Every North Sea week begins with its feeder regattas. Competitions instead of crossings motivate the crews on their way to the Red Rock. This summer, the Garmin Cup Wedel-Cuxhaven on 6 June and the Noblex Cup Cuxhaven - Helgoland on the following Saturday, which takes its challengers over 35 nautical miles to the North Sea island, offer the chance to do just that.
Alternatively, ambitious crews can take part in the "Glück Earlybird Series" on the Friday before Whitsun, which combines two parts: the crossing from Cuxhaven to Helgoland from midday on Friday and several short races directly off the coast on Saturday morning.
90th North Sea Week: Eleven races, four feeder races
Regattas also set off from Bremerhaven, Hooksiel and Hooge towards Heligoland on the Saturday before Whitsun. The incoming yachts, masts, flags and, above all, the many sailors in the large south harbour offer an increasingly spectacular picture every year over Whitsun, which also captivates the many day tourists on Heligoland. The 90th North Sea Week serves up a total of eleven races, including four feeder races. Click here for an overview of the competitions that have been announced.
The North Sea classic with challenging sailing in Helgoland Bay was once founded by the Weser Yacht Club (WYC), the North German Regatta Club (NRV), the Hamburg Yacht Club (HSC) and the Lower Elbe Sailing Association (SVN). The 90th edition of the regatta around the Red Rock will run for five days until 10 June 2025, with a special highlight awaiting the fleet this year: the Rund um Helgoland regatta was held for the first time in 1925, three years after the first Nordssewoche in 1922. It is now 100 years old.
In times when crews still had to find Heligoland using a compass because radio direction finders, GPS and echo sounders did not yet exist, 29 teams competed for victory in the first round Heligoland 100 years ago. Winner Heinz Harmsen won the competition with his "Ashanti II" and received the Helgoland original flag awarded by the municipality of Heligoland. The man from Bremen was the first to hoist the "Holy Flag" and fly it as the national flag for life.
Sailing and fan fun: 100 years of Rund Helgoland
Whitsunday is traditionally reserved for the Capitell-Cup Rund Helgoland, which marks the halfway point of the North Sea summit for German sailing. The boats circumnavigate the island with its characteristic red cliffs and offshore dunes on a course of around 30 nautical miles. The start and finish are between the island and the dune. Families and fans travelling along have the best view of the many yachts from the Oberland.
This regatta demands the whole spectrum of offshore sailing." Albert Schweizer
Albert Scheizer is race director of the North Sea Week. His view of the skills required in the Helgoland area: "In addition to perfect manoeuvres, you need real seamanship, a feel for the tide, current and navigation." The race around Heligoland will also include the 15 yachts expected to take part in the DSV squadron race, which is being organised for the first time. In addition, the Noblex Cup Cuxhaven and Capitell-Cup Rund Helgoland will be combined to create a separate classification for classic yachts built between 1922 and 1970.
The squadron crews start on 31 May in Kiel-Schilksee, sail together through the Kiel Canal to Cuxhaven and from there to Helgoland. They have their own ranking in the "Capitell-Cup Rund Helgoland". "There is hardly a better introduction to regatta racing than against the spectacular backdrop of Helgoland, cheered on by many spectators," says Albert Schweizer, explaining the initiative in favour of newcomers to regattas.
A hot offshore triangle for the North Sea Week
In combination with the "Family Cruiser Cup", which is sailed without a spinnaker and does not require a measurement certificate, the North Sea Week offers two attractive formats for beginners. This will be followed on Whit Monday with the "Sebamed Cup Helgoländer Acht" is another classic. The regatta is held on two opposite courses between Düne and Helgoland.
The "Helgoland Offshore Triangle (H.O.T.)" will take place at the same time. The offshore triangle leads its starters non-stop through the North Sea over a course of between 350 and 400 nautical miles. The race is also a qualifier for this summer's Rolex Fastnet Race. The race organisers set the course and its length according to the current wind and weather.
"The H.O.T. offers a good alternative to the previous long-distance route to Edinburgh. By starting and finishing off Heligoland, the organisational and logistical effort is greatly reduced. It takes less time for everyone involved," says Marcus Boehlich, Head of Organisation for the North Sea Week. The North Sea Week concludes with the return races to Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven on 10 June.
In the same boat as boot Düsseldorf for the North Sea Week
As in previous years, the heart of the North Sea Week land activities will be the popular boot Düsseldorf Race Village. The world's largest water sports trade fair has been a partner of the North Sea Week for one and a half decades. In the boot Düsseldorf Race Village, the Alexseal Offshore Lounge will offer snacks and drinks, while the boot Düsseldorf Weather Centre will provide daily skipper briefings in cooperation with WetterWelt. The partner country Denmark offers small snacks, equipment partner Marinepool presents its offshore collection.
Rough cuts and snapshots - this clip shows impressions of the Capitell-Cup Rund Helgoland last year and gives an impression of the regatta fleet of the North Sea Week:
