Bundesliga: The state of the league ahead of season 13 - focus on Kiel and Berlin

The German Bundesliga clubs are preparing for their 13th season since the inaugural year of 2013. The starting signal for a total of six Bundesliga summits for the first division clubs and five long regatta weekends for the second division clubs will be given on 9 May in Kiel. And that's where the action continues. The schedule quickly reveals that this year the German club championship will only be contested in two well-known German sailing strongholds: Kiel and Berlin.

"Compact programme" for the Bundesliga

"We've been trying to think location-based for a few years now," says Anke Nowak. The Managing Director of Deutsche Segel-Bundesliga GmbH explains: "We are being very strict this year. This also reduces costs, but that is not the main argument. Last year's experience has shown that partners are very interested in visibility at certain locations. In addition, the boat fleet can be utilised much better if it is concentrated at one or two locations."

According to Anke Nowak, the younger generation of sailors and also the clubs organising the locations are very interested in sharing models. The boats could be booked online for training or regattas. "Some organising clubs have used the boats very actively at their respective locations, for example for club regattas, customer events, junior or women's events," says the league frontwoman.

The 2025 Bundesliga dates at a glance

• 9 to 11 May: 1st and 2nd Bundesliga in Kiel (Schilksee/Kiel.Sailing.City)
• 23rd to 25th May: 1st Bundesliga in Kiel (Segelcamp Kiel/Kiel.Sailing.City)
• 7 to 9 June: 1st and 2nd Bundesliga in Kiel (Segelcamp Kiel/Kiel.Sailing.City)
• 8 to 10 August: 1st and 2nd Bundesliga in Berlin (clubs to be announced)
• 19 to 21 September: 1st and 2nd Bundesliga in Berlin (Potsdamer YC)
• 30 October to 1 November: 1st and 2nd Bundesliga in Berlin (Berlin YC)
• 8 and 9 November: Qualification for the German Sailing League 2026 (Berlin YC)

The focus on just a few league locations will change every year. "The southern clubs want to organise events again next year and apply for the locations," says Anke Nowak. The aim is to put the south back in the spotlight in 2026 in order to compensate for the active players and their travelling expenses, which will place an above-average burden on them this year.

The fact that none of the otherwise league-strong Hamburg clubs are on the list of hosts and organisers in 2025 is mainly due to the fact that they will find it difficult to accommodate a J/70 fleet in the medium term due to a lack of space.

The state of the league?

When asked about the state of the league, Anke Nowak says: "The league is doing well." This statement refers above all to the lively interest shown by the clubs. The fields for the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga have been finalised, with the exception of one announcement that is still expected. "I am very confident. We haven't had as many potential newcomers as this year for a long time," says Anke Nowak, describing the situation.

The clubs have to pay 14,100 euros in season registration fees in the first division and 10,000 euros in the second division. Before the start of the season, it was briefly considered to organise one less event for the first division clubs - i.e. only five regattas as for the second division clubs instead of the planned six. However, the members of the German Sailing League Association (DSL), chaired by Ole von Studnitz from Mühlenberger Segel-Club, decided against this.

It's no secret that the league could always do better. TV broadcasts, for example, have not yet been planned for this season. There are changes in the sponsor pool. And not all clubs can easily afford the league fees. "The format and idea are still great, but the league must also remain financially viable," says Frank Butzmann (VSaW), pointing out the increased challenges for the league clubs, which the organisers want to counteract in economically challenging waters with the compact concept, among other things.

"Super offer" to the clubs

"Some clubs are very good at acquiring sponsors. Some have incorporated league sport into their strategy and use the league to retain young members," says Anke Nowak, describing the clubs' wide-ranging commitment to their league programme. Some clubs also contribute to the season costs of the league sailors themselves.

Ole von Studnitz is Chairman of the German Sailing League (DSL) association and therefore the "skipper" of the league club community. He is also aware of the concerns and criticism of the fees that regularly arise from within the DSL's own ranks. But Ole von Studnitz also knows: "We don't play indoor hockey, we have a hobby that is subject to wear and tear and requires sports equipment that is not entirely inexpensive. But it's a great offer that we make to the clubs."

The league's situation has been five times worse in the last five years than it is now." Ole von Studnitz

Two full league houses are currently a positive response in challenging times, even if there are clubs that can no longer afford or no longer want to participate. Ole von Studnitz remembers the successful cup weekend on the Möhnesee last season as fondly as the participating club teams: "It was a great event. You could see that more clubs are pushing into the league again."

Ole von Studnitz remains optimistic about the future of the league: "After some crazy years, we're starting this season in a good position. I believe that we are on various good paths and that the league will be around for a long time to come."

Five founding members of the league in first class

The first matches will show how the teams will perform in sporting terms. The reigning runners-up and seven-time record winners from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) and the defending champions from the Mühlenberger Segel-Club (MSC) are likely to be in the hunt. Both Hamburg clubs want to continue their winning streaks.

The 1903 Sailing Club from Berlin, for example, is rated highly. The club relies on a consistent crew. VSaW, for example, has also done this in the past - and won the club championship in 2019," said Anke Nowak. With six club teams, most of the Bundesliga clubs in the new season come from Berlin. They are followed by Hamburg (3), Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein with two clubs each and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with one.

A special look is directed at the only five first division clubs that co-founded the German Sailing League in 2013 and are still or - after being relegated in the meantime - are back in first division: the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club and the Berliner Yacht-Club have been sailing in the top division since 2013. The Bayerischer Yacht-Club and the defending champions from the MSC were relegated in the meantime, but have long been successfully competing in the 1st Bundesliga again.

The 18 first division clubs at a glance

• Academic Sailing Club Warnemünde (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania)
• Bavarian Yacht Club (Bavaria)
• Berlin Yacht Club (Berlin)
• Blankeneser Segel-Club (Hamburg)
• Bodensee-Yacht-Club Überlingen (Baden-Württemberg)
• Düsseldorfer Yacht-Club (North Rhine-Westphalia)
• Joersfeld Sailing Club (Berlin)
• Kiel Yacht Club (Schleswig-Holstein)
• Club am Rupenhorn (Berlin)
• Mühlenberger Segel-Club (Hamburg)
• Munich Yacht Club (Bavaria)
• North German Regatta Club (Hamburg)
• Potsdam Yacht Club (Berlin)
• Überlingen Sailing and Motorboat Club (Baden-Württemberg)
• Itzehoe Sailing Association (Schleswig-Holstein)
• Sailing Association 1903 (Berlin)
• Club Seglerhaus am Wannsee (Berlin)
• Westphalian Yacht Club Delecke (North Rhine-Westphalia)

The Final of the Sailing Champions League will take place from 11 to 13 July in Kiel. 33 teams are already in the starting blocks. There will be a reunion with NRV record helmsman Tobias Schadewaldt, who will be competing for the Hamburg team with his proven team around tactician Daniel Reichardt. The DSL Cup will take place in Berlin at the beginning of November. Click here for an overview of the second division clubs taking part this season.