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A short Friday evening sailing trip with coworkers
Kieler Woche 2026: Sailing into the Sunset
It’s Kieler Woche again at last—the time when the city is once more bustling with people and full of life. There was something going on everywhere along the fjord and in the city center; the atmosphere was great, and you ran into lots of people out and about. After work, plans to meet up seemed to happen almost automatically—whether for dinner, a walk, or just to soak up a little bit of the Kieler Woche atmosphere.
An Evening at Sandhafen and a Spontaneous Idea
One of the first evenings, my colleagues and I sat together at Sandhafen on the Blücher Bridge for a nightcap. Right by the bridge were several large sailing ships, which we watched and admired for a while. At some point, the question came up: How could you actually go on a trip like that yourself?
On the way back, we passed the TSC building, right next to the Blücher Bridge, and—as is customary—picked up a flyer. Scanning the QR code took us straight to the website and the events for Kieler Woche.
“Little Friday”
One cruise that really stood out was the “Little Friday” cruise, an evening cruise on Thursday. The name made sense right away: Thursday is considered a little taste of the weekend. That fit perfectly with Kiel Week.
That very evening, we booked our tickets for the sailing trip using the QR code, received confirmation shortly afterward, and were very excited to see what awaited us. As newcomers to Kiel, we had actually never been sailing before. But as a colleague from Kiel explained to us, it’s just part of the experience here.
Experience Kiel Week among the masts and sails!
Experience Kiel Week right on the water, surrounded by traditional sailing ships, with the wind in your hair and that authentic seafaring spirit.
Secure your spot on board now and be right in the middle of the maritime action!
The Start of the Sailing Adventure
On Thursday after work, we headed toward the Blücher Bridge. It’s right in the heart of the action, so we took the opportunity to grab a quick bite beforehand so the champagne wouldn’t go straight to our heads later. The numerous food stands around the bridge offered all kinds of treats, and with such a wide selection, it wasn’t easy to decide what to get. We arrived at the Blücher Bridge right on time at 6:45 p.m., and the TSC staff showed us which of the impressive tall ships would be our vessel.
Sunset, music, and a great atmosphere
The cruise took place on the Jantje, a lovely two-masted ship. There, Marten and his crew gave us a warm welcome with a shot of schnapps. After a safety briefing, we set off right away. We secured a spot at the front of the ship and watched as the sun slowly sank toward the horizon.
The atmosphere on board was truly fantastic: great music, nice people, and delicious drinks straight from the bar. We treated ourselves to two or three Wildberry Lillet drinks while the Jantje passed the Holtenau lighthouse and, later, the Laboe lighthouse. After about an hour and a half, we headed back toward the Blücher Bridge.
Sail Along or Watch
Of course, we were also allowed to help set the sails, though we preferred to just sit back and watch our energetic fellow sailors at work. In high spirits, the Jantje finally docked at the bridge again. We strolled along the stalls for a bit before finally heading back home.
A day we’ll never forget
It was an all-around wonderful day that we, as first-timers in Kiel, certainly won’t forget anytime soon. Experiencing Kiel Week from the water was something truly special, and this definitely won’t be our last sailing trip.
– Katrin, 38 years old