The heyday of the Berlin Match Race, which was launched in 1992, was a while ago. At its premiere in 1992, the sailing summit in match race format was dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the two oldest sailing clubs in Berlin - Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee (VSaW) and Berliner Yacht-Club. The success story of the Berlin Match Race lasted until 2013, and VSaW and its partners Marinepool and Riller & Schnauck now want to build on its heyday with the first Capital Sailing Cup on 7 and 8 November in a new guise.
Capital Sailing Cup: Autumn summit like the Berlin Match Race once was
Co-initiator Markus Wieser, Germany's most successful match racer for a long time and now 16-time world champion across many demanding boat classes, was once always a favourite in the Berlin Match Race. Likewise Germany's most successful Olympic sailor: three-time gold medallist and two-time America's Cup winner Jochen Schümann won the Berlin Match Race six times. Markus Wieser took five victories at the capital city summit. Wieser is now one of the fathers of the new Capital Sailing Cup.
In late autumn, Wannsee will once again become a hotspot for German sailing, just like in the golden age of the Berlin Match Race. To this end, the VSaW has now presented an innovative new regatta format. The aim: the Capital Sailing Cup will see reigning world champions, Olympic legends and outstanding young talent compete against each other on 7 and 8 November this year. According to the organisers, the aim is to find the "best of the best".
German sailing clubs that have exceptional athletes in their ranks qualify for the Capital Sailing Cup. "We have an excellent sailing scene in Germany that is highly successful in a wide variety of boat classes. We thought it would be exciting to see all this talent at a joint regatta: 'simply the best of the best'," says Markus Wieser.
Steinlein, Bartelheimer and Buhl could, if they wanted to...
Entrants must be member clubs of the German Sailing Association (DSV) and, as a club since 1 January 2025, fulfil one of the criteria listed in the invitation to tender through their members. With the exception of the Olympic classes, only the helmsman or helmswoman can qualify their club. In the Olympic classes, the right to register also extends to the skippers. In some cases, this means that two clubs can enter.
The prerequisite for registration by the club is 1st to 3rd place at a World Championship or European Championship, 1st to 3rd place at a World Cup in Olympic classes. German champions in an international class can enter through their club, as can winners in national classes, international championships, Gold Cups or German Masters. There will also be wild cards for highly decorated German sailors who take part in top events such as the Olympics, Vendée Globe, SailGP or America's Cup.
Markus Wieser explains the registration principle, which sounds a bit like the "Championship of Champions" held in Hamburg, but is actually quite different, using two examples: "The following, for example, would be eligible to compete Sophie Steinlein and Cathy Bartelheimer in second place at the Sailing Grand Slam in Palma. The helmswoman would have qualified her North German Regatta Club, the foresailor her sailing club Inning am Ammersee. Also Philipp Buhl has qualified his two clubs with the silver medal he just won at the European Championships, could then start for the Alpsee-Immenstadt Sailing Club, for example, and, in consultation with his club, take along a talent like Julian Hoffmann and two other athletes."
Increasing weighting, increasing tension in the Capital Sailing Cup
Top crews such as Richard Schultheis (NRV) and Fabian Rieger (VSaW), the 2025-470 vice world champions Simon Diesch (WYC) and Anna Markfort (VSaW/Joersfelder Segel-Club) and many more aces from Olympic and international classes would have similar rights. For qualified double-handed crews, there is a requirement that the champion sailors do not compete in the Capital Sailing Cup together on one boat.
A special strategic component is created by the fact that each club competes with two two-handed teams. Another interesting additional element: three races are sailed per round with increasing weighting. "The teams have to think carefully about which duo they send into which race. As both teams have to be involved, this results in exciting tactical decisions," explains Markus Wieser.
The Capital Cup in November will be sailed on Tempest boats. This class was chosen by the organisers because it combines characteristics of different boat classes. The regatta format envisages that the twelve participating clubs will first compete against each other in preliminary and main rounds in fleet races. The final is contested by the two best clubs in a match race duel.
Clubs can register now, provided their crews fulfil the qualification criteria. "We are looking forward to a top-class sailing weekend and at the same time to the great opportunity to give Berliners the chance to experience this fascinating sport up close. Wannsee and the VSaW offer ideal conditions for this," says Riller & Schnauck owner Theodora Schnauck.
The Capital Sailing Cup will be an event in which history will be written. You simply have to be there." Robert Stark
Guests and fans can follow the races in the Capital Sailing Cup via live broadcast. The VSaW announcement for the new event also contained a reassuring message for the challengers in the new Capital Sailing Cup: Markus Wieser, still a top performer on the major international sailing stages and three-time Tempest World Champion, will not be competing himself. This year, the 62-year-old perennial favourite will be pulling the strings in the background and leaving the field to the next generation.
"I would first like to observe the idea from the outside and drive it forward. And I don't want to be told that "the Wieser will organise the next event himself to win. I said that I would take care of the procedures on the water in the first year," said the three-time Tempest World Champion from Bavaria. Wieser has also not forgotten what the big match races of the past also had: "Of course there will be a really cool party at VSaW!"
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
