Kieler Woche 2026 – 8 Days Full of Excitement

20.–27. Juni 2026  ·  Olympiahafen Kiel-Schilksee  ·  #wirallesegeln  ·  #alleanbordEight days, one boat, countless unforgettable moments. From June 20 to 27, 2026, during Kiel Week, we offered daily accessible regatta tours for wheelchair users aboard the “Henk de Mol”—out onto the Kiel Outer Fjord, right into the heart of the regatta action. It was eight days full of emotion, with wonderful guests who moved, motivated, and inspired us—and some of whom continue to work with us to make sailing more accessible to everyone.

We organized the regatta escort cruises in collaboration with Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V.—a partner with whom we’ve been operating the “Henk de Mol” at Kiel Week for the past four years. The project is funded by the City of Kiel.

The “Henk de Mol”—a boat that makes participation possible

At the heart of the escort trips is the “Henk de Mol”: a 24-foot sailboat, an inclusively modified BENTE24 from our partner Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V.—a boat that is one of a kind in Germany. What makes it special: Wheelchair users can roll directly on board and immediately find a safe spot even in unfamiliar surroundings—there’s no need to transfer to special seats. Guests remain on board in their own wheelchairs. Every day, we set out onto the Kiel Outer Fjord and the Baltic Sea, accompanied by an experienced support team—on each of the eight days, we were able to organize two trips with wheelchair users.

More than just sports. You don’t have to know how to sail. It’s enough just to be on the water, right in the middle of the regatta action, feeling the wind and the open expanse. For many people with disabilities who would hardly have believed themselves capable of it, this transforms a “that’s not for me” into a “yes—I’m right in the thick of it.”

Highlights of the Eight Days

A Moving Start

The opening weekend alone showed what this is all about: On board were a 13-year-old girl from Kiel in a wheelchair and Tjark Schimmel—an active sailor who has been in a wheelchair since an accident but has long since returned to the helm. Tjark regularly steers the “Henk de Mol” on his own and enjoys every leg of the voyage.

Mayor Gerwin Stöcken Comes Aboard

A very special day: Gerwin Stöcken, mayor of the state capital Kiel, was our guest—and immediately joined us for a sail. Also on board were two guests in wheelchairs, including Helene, who had already participated with great enthusiasm the day before and this time took the helm herself to steer the boat. That’s exactly why we do this. Out on the water, an in-depth discussion took place about our boat concept and how to permanently establish inclusion on the water—all the way to creating a regular program centered around a boat like the “Henk de Mol.”

Helene’s story is representative of so many others: Those first tentative strokes turned into pure enthusiasm by the second day—Helene took the helm herself and steered the boat. And she made it clear that she doesn’t want this to be just a one-time experience: Helene wants to sail more often and on a regular basis. It is precisely this desire that drives us. It shows why we need a permanent, locally accessible program—not just one week a year. A one-time “trial run” should become a permanent part of life.

The Grand Finale: Accompanying the Windjammer Parade

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, we celebrated the finale—exactly as befits these days: right in the thick of it. Aboard the “Henk de Mol,” we accompanied the traditional Windjammer Parade and experienced this unifying highlight of Kiel Week live from the water.

Four people in wheelchairs were on board—including Kirsten Bruhn, Drees Ringert, Marco, and Marcel. Kirsten Bruhn, one of Germany’s most successful para-athletes, was among them: a multiple Paralympic gold medalist and world record holder in swimming, and today a sought-after ambassador and speaker. And with Drees Ringert, we had a true expert on the subject on board: The wheelchair user served for years as the inclusion officer for the Wacken Open Air festival and now heads the “Barrierefrei Feiern” initiative, which advises event organizers, municipalities, and clubs on inclusive celebrations. Amid the large windjammers, historic sailing ships, and hundreds of boats on the fjord, we once again felt what this is all about: participation that you don’t just see—you experience.

Also on board for the final voyage was Thomas Drtina, a board member of the Seglerhaus am Wannsee (VSAW) association—a sign of the close ties and shared commitment that extend beyond Kiel.

Discussions with Kieler Woche and Policy Makers

We also used the closing cruise to discuss our work and the future of inclusive sailing—with Dirk Ramhorst, the chairman of Kiel Week, as well as with the president of the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament, Kristina Herbst. Such encounters are of great value to us: Inclusion needs visibility; inclusion needs support—and it needs strong partners from sports, society, and politics.

Guests who inspire us—and continue to support us

It was the guests who made these eight days so special. People who inspired, motivated, and thrilled us—and some of whom continue to support us even beyond Kiel Week. This is exactly where we draw the motivation to make more possible.

Our goal: a boat like the “Henk de Mol” permanently stationed at many locations

We want to permanently station a boat like the “Henk de Mol”—in Kiel, as well as in Hamburg, on Lake Constance, on Lake Wannsee, on the lakes in Lusatia, and on Lake Schwerin; another boat is set to come to North Rhine-Westphalia. But these locations are just the beginning: This boat belongs on far more bodies of water—on lakes, rivers, and coastlines—everywhere where people in wheelchairs have previously had no access to such opportunities. This way, even more people can experience what participation on the water means year-round and close to home.

A concept that includes everyone. Our vision deliberately extends beyond a single outing: from very low-threshold recreational sports and simple excursions—such as a birthday cruise, a trial experience, or a shared hour on the water—all the way to competitive regatta racing. And we do this with and for people in wheelchairs and people without disabilities, together in one boat. That is precisely our concept: an offering that excludes no one and creates the right path to sailing for everyone—whether it’s a one-time experience or a journey all the way to the regatta course.

BENTE25 open.i – from one-of-a-kind to series production.To turn the one-of-a-kind “Henk de Mol” into a nationwide fleet, we’re collaborating with BENTE Yachts and the design firm Judel/Vrolijk & Co. to create the BENTE25 open.i—the “i” stands for inclusion. As a mass-producible, significantly more affordable evolution of the original design, it makes an inclusive fleet of boats a realistic possibility for the first time: a safe keelboat that cannot capsize, into which wheelchair users can roll directly on board, freely configurable, and trailerable—meaning it can be used in many sailing areas. During Kieler Woche, the 1:1 cockpit model was on display as part of our program in Schilksee so that people in wheelchairs could take a seat themselves, try out the processes, and share their feedback and requirements with us—all of which are being incorporated directly into the design.

Thank you

Special thanks go to our partner Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V. with Stephan Krings: The association developed the “Henk de Mol,” launched it, and makes it available for regatta escort trips. Together, we have been using the “Henk de Mol” at Kiel Week for four years—without this commitment, this program would not exist.

We would also like to thank all our guests, the many volunteers, the harbor masters, and the team at the Schilksee Olympic Harbor (Sporthafen Kiel GmbH) for their excellent support and helpfulness, as well as the state capital of Kiel for funding inclusive sailing activities. You all make these eight days full of excitement possible.

A joint project of Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. and Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V.

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