Kiel Week - 150,000 onlookers and perfect weather for windjammer parade
Under shining sun and best winds, the traditional Windjammer parade of the Kiel Week began on Saturday. Led by the Marine Sailing School Ship "Gorch Fock", it set sail with 71 guests on board - among them were the Inspector of the Navy Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Schleswig-Holstein's State Parliament President Kristina Herbst (CDU), and the Mayor of Kiel Ulf Kämpfer (SPD).
"The 'Gorch Fock' is part of my earliest childhood memories, and for me, the 'Gorch Fock' is simply a part of the Kiel Week," said Vice Admiral Kaack. His claim is that whenever the Marine Sailing School Ship is available, it should also participate in the parade. For Kaack, sailing will never be routine: it can always surprise you.
According to the city of Kiel, approximately 150,000 spectators followed the show on the Kiel Inner Harbor and from boats and ships. Over 120 ships took part in the parade - among them were also around 60 traditional sailing ships. In addition to the leading Marine Sailing School Ship, there was the German Bark "Alexander von Humboldt II", the "Roald Amundsen", the "Thor Heyerdahl", and the "Gulden Leeuw".
For the Kiel Harbor Captain Michael Schmidt, this will be his last Windjammer Parade as captain. "The Windjammer Sailing Parade is always one of the highlights of the Kiel Week. For me in this year with a laughing and a crying eye – I will surely not be the last time I have been to the Windjammer Sailing Parade on the Fjord," he emphasized before the parade.
- Kristina Herbst, representing the CDU in Schleswig-Holstein, shared the experience of sailing on the "Gorch Fock" during the Kiel Week's parade.
- Despite his role as Inspector of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack expressed his fondness for the Windjammer parade, suggesting that the "Gorch Fock" should be a fixed part of the event.
- Ulf Kämpfer, the Mayor of Kiel and a member of the SPD, joined the parade on board the "Gorch Fock", adding to the diversity of political representation.
- As part of the parade, traditional sailing ships like the German Bark "Alexander von Humboldt II" and the "Gulden Leeuw" showcased their intricate keels and sails, enhancing the nautical atmosphere of the Kiel Week.
- Keel Week sailing enthusiast Gorch Fock, the Marine Sailing School Ship, led the Windjammer parade amidst strong winds and positive vibes, with guests like Jan Christian Kaack, Kristina Herbst, and Ulf Kämpfer in tow.
