Bundesliga: Cheers on the fjord: The league promotions have been finalised

The sixth Bundesliga season is entering its final phase. The decisions on promotion to the 1st Bundesliga were already made this weekend off Kiel. Mühlenberger Segel-Club, Schlei-Segel-Club, Seglervereinigung 1903 and Seglergemeinschaft Lohheider See finished their series of five league regattas this year in that order and will be sailing in the first class in 2019! At the same time, the Schleswig-Holstein summit marked the final act for the first division teams before the October final in Hamburg. The Bavarian Yacht Club beat the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club and the Rupenhorn club at the last second on the fjord in front of around 10,000 spectators over the three days of the event. However, the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein remains top of the table ahead of the Bayerischer Yacht-Club and the Wassersport-Verein Hemelingen. With a seven-point lead over the Bavarians, the Hanseatic team will start the decisive regatta on the Alster at home from 18 to 20 October as the top favourites in the battle for the championship trophy.

Click here for the first league table after five of six regatta weekends.

"It was a great event that fits in well with the city of Kiel and with which we are very satisfied. The over 10,000 spectators can't be wrong and, I think, reflect the popularity very well," said Gerwin Stöcken, City Councillor for Social Affairs, Housing, Health and Sport for the City of Kiel. The Mühlenberger Segel-Club already had the first league ticket they were aiming for in the bag before the weekend thanks to their outstanding performances this season, but there was a lot at stake for the competition off Kiel. The second division regatta was won by Seglervereinigung 1903 ahead of Schlei-Segel-Club and Augsburger Segel-Club.

"It was a very challenging last event here in Kiel, especially because we had to make a crew change due to illness. Nevertheless, the team did a great job today and throughout the entire sailing season. And I think we are rightly sailing in the 1st league in 2019," said Andreas Willim, helmsman for Schlei-Segel-Club. Together with Chris Hartkopf, Henning Sohn and Suzanne Willim, he secured second place for his club behind the Mühlenberg team. The fight against relegation was just as exciting as the battle for promotion. The second division teams of Seglervereinigung Gelting-Mole, Lübecker Segler-Verein, Segel-Club Sorpesee Iserlohn and Röbeler Segler-Verein "Müritz" in 15th to 18th place were unable to save themselves. Together with clubs from the 1st and 2nd divisions as well as twelve new league contenders and two teams from the junior league, they will be fighting for four remaining starting places for the 2nd Sailing Bundesliga 2019 at the DSBL Cup in Hamburg.

Click here for the final table of the 2018 second division season.