Helga Cup: Double success for NRV sailors, ten-year-old para-athlete wins inclusively
Tatjana Pokorny
· 10.06.2024
The youngest Helga Cup winner was only ten years old at the seventh edition of the world's largest women-only regatta: Nomine Jara Fabian from the Wir sind Wir - Inclusion in Sailing association celebrated her Helga Cup premiere with a victory in the RS Venture Connect inclusion class. In a boat with NRV sailor Jola Schönbeck, the two sailors took turns at the helm.
The passionate young para-athlete Nomine Jara Fabian suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury at the age of three. For her, the Helga Cup marked her first participation in a regatta, but not her first encounter with sailing. A few years ago, the versatile young sportswoman, who also enjoys monoskiing, horse riding, wheelchair racing, climbing and gymnastics, obtained her sailing licence in the Kiddy Cat on the North Sea island of Föhr.
The cry of joy after victory
However, Nomine Jara Fabian only gained her first experience in an RS Venture Connect class boat last long weekend on the Outer Alster. She learnt at lightning speed. She clearly exceeded her self-imposed goal of finishing in the top six by winning alongside Jola Schönbeck, who was also competing in her first regatta in the RS Venture. "We did well," said Nomine happily and let out a loud cry of joy before throwing her arms around her sailing partner's neck after her success.
Although she was a little nervous before the start, the tension gave way to exuberant joy after the final. Schönebeck could also hardly believe that she was suddenly the Helga Cup winner, saying: "We had a miserable start, but were already in third place on the cross, and then the wind also played its part. It was unbelievably great to see and hear the cheering crowd on the jetty before the finish. I'm very happy!" Second place in the RS Venture Connect class went to Norwegians Henriette Smith and Solfrid Lindhjem Kvinnesland from Team Grace. Team Spontan with Renate Schröder and Saskia Gense from Segler-Verein Trave e.V. sailed to third place.
NRV sailors win the Helga Cup in the J/70
With a total of 101 races over three days of racing, the Helga Cup on the Outer Alster served up non-stop sailing sport in good sailing conditions and moderate winds. Parallel to the races in the RS Venture Connect, the large field of J/70 crews got down to business. 62 teams provided thrilling sport and high tension right to the end. The eventual winners from the NRV Women's Team with Bundesliga helmswoman Julia Kühn, Birte Berger, Luisa Krüger from the Women's America's Cup Team Germany and Nina Erbach mastered the qualification for the final with aplomb, taking first places in a row.
A final with ten boats automatically creates pressure, and the Alster can definitely be tricky." Luisa Krüger
However, the final began with a stumble for the strong NRV women: they first had to rectify a false start. However, the subsequent race to catch up led them back to fourth place. This was enough to secure overall victory after an outstanding series. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy. A final with ten boats automatically creates more pressure, and the Alster can definitely be tricky. It was very gusty at times. It was a nerve-wracking final. We are super happy about the victory - and in our home club, too. It was a great three days at the regatta," said Luisa Krüger from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein.
8th Helga Cup already in sight
Silver at the 7th Helga Cup went to the Mammazentrum Foundation team with Juliane Zepp, Marion Rommel, Maren Hahlbrock and Lea Beele from the Hamburg Sailing Club. Third place went to Südseeperlen with Lena Deike, Ida Bachschmidt, Ellen Bauer and Rosane Schnetz from Württembergischer Yacht-Club "We had good sailing conditions and were able to organise 101 races," said NRV Club Manager Klaus Lahme after the successful female sailing summit, "I would like to thank the more than 60 volunteers, our race committee, Tina Buch and Jens Hahlbrock with their teams, umpire chief Svenja Hünsch and her team. They all did a great job!"
I don't dance, but I did it here until late into the night." Sven Jürgensen
This was also the view of Christoph Holstein. During the award ceremony, the State Councillor of the Ministry of the Interior and Sport praised the good team spirit and cohesion among the participating female sailors and emphasised how important this is for today's society. Helga Cup patron Kristina Vogel, former German track cyclist and two-time Olympic champion, enjoyed the infectiously good atmosphere among female sailors and was impressed by how naturally women of very different sailing levels sailed with and against each other on the regatta courses at the Helga Cup.
Inclusion dynamo and Helga Cup father Sven Jürgensen was still in high spirits with the organisation team on Monday during the dismantling. "I don't dance, but I did it here at the festival until late into the night. I've never experienced the Helga Cup with such emotion," said the man who has paved the way for so many men and women with and without disabilities into inclusive sailing.
The date for the eighth edition of the Helga Cup, which will remain a sponsored and embraced top ten event of the "Hamburg Active City" next year, has already been set: female sailors from all over the world will be cruising on Hamburg's Outer Alster from 12 to 15 June 2025 and will once again be guests at the beautiful club grounds of the North German Regatta Association.
