Kieler Woche Inclusive 2026: Sailing Brings Everyone Together
Four inclusive programs, the BAT Sailing Team on the regatta course—and spots still available
June 20–28, 2026 · Olympiahafen Kiel-Schilksee · #wirallesegeln · Free to participate
Kiel/Hamburg, June 18, 2026 – To kick off one of the world’s largest sailing events, Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. and Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V. are jointly hosting a comprehensive inclusive sailing program. From June 20 to 28, people with and without disabilities will experience the regatta together in Schilksee—not side by side, but together. The inclusive sailing activities are supported and sponsored by the state capital of Kiel.
Register now—only a few spots remain
If you’d like to join at the last minute, now is your chance to get on board: For the sailing day on the 70-foot yacht “Little Dream” on Monday, June 22, 2026, there are currently four spots left. For the accessible regatta tour cruises on the Outer Kiel Fjord, a few spots are still available for wheelchair users from Kiel and the surrounding area. All activities are free of charge; spots are limited. Register by email at sven.juergensen@wir-sind-wir.org.
An overview of the inclusive events
Four events offer the chance to experience inclusive sailing at Kiel Week 2026:
- BAT Sailing Team – Participation in the J/70 Regatta (June 25–28, 2026): Inclusive crews made up of blind, visually impaired, and sighted sailors will compete in the challenging J/70 class, demonstrating that ambitious regatta racing can be inclusive.
- Accessible regatta tour cruises for wheelchair users (June 20–27, 2026): Daily on the Outer Kiel Fjord. Participants remain in their own wheelchairs on board and experience the regatta action up close from the water. Note: Unfortunately, electric wheelchairs cannot be brought on board.
- Sailing course for blind and visually impaired people (June 21–23, 2026, daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.): In cooperation with the BAT Sailing Team, qualified instructors and volunteer sailors teach the basics of sailing in the RS Venture Connect boat class.
- “Little Dream” Project – Sailing on a 70-foot yacht (June 22 and 24, and possibly June 27 for the Windjammer Parade): Under the motto “Front Row – Right in the Middle,” up to six guests, including caregivers, will experience the regatta action on the Baltic Sea—with meals served on board. Boarding begins at 8:00 a.m., departure at 10:00 a.m., return around 4:00 p.m. Note: Not suitable for guests with severe physical disabilities.
Special Project on June 20: Day Workshop on the Baltic Sea
Right at the start, there’s a special project on the agenda: On June 20, 2026, four children and teens with disabilities will come to Kiel for a day workshop. Together with our coaches, they’ll train on the Baltic Sea in our inclusive boat, the RS Venture Connect. Two of them are specifically preparing for regattas.
One of the participants—ten-year-old Sophia, who is visually impaired—will compete this year in the inclusive regatta that Wir sind Wir is organizing together with the Germany SailGP Team as part of the SailGP in Sassnitz.
BAT Sailing Team – Inclusion in Action on the Regatta Course
At the heart of these inclusive activities is the BAT Sailing Team, a joint project of the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. In 2026, the team will celebrate its fifth anniversary: Currently, 18 people with and without disabilities sail together in regattas—including blind, visually impaired, and deaf people, as well as wheelchair users; and for the first time, the team also includes two children and teenagers with visual impairments. After successfully avoiding relegation (11th place out of 18 in the 2025 season), the team is currently sailing its third season in the 2nd German Sailing Bundesliga. The team’s patron is Susann Beucke, silver medalist in Olympic sailing at the Tokyo Games. The vision is clear: #alleanbord.
Kieler Woche holds special significance for the BAT Sailing Team: this is where the inclusive team competed in its first regattas—a milestone. This development was scientifically documented over three Kieler Wochen (2021–2023) in a study by Humboldt University of Berlin, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, and the University of Hamburg, published in “Frontiers in Sports and Active Living.” The team is growing—the next generation is already training, too; one example is ten-year-old Sophia, who is visually impaired.
More Than Just Sports
Just how much inclusive sailing can make a difference became clear in 2025 during one of the most emotional moments: A “Wünschewagen” (Wish Car) from Magdeburg was a guest at Kiel Week. We were able to fulfill the heartfelt wish of a hospice patient to go sailing one last time. The full story: wir-sind-wir.org/ein-bewegender-tag-wuenschewagen-erfuellt-herzenswunsch-bei-der-kieler-woche.
Our video from Kiel Week Inclusive 2025 impressively illustrates what inclusion on the water means: youtu.be/mUvBSA0mkls
How to Register
All activities are free of charge. Registration is exclusively via email to sven.juergensen@wir-sind-wir.org. All information regarding participation requirements, registration, and the schedule can be found on our website: wir-sind-wir.org/inklusive-segel-mitmachangebote-kieler-woche-2026.
When registering, please provide: first and last name, full address, phone number for inquiries, and email address. During Kieler Woche, additional accessible parking spaces will be available on “Drachenbahn” Street in Schilksee.
About the Organizers
We are Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. Germany’s leading organization for inclusive regatta sailing is active nationwide: as the organizer of an inclusive regatta as part of the SailGP in Sassnitz in collaboration with the Germany SailGP Team, the inclusive BAT Sailing Team, the Heinz Kettler Deutschland Cup as an inclusive regatta series, regular inclusive sailing programs and sailing courses for children and teenagers on the Alster in cooperation with partners, and as the initiator of the Inclusive Alster network. www.wir-sind-wir.org
Inclusive Sailing for All e.V. Founded in 2019 in Kaarst (North Rhine-Westphalia) and chaired by Stephan Krings, the association specializes in accessible sailing for people who use wheelchairs.
With a specially designed sailboat that allows participants to sail in their own wheelchairs, the association is setting new standards in the accessibility of sailing. www.inklusivessegeln.org
Services for Editorial Teams & Materials
These inclusive projects are made possible through collaboration with and support from the city of Kiel—with the goal of promoting inclusive sailing and raising its profile. The teams from both associations will be available during Kiel Week to answer press inquiries and provide assistance; in cooperation with the Kiel Week press team, members of the press can also accompany the inclusive sailing activities on the water.
Press photos (Flickr album, high resolution): flickr.com/photos/svenjjj/albums/72177720332153610
Video: Kiel Week Inclusive 2025: youtu.be/mUvBSA0mkls
Scientific study (Open Access): doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1602925
A Call to Editors
Inclusion, inclusive sports, and participation need greater visibility. In addition to traditional sailing, a special project has been developing here for years—one that continues to grow and demonstrates what is possible. Our call to editors: Please report on these inclusive sailing activities—and help raise their profile. We greatly appreciate your coverage and reporting.
Press Contact
Sven Jürgensen · Chairman
We are Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.
Email: sven.juergensen@wir-sind-wir.org · Phone: 0171 683 5555
Website: www.wir-sind-wir.org
