Some of the images from the first SSL Gold Cup 2023 off Gran Canaria are unforgettable: The crews in football kit with socks, the golden boats and lots of sailing celebrities provided plenty to talk about at the premiere. A German team was also there. Team Germany, with helmsman Paul Kohlhoff, unfortunately just missed out on reaching the semi-finals. Here's a look back at the top ten moments from the premiere.
Hungary is the defending champion
The Nations Summit was won two years ago by the Germany kennels from Hungary around team captain Zsombor Berecz, who also had to concede to the international team around Starboat World Champion Diego Negri and Harm Müller-Spreer's TP52 tactician Vasco Vascotto. Well-known sailing greats such as the two double Olympic champions Robert Scheidt and Martine Grael with Team Brazil even had to retire before the final.
Initially viewed with some suspicion, the new type of national competition had served up exciting sport on the identical SSL 47 yachts with their shiny gold design, apart from its visual and content-related reference to King Football. At the end of the series with 56 national teams, German team boss Frithjof Kleen said: "This regatta was an international success. Our sport has been missing a national competition like this. The SSL Gold Cup has brought the sailing nations together in a very nice and exciting way. It would be a tragedy if this event was not continued."
His wish has now been granted. The Star Sailors League has now announced the organisation of a second edition and presented the new logo. The venue for the 2026 SSL Gold Cup will be the Brazilian Olympic harbour of 2016: the Marina da Glória, where Erik Kosegarten-Heil and Thomas Plößel won their first bronze medal in the 49er nine years ago.
SSL Gold Cup: Rio wants to continue its Olympic legacy
Eduardo Cavaliere, Deputy Mayor of Rio, Sports Minister Guilherme Schleder, CBVela CEO Marco Aurélio de Sá Ribeiro and World Sailing CEO David Graham met to present the new edition. "Brazil is uniquely equipped to host major events and competitions. And Rio de Janeiro has become a major player in this regard in recent years," Marco Aurélio noted on this occasion.
Aurélio also said there was "no better place to announce the arrival of the SSL in our country than the Marina da Glória, surrounded by the city's landmarks and a symbolic place for both Brazilian and global sailing".
In addition to the Star Sailors League (SSL) itself, the tourism centre Visit Rio, public institutions and supporters from the private sector are behind the planned new edition of the major sailing event. "An event of this magnitude strengthens the city's position as a sports destination, boosts the economy, increases international visibility and consolidates Rio's legacy as an Olympic city," said Visit Rio CEO Luiz Strauss.
Gold peaks in Guanabara Bay
The series, with its golden finale in Rio, is set to begin in Thailand this autumn, when the first tickets will be up for grabs in Asia. The qualifying rounds in Europe and Africa are to follow in the spring. According to the plan presented, the American qualifiers will take place from 10 to 16 November in the Gold Cup area of Guanabara Bay. The organisers have announced that the top 40 nations from around the world will then compete for the crown there from 18 November to 13 December.
Team Germany has not yet left the starting blocks, but premiere team captain Frithjof Kleen and Markus Wieser are already in talks with each other and the organisers again. Kleen said: "We'll see how the planning materialises and will certainly talk to those who were there last time."
Frithjof Kleen named Paul Kohlhoff as a potential helmsman, premiere coach Tim Kröger in an advisory capacity, Matti Paschen as trimmer and Kiel professional Michael Müller. Kleen continued: "Magnus Simon did a very good job on the mainsail last time. We are starting in that direction. Of course, we are also looking at how the Olympic sailors are doing. One Linov Scheel is worth mentioning. Others will follow."
