700 nautical miles, crosses
four oceans and takes ten ports on four continents. Eight
professional crews are taking part. The regatta, which set
sail from Southampton on September 23rd, 2001 took participants
to Cape Town, Sydney, Auckland and Rio de Janeiro. From
there it continues via Miami, Baltimore, La Rochelle, Göteborg
to their final destination, Kiel. A German yacht taking
part in the regatta is currently ahead in the overall rankings.
 Work
is underway in the centre of Kiel on the finishing line
in the heart of "KIEL.SAILING CITY". Ten thousand
spectators will be able to experience the final sprint at
first hand. Kiel will be laying on an appropriate welcome
for the 97 participants. The state capital will be staging
a maritime festival two weeks before Kiel Week 2002 (22
to 30 June) to coincide with the anticipated arrival of
the yachts at the finishing-line on 9 June. The opening
of the Race Village on the firth is scheduled for 6 June
2002. The inter-national festival will create a party atmosphere.
Events include kids festival, as well as an exhibition of
maritime art. Afloating stage will be the setting for musical
shows, theatrical productions and culture events. Other
highlights include firework displays and an illuminated
line-up of ship. The windjammer "Sedov" from Russia
will lie at anchor as Kiel's Ocean Race flagship.
Then, on 8 June, the excitement will mount.
The start of the final leg will be relayed from Göteborg
on video walls. The yachts will reach Kiel on the following
day.
The evening of 10 June, the Race Village
will be the venue for the awards ceremony and an international
party for prominent guests.
Kiel is looking forward to this top class
sporting event which will further enhance the reputation
of the city on the Baltic as the world metropolis of sailing.
The city is also bidding to stage the sailing events at
the 2012 Olympic Games provided, of course, that Germany
is selected to host the games.
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