For the first time since 2015, the Kieler Yacht-Club e. V. (KYC) has a Commodore, the former President of the German Sailing Association Dierk Thomsen. At the general meeting last Wednesday, Thomsen, who has been a member of the traditional Kiel association for 65 years, was elected to office.
According to the association's statutes, only a "full member who has rendered unusually great services to the KYC for many years" can be elected commodore. For the first time since 2015, the Council of Elders proposed the election of a member to this office again with Thomsen.
The committee members unanimously supported this initiative. As a "motor" and "in many ways also as a pioneer", Dierk Thomsen has significantly strengthened the sailing sport internationally and acted as an outstanding representative of the Kiel Yacht Club, emphasized the chairman of the Kiel Yacht Club Carsten Krage.
Thomsen is only the fourth Commodore in the history of the association, which was founded in 1887 and of which he has been a member since 1954. He has already held various well-known positions in the club and in national and international sailing.
For example, Thomsen was president of the German Sailing Association (from 2001 to 2005), commodore of the international class association of the Star class, representative in the Permanent Committee and later the Central European sailing nations in the World Sailing Association and team leader of the German sailors at the Olympic Games. Thomsen is the recipient of the gold medal of the World Sailing Association, the golden needle of the German Sailing Association, the Federal Cross of Merit on ribbon and an honorary member of the Kiel Yacht Club.
"I feel so closely connected to this club for so long: I accept the election," said Dierk Thomsen to a standing ovation.