The North Sea Week 2025 once again proved why it is one of the most challenging sailing regattas in Germany. From 6 to 9 June, around 100 yachts braved the challenging conditions on the North Sea.
Stormy start and late arrival
The Norseewoche traditionally kicks off with the feeder regattas. One of the biggest of these is the Hamburg team's journey to Cuxhaven. The crew of the "Fast Punch" (Sun Fast 36, Dirk Wulbieter, Altonaer Segel-Club) sailed the fastest calculated time down the Elbe in the Garmin Cup from Wedel to Cuxhaven. Second place went to Tom Stryi with the IMX-40 "Pax" (Blankeneser Segel-Club), third place went to Christoph Mählmann with the Nautor Swan 46 "Rarotonga". It was already storming and raining heavily at the start of the challenging regatta, and the crews set off on the race course with small headsails and reefed mainsails. Four yachts had to abandon the race due to the rough conditions.
The participants in the Sundowner Cup also experienced these conditions. This regatta also starts on Friday and leads through the night to Helgoland, where it is followed by short races, the so-called lobster races. All of this adds up to the Early Bird Series, an extra classification for crews who are particularly ambitious in terms of racing, who arrive on Heligoland before the official feeder boats and are already sailing there while the majority of participants are still on their way to the island.
Daniel Baum won the title of "First Ship Home" in the Sundowner Regatta from Cuxhaven to Helgoland with the "Elida" (Hamburger Segel-Club). The prestigious Helgoland Hummer Cup as winner of the entire "Glück-Early Bird Series" including the short races on Saturday off the Helgoland coast was won by Jürgen Klinghardt (SKWB) with his Italia 9.98 "patent 4".
The start of this sundowner regatta off Cuxhaven had to be postponed by two hours on Friday. Race director Albert Schweizer explains: "There was a stormy wind on Friday. A steep, uncomfortable wave built up in the Elbe estuary due to the effect of wind against tidal current - like a mogul slope at sea." The yachts battled with wind forces of 6 to 8 Beaufort. Many crews only reached Heligoland late on Saturday evening.
The regular feeders then started on Saturday. At the Noblex Cup from Cuxhaven to Helgoland, the "Rarotonga" was ahead of the XP-44 "Xenia" of Ralf Lässig (WSV Wulsdorf) and the Faurby 39 "Susewind" with skipper Hagen Reese (Segelverein Wilster) in the overall ORC rankings. In addition, feeders from Hallig Hooge, Hooksiel and Bremerhaven were sailed.
Capitell Cup round Helgoland as the highlight
At the Capitell-Cup Rund Helgoland, all participants took to the course together in ideal conditions with constant 18 to 25 knots of wind. The fleet was spread over various courses: While Family Cruiser and DSV-Geschwaderfahrt sailed close to the coast, the ORC classes competed further out.
"We did the weather briefing together, but then held separate helmsmen's meetings," explains Schweizer. "This meant that even less experienced crews were able to ask questions openly and start the race well prepared."
In the group of large ORC and ORC Club regatta yachts on the large course, Tom Stryi won with the IMX-40 "Pax" (Blankeneser Segel-Club) ahead of Daniel Baum with the One Off "Elida" (Hamburger Segel-Club), while third place went to Ralf Lässig with his XP-44 "Xenia" (Wassersportverein Wulstorf). However, the initially rough conditions also took their toll: the yacht "Schlüssel von Bremen" (SKWB) had to abandon the race after suffering damage to its rig.
The prize for the fastest yacht this year went to Daniel Baum's "Elida", which took 5 hours 9 minutes and 53 seconds to complete the regatta course. More about the traditional race read here.
The Heligoland Offshore Triangle challenge
The North Sea Week concluded on Whit Monday with the Sebamed Cup - the so-called Helgoland Eight - and the start of the H.O.T. - Helgoland Offshore Triangle, which was over 250 nautical miles long and started in the afternoon. This offshore regatta is new to the programme. The seven participating crews and their yachts will be at sea non-stop for several days. The "Elida", skippered by Pantaenius boss Daniel Baum, will be taking part. Together with the "Edelweiss", she will form a team for the first time in 22 years. Admiral's Cup and uses the Offshore Triangle and the transfer to England to provide the necessary proof of mileage for the Fastnet Race, which is part of the Admiral's Cup classification.
The Helgoland Offshore Traingle can here per tracker be pursued.
