The successful young Bundesliga starts its third season on 1 May off Tutzing on Lake Starnberg. The 1st and 2nd Bundesliga will kick off there at the same time, before continuing on the first weekend in June on Kiel's inner fjord for the first division teams only. A total of seven regattas, including the final on Hamburg's Outer Alster from 29 to 31 October, are on the programme for the first division teams this year. The second division teams will be competing in five regattas for promotion to the 1st Bundesliga.
The league committee has decided on several changes for the new season: For the first time, points will be awarded according to the low-point system for both the individual regattas and the table. This means that a club will be awarded one point for a regatta win, two points for a second place and so on. The entry fee for the clubs has been raised from 100 to 300 euros for this year. It is to be paid in advance to the German Sailing League Association and will be passed on 100 per cent to the organising clubs.
Sailors are prohibited from competing in the league for several clubs. This also applies to qualification and relegation. Not even if a club fails to qualify for the 2nd Bundesliga in the qualifying round and only takes part in it, may one of the qualifiers start for another club in the Bundesliga in the same season. However, there is no longer a rotation rule for crew changes within the teams, nor is there a limit on professional sailors who are eligible to compete without restriction.
More colour for fans, photos, film and live stream
For better recognition of the boats (1st division: J70, 2nd division: Bavaria B/one) in the live stream as well as when photographing and filming, extensive colour coding will be introduced this year. The gennaker, bow, stern and mainsail top are currently being standardised. This will make the boats easily recognisable from a distance and easier to assign to the teams. The teams are still not required to wear specific crew clothing. However, after the sometimes very successful and creative appearances of many teams in terms of clothing, the organisers expect a stronger emphasis on the theme this year and the use of clothing as a team-promoting factor.
League manager Jocky Hellmich also recommends a thorough look at the sailing instructions and in particular the appendix on boat handling: "We have relaxed some of the rules from last season. For example, the riding out rule. It's worth taking a closer look here." Hellmich and the league organisers are following the intensive preparations of the current and potential first and second division teams with enthusiasm: "The north cell on our doorstep has been training intensively on the Alster for weeks. There are always at least six boats together. With referees and all the trimmings. This regional rotation, which also takes place on other German waters, is incredibly friendly and is one of the best effects of the Bundesliga." The reigning German champions are the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, which is once again one of the top favourites this season.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
