Spectacular sailing program, but it doesn’t work without financial aid from the city

The countdown counter on Jens Kath’s watch showed 200 days left at the start of the week. 200 days until the “hot flag”, until the start of the Travemuender Week (TW), which will be in its 133rd round from July 22nd to 31st . When looking at the now finally lashed sailing program, the sports director of the second largest sailing week in the world is already delighted. The corona-related cancellation of “boot Düsseldorf”, for which the TW creators wanted to use the forum of the world’s largest water sports fair to present the program, does not change anything. “It’s a shame, but it doesn’t dampen my anticipation. TW 2022 will be mega awesome and exciting “, says Kath,” we have a great program – from spectacular foilers to new, Olympic classes and long-running hits to the comeback of the Bundesliga, plus a total of 14 championships, with World Cup, European Championship and national championships. “A new, innovative class is to be added at the end of January. “It’s going to be a blast,” announces Kath.

TW 2021: 450,000 euros urban aid

But the pandemic will also be on board in 2022, at least putting a question mark behind the land program. “We have to reckon with restrictions again,” says TW managing director Frank Schärffe. Also means: no income from the land program, additional costs for infrastructure. Without help from the city, no sails will be set again. In the previous year, the city secured the sailing week with insufficient funding of a maximum of 527,000 euros. According to information from the LN, TW claimed 450,000 euros of this.

IDM premiere of the Olympic formula kiters

Turn to the sports program. “We are counting on 1400 sailors, 750 boats in 24 classes and events,” says Kath and exclusively reveals further details. For example, the Olympic formula kite surfers around world champion Florian Gruber, starting in 2024, will vote for their International German Masters (IDM) for the first time in front of Travemünde. Nine years after the “Worlds”, the Formula 16 catamarans are again sailing for World Championship gold. Helge and Christian Sach, the local heroes from Zarnekau, want to be on the podium this time after finishing fourth in the 2013 World Cup.

Also read: Why the Travemünder Woche 2021 was a success

Hobie family selects five European champions

On the Priwall it will be familiar: “The Hobie family is at the start with five European championships in three classes”, says Kath and counts among the “Multi Europeans” with around 100 catamarans (Hobie 14, 16 and Dragoon). The one-handed splash sailors are making their third attempt at the European Championship after the title fights that have been postponed twice in July. And with the still Olympic Finn Dinghys, Dyas, Folkebooten and J 22, further national title fights are pending. Sailing within reach, that is the promise of the Bundesliga, which is returning after three years with the first and second division (36 clubs / 144 active players) – a home game for the Lübeck Yacht Club and the Lübeck Sailing Club. There are three regattas for sea sailors (up & down, medium distance and long distance around Fehmarn). A test run for the IDM in sea sailing in 2023? The TW has applied to host the event. “And we are also planning again with the Rotspon Cup, the mayor’s race, and the show races on the Trave,” says Kath, “they are part of what makes the typical TW character.”

TW again needs financial help

But the sports program needs to be financed. Because planning for the top source of income, the “festival on land”, is difficult. “We are striving for a larger land program for visitors and participants,” says Schärffe, but restricts, “but nobody can say what it looks like at the moment.” an additional expense for corona protective measures. Schärffe: “If the pandemic situation gets better, we will adjust the planning.” Currently, however, this means: “We need financial help from the city again,” says Schärffe and hopes for a positive response in the first quarter, “so that we can continue be able”. In the previous year, the Lübeck citizenship approved the shortfall financing after a long, heated debate – but only at the end of March.

From Jens Kürbis