The new German Sailing League is starting its second season with good news: after the resounding success of the league's premiere last year and the great enthusiasm of the participating clubs, interest has grown so much that there will be a 2nd German Sailing League in 2014 in addition to the 1st German Sailing League. While the 1st league will continue to be contested on the established J 70 boats, the 2nd league will start on Bavaria's revised B/one sports boats. According to the Bundesliga statutes, the aim is still to achieve a mix of boats in both leagues in order to prevent the class specialists from passing through.
The automotive group Audi AG, which is already heavily involved in sailing, has joined as a new Bundesliga partner. In line with its partnership with the national sailing team Audi Sailing Team Germany, Audi intends, according to a press release, "to support this unique format and thus secure an image boost in the sailing community via leading yacht clubs".
The partnership with Audi has taken place in parallel with the expansion of the league. "The league presents us in the local environment of the partner sailing clubs in Germany. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the initiators and are proud to be involved," said Markus Siebrecht, Head of Marketing Germany Audi AG. This year, a total of nine regattas will be held for the two leagues. This includes the relegation at the beginning of April with 63 clubs. Afterwards, 18 clubs each will form the 1st and 2nd German Sailing League, modelled on the German Football League. The relegation will be held on the J 70 and J 80.
The 2nd Sailing Bundesliga is celebrating its premiere this year with a short programme. The relegation from 4 to 6 April in Glücksburg on the Flensburg Fjord will be followed by two regattas off Tutzing on Lake Starnberg (23 to 25 May) and off Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance (26 to 28 September). Five relegation-threatened first division clubs from last season will battle it out against 58 newcomers from all over the country to stay in the league or qualify for participation.
The champion of the 1st Bundesliga will be determined in six regattas on six different waters: The league season begins in Starnberg/Lake Starnberg (16 to 18 May) and continues in Travemünde/Bay of Lübeck (19 to 21 July), Berlin/Wannsee (22 to 24 August), Kiel/Inner Fjord (5 to 9 September) and off Friedrichshafen/Lake Constance (26 to 28 September). The final will take place in Hamburg on the Outer Alster (31 October to 2 November). The defending champions will be the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) on their home turf.
International sailing associations are now also interested in the German national league format. YACHT online has already reported on this. After the Danish association, the US Sailing Association has now also enquired about the format and organisation of the league from the initiators and founders of the Hamburg concept shipyard. There are already ideas to establish an international Champions League for sailors. "We are convinced that we have developed a format with the German Sailing League that offers enormous future potential for national and international sailing. The Bundesliga idea will bring a lot of joy to sailors, the media and partners," says Oliver Schwall, Managing Director of Konzeptwerft.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
