The 1st SSL Gold Cup is history. At the Nations' Summit, which was postponed twice and held for almost a month off Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, four European teams ultimately fought it out for victory. The winners after a total of 65 races on the gleaming gold SSL 47 yachts were the Hungarians. Having already won their group with the German team in the quarter-finals, the sailors from Lake Balaton made maximum use of their light wind expertise.
We may not have been the best individual sailors here, but we were the best team" (Zsombor Berecz)
Team captain Zsombor Berecz, Finn World Champion in 2018 and Olympic silver medallist in Enoshima 2021, led his team through the regatta of international sailing stars and starlets with great self-confidence. "We may not be the best individual sailors here, but we were the best team," said the 37-year-old from Budapest, overjoyed after his team's victory in the SSL Gold Cup and, in his first interview, openly invited the competition to train on Lake Balaton.
The Hungarians were beaten by the Italians, who were among the favourites and secured silver ahead of Holland in third place in the nations' competition recognised by the World Sailing Federation with "Special Status". Led and cheered on by team captain and Starboat World Champion Diego Negri and Harm Müller-Spreer's "Platoon" tactician Vasco Vascotto, the Azzurri narrowly missed out on the big time. The highly rated Spaniards, on the other hand, came away empty-handed in the battle for the medals on the final day, finishing fourth in the decisive race.
We congratulate the winners and very much hope to be able to take part in this regatta again in the future" (Paul Kohlhoff)
The members of the German team, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals, watched the final somewhat wistfully at home on 1 Advent. Helmsman Paul Kohlhoff, who stood in for designated helmsman and tactician Markus Wieser, who had fallen ill at short notice, said: "We were so close, we really would have liked to have shown what we could do in the semi-final. Now the two teams from our group are on the podium. We congratulate them and very much hope to be able to take part in this regatta again in the future."
Other prominent teams also had to pull out before the final. For example, Brazil with the two double Olympic champions Martine Grael and Robert Scheidt, who were eliminated in the semi-finals. Robert Scheidt said on the final day of the SSL Gold Cup: "With the Hungarians we see the first world champions in this new national competition, which is recognised by World Sailing. It was a great regatta! And we congratulate all four teams who made it to the final."
The motto of the SSL Gold Cup: "The first football World Cup ... in sailing"
Under the motto "The first football World Cup ... in sailing", the SSL Gold Cup got off to a flying start in the first qualifying rounds with a total of 56 nations. The format attracted a lot of attention with football kit, golden boats and national anthems sung by the crews before each new round. In fact, the SSL Gold Cup in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria brought together sailing nations, professionals and amateurs as well as several generations under one roof. The athletes clearly enjoyed the interdisciplinary competition.
How and when the SSL Gold Cup will be continued in the future was not yet clear at the end of the regatta. However, German team captain Frithjof Kleen said: "This regatta was an international success. Our sport has been missing a national competition like this. The SSL Gold Cup has brought the sailing nations together in a very nice and exciting way. It would be a tragedy if this event was not continued."
The final! Watch the replay of the decisive run at the SSL Gold Cup here:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
