Xaver Huber, Julius Neszvecsco, Anton Sattler and Beni Haimerl stormed to first league victory in the north with eight wins on the Kiel Inner Fjord. The quartet from the Munich Yacht Club relegated the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club and the Chiemsee Yacht Club to second and third place. The Munich team was at least as pleased as the victory that they were able to oust the record champions from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein from the top of the first division table with their success and a total of just nine points on their league account.
Narrow gaps, tension at the top of the table
The Hamburg team, who finished seventh in Kiel, slipped back to second place with a total of eleven points, but remain within striking distance. After three long league weekends so far, the sailors from Württembergischer Yacht-Club, who finished second in Kiel, are third in the table with 18 points.
The team from the Munich Yacht Club (MYC) made it clear from the start of the 11th Bundesliga season that it wanted to be among the front runners. Halfway through the season, they have achieved their goal. While the team from Munich completed a commanding series ahead of Kiel, the previous leaders from Hamburg's Alster suffered a few setbacks. "These close gaps and the constant changes within the table are what make league sailing so appealing," says Sailing Bundesliga Managing Director Anke Nowak.
The fourth match day from 15 to 17 September will be dominated by North versus South, Hamburg versus Bavaria, Alster versus Lake Starnberg and Lake Constance" (Anke Nowak)
The Münchner Yacht-Club is leading the league for the first time in more than a decade of Bundesliga history. "We started the season without expecting too much and were able to utilise all the experience we have from the junior league this weekend," says helmsman Xaver Huber.
Xaver Huber continued: "The integration of young sailors into the teams is part of our philosophy, even after this success we will not put any pressure on ourselves, but simply enjoy the view of the table and continue to sail well." All four sailors who represented the Münchner Yacht-Club this weekend were born in 1999 and have grown from the junior team into the first division team.
Berlin winners and leaders in the 2nd Bundesliga
"The three days of racing off Kiel were very challenging and exhausting for the teams on the water, with shifting winds and few waves particularly favouring the southern clubs, who are used to the lakes," reported Anke Nowak. However, Alster sailors should also be very familiar with this. The young sailors also created a great atmosphere on land, as Anke Nowak explained: "The MYC team not only stood out off Kiel for their good sailing performance, but also for their high spirits and enjoyment of the individual flights."
In the 2nd Bundesliga, the team from the Potsdam Yacht Club came out on top. Kieler Yacht-Club and Seglervereinigung Itzehoe sailed into second and third place. The table is still led by the team from Joersfelder Segel-Club, which Olympic sailors will recognise as the home club of 470 Mixed Vice European Champion and Bundesliga commentator Anna Markfort. Kieler Yacht-Club is second in the table ahead of SVI.
League venue in front of the Kiellinie
"Our preparation and team constellation made us confident of good results. A strong first day was decisive in ultimately carrying the overall result across the finish line," said helmsman Mike Przybyl from the Potsdam Yacht Club. The change of venue in Kiel was well received by sailors and organisers alike. Previously based in front of the sailing camp on the inner fjord, this weekend the Bundesliga under sail took place on the more westerly Kiellinie off Düsternbrook.
"The work of Kai Bertallot and his young team on the starting boat deserves special mention after this weekend with very demanding, changing conditions on the water," says Anke Nowak. "Kai, who is also head coach of the Kieler Yacht-Club, managed to organise fair, exciting races at the highest level with great care and quick course adjustments."
