Preparations for Kieler Woche: Racing in the World's Largest Sailing Regatta
In a week, I'll be on a plane to Germany for Kieler Woche, the largest annual sailing regatta in the world. The fleet will be packed with Olympians, national team sailors, and some of the best ILCA 6 athletes on the planet. And honestly? I can't wait.
Less than a year ago, this campaign existed mostly as an idea. Today, I'm preparing to line up against some of the fastest women in the world. That's exactly where I want to be.
From Texas Heat to the Baltic Sea
A few weeks ago I was sweating my way through U.S. Nationals in Corpus Christi. Hot air. Warm Gulf water. Thunderstorms building on the horizon. Now I'm preparing for something completely different.
The forecast in Kiel looks like classic Baltic sailing: cold water, chilly mornings, steep chop, and the possibility of some serious breeze.
After spending much of Palma wishing I had packed warmer gear, I've added a thicker wetsuit top, insulated gloves, and heavier boots to my kit. Hopefully this time I'll spend less energy trying to stay warm and more energy focusing on sailing fast.
One of the things I love about this sport is that it never lets you get comfortable. Every venue presents a new challenge. Every regatta requires you to adapt.
A few weeks ago I was trying to stay cool. Next week I'll be trying to stay warm. The boats don't care. The race committee doesn't care. You adapt and go racing.
Why Kiel Matters
Kieler Woche is one of the most prestigious events on my calendar this year. Not because there's a title on the line. Because of who shows up. These are the kinds of regattas I came back for. The big fleets. The crowded starts. The opportunity to race against sailors who have dedicated years of their lives to mastering this class.
If I want to continue improving, I need to keep putting myself in environments that challenge me.
It's one thing to be fast at home. It's another thing entirely to launch in a foreign country, in unfamiliar conditions, surrounded by some of the best sailors in the world and figure it out.
That's where the learning happens.
The Largest Annual Regatta in the World
The scale of Kieler Woche is hard to wrap your head around. More than 1,500 boats will compete across 21 different classes. Olympic dinghies. Foiling classes. Youth fleets. Offshore keelboats. Historic classes. World championships and European championships happening alongside Olympic-class racing.
By the end of the week, thousands of sailors from around the world will have launched from the same venue.
And then, as if that weren't enough, the event concludes with the famous Windjammer Parade—a spectacular procession of tall ships, classic yachts, naval vessels, and sailboats of every description.
For one week each year, Kiel becomes the center of the sailing world. And next week, I get to be part of it.
Final Preparations
Before I leave, there's still work to do. I'll spend the next few days training hard both on and off the water. Time on the hiking bench. Pilates. Coaching sessions. Boat handling. Fitness.
The goal isn't perfection. The goal is to arrive prepared. Prepared to learn. Prepared to compete. Prepared to take another step forward.
Every international regatta teaches me something new about sailing, about performance, and about what's possible. I'm excited to see what Kiel has to teach me.
Thank you for following along on this journey. Thank you for cheering from shore, from home, and from all over the world. I'll do my best to bring you along for the adventure. See you in Germany.
Competing internationally requires travel, coaching, equipment, entry fees, and an incredible amount of logistical support.
Every donation helps me continue pursuing this dream and representing my clubs, community, and country on the international stage.
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