Regatta: September as a silver lining on the horizon of hope

September has never been as regatta-heavy as it might be this year. Following the worldwide wave of cancellations and postponements of international and national regattas, many German organisers have also been looking for alternative dates that are as late in the year as possible during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. This is to maximise the chances of hosting the event. It is not yet certain that regatta sport in small or large formats will be able to take place at all in 2020. However, organisers, sailors, fans and sponsors have not yet given up hope. For many sailors, September marks the promising light at the end of the tunnel.

Kieler Woche was the first major German event to be given a new date in mid-March. For the first time, the world's largest nine-day sailing series will not take place in the last full week of June, but from 5 to 13 September. The organisers are still working on the exact arrangements. It is known that the sailors are at least aiming for the following dates: Aalregatta and Welcome Race on 5 and 6 September, the International German ORC Championship from 10 to 12 September, the Senate Prize on 10 September and the Silver Ribbon including double-handed classification on 11 and 12 September.

Other well-known regattas have also been postponed until early autumn: The Match Race Germany from 9 to 13 September off Langenargen on Lake Constance is intended to make up for the cancellation of the traditional sailing party with tens of thousands of spectators over Whitsun. "We had to postpone the start due to the coronavirus pandemic," says Sports Director Eberhard Magg, "but we are still passionate about Match Race Germany and want to organise an unforgettable sailing party for the participants, partners and guests at the 23rd edition in September. The course distance for 2020 may have become longer, but the goal has not changed."

The Bundesliga team also had to postpone the start of the season. The first planned league weekend in Prien am Chiemsee has been postponed to 17 to 19 July. An alternative date is still being sought for the second guest appearance in Überlingen. Like so many others, the Berlin league summit at Potsdamer Yacht-Club is scheduled for the potentially hottest German regatta weekend this year from 11 to 13 September. DSBL Managing Director Oliver Schwall says: "We hope that the measures taken to contain the situation will take effect and that this crisis will quickly take a positive course. I wish all athletes, partners and friends of sailing the best of health and that we will see each other on the water again soon."

If regattas can actually still take place this year, then some regatta sailors will have to decide where they want to take part in view of the high number of events in September, as it will probably not remain with the series mentioned here. However, the "problem" of oversupply would have much nicer aspects than the current total lack of regattas in difficult times.