Starting signal for the 9th Bundesliga season: The co-favourites don't stumble in light wind poker either

After a long wait for the Bundesliga opener for first and second division teams, the athletes had to be satisfied with a "light" programme in summery temperatures on Lake Constance and very light winds. Only around a third of the planned races could be held this weekend. Nevertheless, most of the league sailors were happy and grateful to finally be able to do their sport again.

The 2020 runners-up used the total of just around five possible sailing hours to get off to the perfect start: the Schleswig-Holstein-based OneKiel team beat second-placed Württembergischer Yacht-Club and Flensburger Segel-Club in the first league matches at the first league summit of the season with a total of 144 sailors. OneKiel helmsman Magnus Simon, Matti Cipra, Max Kleinsorg and Silas Oettinghaus impressed with five wins in seven races and just 14 points to their name. One point ahead of the Württemberg team (15 points) was enough to take first place on the top step of the podium at the start of the 9th season of the German Sailing League.

The record champions from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein with helmsman Johann Kohlhoff initially had to settle for eighth place. At the bottom of the table in places 16 to 18 were the Bodensee-Yacht-Club Überlingen, the Deutscher Touring Yacht-Club and the Chiemsee Yacht Club, three southern clubs that are no strangers to light inland lake conditions. Click here for the results of the first division teams (please click).

In the 2nd Bundesliga, Christoph Pawlowski-Hegermann, Tobias Klabunde, Felix Mosebach and Maik Seifert took advantage of the lull and took the lead in the standings. The quartet from Regatta-Segler Neuruppin (RNS) took four wins in six races and left the chasing pack far behind with just eight points to their name. The Düsseldorfer Yachtclub (15 points) sailed into second place at the start of the second league season. Third place went to the crew from Akademischer Segel-Verein Warnemünde (16 points). RNS sailor Tobias Klabunde was happy for his team: "Great! We are really happy! This gives us a tailwind for the season. And I think we've attracted attention. Now there's one more spot on the sailing map." Click here for the results of the second division teams (please click!). The first league weekend was organised jointly with the league management by the Segel- und Motorboot Club Überlingen and the Bodensee-Yacht-Club Überlingen.

League sport continues in a fortnight' time: From 2 to 4 July, the second sailing weekend for the 18 first division teams will take place on Hamburg's Outer Alster. At the same time, the "Inclusion League" for sailors with and without disabilities will take place in Hamburg for the first time. One week later, the 18 clubs in the 2nd Bundesliga will also be competing on the Outer Alster for their second match day from 9 to 11 July.