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Gigantic windjammer parade thrills 170,000 spectators in Kiel!
The Kiel Week 2025 windjammer parade was led by the "Gorch Fock", attracted 170,000 visitors and offered optimal sailing conditions.
Gigantic windjammer parade thrills 170,000 spectators in Kiel!
On the last Saturday of this year's Kiel Week, June 29, 2025, the windjammer parade experienced a magnificent climax. The parade, which was held for the 144th edition of this now world-famous sailing event, attracted numerous spectators to the shores of the Kiel Fjord. With around 170,000 visitors who didn't want to miss the impressive show, interest this year was higher than last year, where around 150,000 people were counted. The wind conditions were optimal and created perfect conditions for the magnificent traditional sailing vessels that crossed the fjord, as NDR reported.
In a spectacular spectacle, the sailing training ship “Gorch Fock” took the lead, under full sail for the first time in its history. The ship sailed at the head of the parade at a speed of 6.5 knots (approx. 12 km/h). Commander Elmar Bornkessel received special permission to reach this speed and exceed the usual limit of 3.5 to 4 knots. While the “Gorch Fock” led the parade, more than 120 ships, including 59 traditional sailing ships, lined up behind her. The participants included, among others, “Alexander von Humboldt II”, “Gulden Leeuw”, “Thor Heyerdahl” and “Roald Amundsen”, as Mopo notes.
A feast for all senses
Spectators enjoyed the unique spectacle from different perspectives, both from land and from boats in the water. Falckensteiner Strand was particularly popular, where thousands of people gathered to watch the maritime parade. It was not only an eye-opener for sailing enthusiasts, but also a celebration for families and children who took part in the “Fabulous Mythical Creatures” hands-on activity. This motto was part of an extensive program that Kiel Week 2025 had to offer, which welcomed a total of around three million guests.
Kiel's mayor Kampf praised the windjammer parade as one of the largest and most beautiful in the history of Kiel Week. He noted the exciting atmosphere and the numerous ships that gradually returned to the harbor after completing the more than 90-minute parade towards Laboe and Schilksee, as Kieler Woche notes.
A look into the future
The Kiel Week, which took place from June 21st to 29th, remains a significant event in international sailing. Not only is it the largest of its kind, but it also offers a variety of cultural, entertainment and scientific events. In the upcoming edition in 2024, the focus will be on the roots of the Kiel Week, which means that the anticipation for the next event can already be felt.
Amid this festive atmosphere, Kiel Week remains a place where tradition, sport and conviviality come together - an event that is firmly anchored in the heart of Schleswig-Holstein.