This pure first league weekend on Lake Constance did not have much wind to offer. Only nine instead of the hoped-for 16 flights could be organised off Überlingen. But the races were certainly exciting. Even in the difficult conditions, the favourites from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein came out on top. In glorious autumn weather, the Hamburg team put on a remarkable race to catch up in the battle for the German club championship against a picturesque backdrop.
Champions of the German Sailing League again? - The NRV's irresistible race to catch up
Things got down to business in the waters of the host sailing and motorboat club Überlingen (SMCÜ). "We were able to fully rely on the experience of the 'locals', who know their lake inside out," says Anke Nowak, Managing Director of the German Sailing League. "So we always knew when the wind would pick up again and at times we had up to ten knots on the regatta course. However, the thermals only came in the early afternoon, when the fog had cleared, so we were on the water until sunset on two days."
The team from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) coped best with the hesitant wind conditions. Tobias Schadewaldt, who finished eleventh in the 49er at the 2012 Olympics, looked his usual confident self at the helm. He was joined in victory by Daniel Reichardt, Juliane Adelssen and Miklas Schaper. Hamburg's record champions, who have already lifted the silver championship trophy six times in ten years of Bundesliga history, are now in second place in the table with 23 points. Their previous eleven-point deficit to the leaders from Münchner Yacht-Club has now shrunk to just one point.
Now everything is open again for the final" (Tobias Schadewaldt)
After five of six league regattas, the SMCÜ (33 points), which is hosting the event this weekend, is third in the table. In fourth to sixth place before the final in Hamburg are Mühlenberger Segel-Club (37 points), Wassersport-Verein Hemelingen (37 points) and Württembergischer Yacht-Club (41 points).
"It was a great match day with unexpectedly consistent conditions, where the most important thing was to start well and sail straight ahead quickly," says Tobias Schadewaldt. "I'm glad that we did that very well as a team and were able to prevail against Münchner Yachtclub, especially in the duels. Now everything is wide open again in the final."
We want to take the last point from Munich on the way to the championship" (Tobias Schadewaldt)
The final of the 11th Bundesliga season since its premiere will take place from 19 to 21 October at the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein on Hamburg's Outer Alster. Tobi Schadewaldt and the NRV Bundesliga team can hardly wait. Schadewaldt said: "It will be a very exciting final at home. We're really looking forward to it and want to take the last point from Munich on the way to the championship."
With 39-year-old Tobias Schadewaldt, the NRV has sent its most successful Bundesliga helmsman to Lake Constance just in time for the penultimate match day of the season. As a former member of the NRV Olympic Team, the former Laser and skiff sailor has remained loyal to the Hamburg club, even though he successfully runs his shipyard Jade Yachting in Wilhelmshaven.
Tobias Schadewaldt: Back in the 49er after a decade ...
Schadewaldt spontaneously realised his passion for the 49er after the last race of the league regatta in Überlingen, as he recounted with a smile: "I saw a boat standing at the slip ramp. Then I rushed over and asked if I could do a lap. Fortunately, it was okay with the boys. So I was able to get on a 49er again after around ten years."
The fact that the Münchner Yacht-Club lost its big lead after the previous league results 2, 6, 1 and 3 before Überlingen with tenth place was also due to a consistent team philosophy, as league manager Anke Nowak had already explained before the start of the regatta in Überlingen: "The MYC is sending its junior team this time. The club is thus remaining true to its objective of simply enjoying its success, continuing to promote young talent and not fighting doggedly for the top spot in the table."
Great fan backdrop for the host SMCÜ
The host sailing and motorboat club Überlingen is back on course for the Sailing Champions League ahead of the North German league final in third place. With around 300 members, the SMCÜ is one of the most prestigious clubs on Lake Constance. The national league teams were given a very warm welcome here at the weekend and their own team was cheered on passionately.
"The SMCÜ Opti children were on the water and cheered their team on loudly with horns and shouts," reports Anke Nowak. "It's great to see how an entire club is passionate about the German Sailing League and their own team. On the water and on land, the SMCÜ was once again an excellent partner for a first-class league event."
The relegation candidates before the final of the German Sailing League
Where there is so much light, there are always shadows: In the relegation regions of the 1st Bundesliga, the Berliner Yacht-Club (BYC) gained a little breathing space this weekend with a ninth place ahead of Überlingen and moved up to 14th place with a total of 57 points. Flensburger Segel-Club and Akademischer SegelVerein Warnemünde (ASW) are in danger of being relegated with 63 points each. This applies even more to the Konstanzer Yacht-Club (67 points) and the Hamburger Segel-Club with 75 points at the bottom of the table.
