People came to celebrate the 132nd Kieler Woche (the largest summer festival in Northern Europe), temporary home for 5,000 sailors aboard 2,000 yachts from 50 countries sailing 40 individual fleets on 11 race courses with 400 starts planned. The J/70s had an excellent turnout of a dozen boats. Only seven of 10 races were completed but it was enough to see enormous fluctuations in the standings amongst the top five. In the end, Claas Lemann’s team sailing MITTELMANN (Marc-Pawel Mohlmann, Valentin Zeller & Bjorn Athmen) overcame their 8-6 in the first two races to score a 1-2-3-1-1 for 14 points net to win by a remarkable 6 points. For the balance of the top five in the J/70s, it all ended up in a virtual tie at 20 to 22 points each, the last race becoming the determining factor for everyone. Starting fast was The Netherland’s Wouter Kollman and crew (Wick Hillege, Kim Platteeuw & Gilbert Figaroa) sailing HENRI LLOYD. While winning the first race and taking a DNF (14) in the second race, their uphill struggle was worth it, taking a 3-4-6-2-4 for 20 points net to secure the silver position. Taking third on the tie-breaker at 21 points each was Michael Illgenstein with his Flensburg SC crew (Terje Klockermann, Jan-Ole Burzinski & Finn Mrugalla). Behind them in fourth, losing the tie-break, was Christian Soyka on VOICE OF ITZEHOE; his team of Ole Stucker, Leon Stolp & Arne Petersen managed a scoreline of 5-2-4-6-2-10-2 for the same 21 points. Fifth was Dennis Mehlig sailing with his crew of Marvin Frisch, Kevin Mehlig and Anian Schreiber. For more Kiel Week sailing information, visit http://www.kieler-woche.de/.