In four days, the first starting shot will be fired for the fifth season of the German Sailing League. This year, the 18 best German sailing clubs will be competing for the national club championship in six regattas. In the 2nd Bundesliga, the main focus is on promotion and relegation. To kick things off, sailing will take place for the first time next weekend off Prien on Lake Chiemsee. The defending champions from the German Touring Yacht Club (DTYC, German champions 2015 + 2016) will start the season as favourites. The co-favourites include traditionally strong league teams such as those from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club, the Bayerischer Yacht-Club, the Lindauer Segel-Club and the two-time German champions from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, who won the title in 2013 and 2014. Last season's league sixth-placed team, the Chiemsee Yacht Club, will be relying on their home advantage on Lake Chiemsee at the start of the league.
The Bundesliga kicks off its fifth season this coming long weekend. The teams have been preparing intensively for months. Difficult conditions, snow and great hosts are expected
The defending champions' modest goal: "Six plus"
The leading clubs, above all the defending champions, have prepared for the new season in masterly fashion. DTYC head coach Norbert Wagner reports on two theory sessions in the winter. A league referee was also invited, with whom the team went through and analysed all the typical scenarios. The 18-strong DTYC squad, enriched by three more young sailors, has completed training sessions on Lake Constance, twice on Lake Garda and most recently on Lake Starnberg at home, as well as taking part in the first "Lake of Constance Battle" on Lake Constance with 30 boats, but finishing in 15th place. On Lake Garda, professional sailor Markus Wieser was a strong training partner for the young team from his home club. The DTYC team will be travelling to the start of the league with a day off for a special training session on Lake Chiemsee. However, the Tutzing team is remaining modest and is not starting the season with the sole aim of winning the championship. "We have said: six plus," says Wagner, defining the motto for the season for his very young team. Wagner's concept, which focuses on promoting juniors, has been impressively endorsed by the DTYC members and the successes of recent years.
More than 1000 activists in action
More than 100 clubs have been active in league sport since the German Sailing League was founded in April 2013: the 36 clubs in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga have been joined this year by around 70 clubs from the newly introduced regional leagues (North, East, South, West) and the Junior League. With around 1000 active participants, the league is the largest sailing series in Germany.
This year, the previous qualification for the 2nd Bundesliga will be replaced by the newly founded German Sailing League Cup (DSL Cup). 54 sailing clubs from the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga, the four regional leagues and the junior league will take part. Similar to football, the aim is to bring together all levels of the league and ensure an exciting clash between top athletes and young talent. At the same time, the cup regatta is regarded as a qualification for promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga.
The season opener at the Chiemsee Yacht Club, which is known for being extremely hospitable, will be accompanied by a small drop of bitterness: the bandwidth of the lines there is not sufficient for a live broadcast. Instead, there will be coverage on all social network channels via Facebook, live ticker and tracking for both leagues, whose races will be held on two courses in parallel and, as usual, on J 70 sports boats.
The dates of the Bundesliga 2017
- 1st + 2nd Bundesliga: 28 to 30 April in Prien am Chiemsee
- 1st + 2nd Bundesliga: 25 to 27 May in Lindau on Lake Constance
- 1st Bundesliga: 17 to 19 June in Kiel (Kieler Woche)
- 2nd Bundesliga: 1 to 3 July in Warnemünde on the Baltic Sea
- 1st + 2nd Bundesliga: 18th to 20th August in Glücksburg
- Sailing League Cup: 13 to 15 October in Glücksburg
- Final 1st Bundesliga: 2 to 4 November in Berlin on the Wannsee
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
