The 18 participating clubs had imagined this Bundesliga weekend differently: Instead of fresh north German winds, the fourth of six regattas of the 1st Sailing Bundesliga in its second year was slowed down by a persistent flat breeze over long stretches and shortened by almost two thirds: only 17 of the planned 45 races could be held over three days.
As the defending champions of the German sailing club championship, the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) with helmsman Sven-Erik Horsch once again put in a convincing performance off Kiel. Only in the final sprint did the top favourites have to admit defeat to Bodensee-Yacht-Club Überlingen (BYCÜ) after an exciting final race. The newcomers around helmsman Andreas Buchert coped best with the difficult wind conditions. Third place was secured by the Lübeck Yacht Club with Olympic sixth-placed Simon Grotelüschen at the helm. The doctor demonstrated his great class once again in the last race on Sunday and "floated" to third place on the podium in Kiel with his team and his second win of the weekend.
Little has changed at the top of the Bundesliga table: The NRV was able to extend its lead after four of six regattas with a total of 70 points. The Seglerhaus am Wannsee club (55 points) and the German Touring Yacht Club (54 points) are in second and third place. The German Touring Yacht Club and the team led by helmswoman Kristin Wagner had only sailed to 13th place off Kiel after three third places in a row. The host Kieler Yacht-Club achieved ninth place in its home waters and is in seventh place in the midfield of the table.
In the relegation places 16 to 18, the Konstanzer Yacht Club, the Chiemsee Yacht Club and the Mühlenberger Segel-Club at the bottom of the table have to worry about staying in class before the last two Bundesliga regattas in Friedrichshafen and Kiel.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
