German Sailing League: Six promoted teams for the second division

There was fear, trembling and hope right to the end. It was only in the final race at the relegation off Glücksburg that it was decided which six clubs would be allowed to call themselves second division teams in the coming 2015 season. The Blankeneser Segel-Club (BSC) from Hamburg, the Duisburger Segel-Club from North Rhine-Westphalia, the Lindauer Segler-Club from Bavaria, the Lübecker Segler-Club von 1885 from Schleswig-Holstein, the Segel-Club Ville from North Rhine-Westphalia and the Yachtclub Strelasund from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania qualified.

The winners came from the Elbe metropolis of Hamburg. BSC sailor Björn Athmer said after the victory: "It's unbelievable that we can now be part of the 2nd Sailing Bundesliga. We are more than happy with our victory. Even though we would have liked to have had more wind, the conditions were good. We will prepare extensively for next season and then really attack in the 2nd league."

Of this season's relegation-threatened second division clubs, only two were able to hold their own in the fiercely contested relegation: Segel-Club Ville and Duisburger Segel-Club. These two will be allowed to take part in the second league regattas again in 2015. DSC helmsman Sven Möller said: "It was an unrivalled thriller. We only came fifth in our last race, so we were still trembling on land whether we would be allowed to stay in the 2nd division or not. We are over the moon!" Four other second division teams from the 2014 season missed out on staying in the league: Westfälischer Yachtclub Delecke, Segel-Club Hattingen, Yacht-Club Noris and Yachtclub Wieck can only qualify for their league comeback in the 2015 relegation.

A total of 65 races were sailed over three days at the qualification regatta off Glücksburg. Thanks to the successful organisation of the host Flensburger Segel-Club, the German Ocean Sports Association Hansa and many volunteers, it was an intensive sailing weekend for all participants on the J 70 and Bavaria B/one boats provided.

All 18 clubs of the 2nd Sailing Bundesliga for 2015 will not be determined until mid-November after the final of the 1st Sailing Bundesliga from 31 October to 2 November on the Hamburg Outer Alster and the relegation for the 1st Sailing Bundesliga in the same sailing area the following weekend.