The Norddeutscher Regatta Verein is the champion of the German Sailing League. At the final on Berlin's Wannsee, the Hamburg team with helmsman Johannes Polgar took fourth place and a total of 81 points for overall victory.
"It was an amazing season," said the 2008 Olympic eighth-placed Tornado sailor, "it's fantastic that we were able to bring the trophy to Hamburg." The fifth and final Bundesliga regatta was won by the Schweriner Yacht-Club, which improved to eighth place overall out of the 18 participating clubs.
NRV Bundesliga coach and managing director Klaus Lahme said: "The premiere season of the German Sailing Bundesliga was a great success for us. We were enthusiastic about the concept right from the start and supported it as a club. The fact that we even won in the end is a great reward."
The Württembergische Yacht-Club secured second place in the 2013 Bundesliga sailing season with 73 points ahead of the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club (69 points). Five clubs will have to relegate in the spring. Yacht-Club Radolfszell (29 points), Lindauer Segel-Club (26 points), Segelklub Bayer-Uerdingen (21 points), Segel-Club Hattingen (17 points) and Yacht Club Noris (13 points) are fighting to stay in the league.
According to the Bundesliga organisers, more than 30 clubs have expressed their interest in competing in the Bundesliga next year. 18 new entrants will meet the five relegated candidates in the relegation regatta. The best five of the 23 relegation participants will qualify for the First Sailing Bundesliga, while the remaining 18 clubs will form the Second Sailing Bundesliga, which will celebrate its premiere in 2014.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
