Bundesliga: Sovereign victory at the start of the season - Mühlenberger Segel-Club first leader of the table

The first sailing weekend of the Bundesliga was characterised by Hamburg's successes on the Wannsee. In the 1st Bundesliga, the Mühlenberger Segel-Club (MSC) from Hamburg's Elbstrand won the first three-day showdown of the new season ahead of the Joersfelder Segel-Club (JSC) from Berlin and the seven-time record winners from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV). In the 2nd German Sailing League, the Blankeneser Segel-Club (BSC) won ahead of the Hamburger Segel-Club (HSC) and the Berliner Klub am Rupenhorn (KAR).

The long Wannsee weekend got off to a challenging and, above all, wet start in the capital. Pouring rain and a cold northerly wind were a reminder that summer is still a while away. The crews on the J/70 boats in the Bundesliga had to sail in frosty conditions. Compensation was made on Saturday and Sunday, when it was still fresh, but almost "champagne conditions" prevailed.

Elbe gliders dominate in Berlin

The well-rehearsed team from the Mühlenberger Segel-Club (MSC) in Berlin coped best with the treacherous wind conditions on the Wannsee, which were characterised by many gybes. While in Hyères at the Last Chance Regatta While club mates Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille are fighting for their Olympic dream and in 13th place after the first three races, Jacob Ahlers, his brother Benjamin Ahlers, Till Krüger and Max Wentzel sailed confidently to victory. Helmsman Jacob Ahlers was able to rely on an experienced team and correspondingly clean, fast and safe manoeuvres.

With a clear lead of seven points over second-placed Joersfelder Segel-Club (JSC), the team of reigning DSBL cup winners took the lead in the table at the start of the twelfth league season. "We are very happy and almost a little surprised that the season has started so well for us," said MSC tactician Till Krüger. "We sailed in the same crew constellation in the Sailing Champions League last weekend and didn't even make it to the final. This weekend, however, everything fell into place."

The Hamburg team had trained intensively with coach Michael Grasse in the run-up to the race and used the breaks between the individual flights for profitable debriefings. The JSC sailors, who know the Wannsee very well and were able to cope well with the rather unusual north wind situation, took second place on the Wannsee and also in the first league table at the start. "The difficulty on the Wannsee is always recognising all the turns in good time. We never had consistent conditions this weekend," reported Oliver Szymanski after the first league weekend of the new season from the perspective of the JSC team.

Record champion NRV with a furious race to catch up

Third place went to the defending champions and seven-time record winners from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) on Hamburg's Alster. After a botched first day, Julia Kühn's crew impressed with a furious comeback that was rewarded with a podium finish. "We discussed all the races constructively on Friday evening and were able to avoid many mistakes on the following days," said Julia Kühn, explaining the huge leap forward. After an intensive competitive career in the Ilca 6, she came to Hamburg from Lake Constance to study and is now a member of the record-breaking champion's team.

"The fact that you can make up so many places after a bad first day is what makes sailing so special. You have to look at each race on its own merits," said the performance-orientated helmswoman. In preparation for the start of the new league season, the NRV squad had trained together with the Bundesliga sailors from the Bavarian Yacht Club (BYC) on Lake Garda with coach Jochen Schümann.

In contrast, the hosts from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club ended the season opener on their home turf disappointed with the red lantern in the stern. However, the sporting result did not reflect the great hospitality experienced by around 150 league sailors in the beautiful VSaW clubhouse. The parties in the evening were not inferior to the exciting sport throughout the day.

Hamburg clubs strong in Berlin

The Hamburg team also won the season opener of the 2nd Bundesliga in Berlin, benefiting from their many years of league experience. The first league leaders of the new season are the Wannsee winners from Blankeneser Segel-Club (BSC) with helmsman Lukas Feuerherdt, Aike Brate, Morten Raecke and Siri Segger. They were followed by their Hanseatic local rivals from Hamburger Segel-Club (HSC) with Johannes Bahnsen at the tiller. Third place went to the Berlin club Klub am Rupenhorn (KAR) with helmsman Paul Ost.

"The weekend couldn't have gone better for us. The preparation on the Alster really paid off. We coped really well with the choppy conditions here on the Wannsee," said Lukas Feuerherdt. "A good boat speed made the tactical decisions easier. We would like to thank the host VSaW and the league organisers for this great event."

Newcomers "Bats" celebrate first race win

The league newcomers from the Bat Sailing Team from the Wir sind Wir - Inclusion in Sailing association also joined in the enthusiastic thanks. Marvin Hamm, Mieke Klein, David Koch and Jan Mense had narrowly missed out on direct entry into the 2nd Bundesliga at the DSL Cup in autumn 2023, but were later able to move up to the 2nd Bundesliga to replace a team that had dropped out. The quartet, which has been training for the league in this constellation since last autumn, celebrated its league premiere on Wannsee.

"The absolute highlight was definitely winning the ninth race," said a delighted Mieke Klein on the journey home from Berlin to Hamburg on Sunday evening. The tactician from the Bat Sailing Team went on to say about her first impressions: "The league sport is very intense and a lot of fun. We have no disadvantages because we sail inclusively."

The Warnemünde Week continues

The second league weekend of the still young season will take place from 12 to 14 July at the Warnemünde Week. "We are delighted to be part of Warnemünde Week again with the league," says Bundesliga initiator Oliver Schwall. "An event of the Sailing Champions League will take place on the Baltic Sea beforehand, so we will be hosting the best of the international sailing leagues." Schwall said of the Bundesliga kick-off in Berlin: "There was intense sailing and wild partying - it was a great event with fantastic hosts."

Click here for the results from the first weekend of the new 12th Bundesliga season.

A look back at the launch of the Bat Sailing Team last autumn. The first inclusive national league team celebrated its premiere on the Wannsee at the weekend: