The DSV driving competition has been organised in its current form since 2024. According to the organisers, it is not only special sailing achievements that have a good chance of winning an award: "Whether it's an extended sailing sabbatical, a family break or a short cruise - all cruising sailors should be encouraged to document and submit their trips".
The price categories
There are three categories, inland, coastal and sea, for each of which three prizes are awarded - gold, silver and bronze. The jury has the option of awarding further prizes. The Commodore Prize for outstanding performance, the Gudrun Calligaro Prize for the best voyage led by a female skipper and the Environmental Prize for special commitment to environmental protection. There are also special awards for family holidays and newcomers. An audience award has also been introduced for the best story. It is awarded by those present at the award ceremony on site.
Blue water legend Jimmy Cornell was the evening's guest of honour. The 85-year-old looks back on an extraordinary life as a sailor: three circumnavigations, over 200,000 nautical miles, the crossing of the Northwest Passage and the founding of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). In Hamburg, he talked about his eventful life - from growing up in the German-speaking part of Romania to the remotest corners of the world. His message: with courage and passion, many things are possible that initially seem unattainable.
Honoured by the highest authority
DSV President Mona Küppers and Vice President for Cruising and Leisure Sailing Claus Funk congratulated the award winners in person. She said: "Every year, the cruising competition shows anew how diverse and inspiring sailing can be - far off the beaten track, with special destinations, individual goals or special crew constellations that require consideration and cohesion. These voyages inspire and make you want to get your recently winterised boat back in the water right away."
The award winners in detail:
Commodore Prize and Gold in the Sea category
Jan-Erik Kruse with the "Seamonster"
The idea was born in Falmouth back in 2001: one day, Jan-Erik Kruse wants to sail the traditional Azores and Back Race. Two decades later, in 2023, the professional pilot fulfils this dream. With the family yacht "Seamonster", a Najad 361, he sets off alone from Falmouth towards the Azores and back - the legendary AZAB, one of the oldest British ocean races that is only authorised for single-handed and double-handed crews. For this outstanding achievement, Kruse from the Cospudener Yacht Club Markkleeberg was honoured with the Commodore Prize and gold in the sea category in the German Sailing Association's cruising competition. After the race, he bid farewell to the "Seamonster", which had been the family boat for 25 years - and began a new sailing chapter with his Seascape 18.
Gudrun Calligaro Prize
Marga Keyl with the "Gitana"
Marga Keyl from the Hamburg Yacht Sailing Association is the winner of the prize for female skippers. The Hamburg native usually sails her Contest 36S "Gitana" alone or with a small crew. On her 40th birthday, she decided to take the dream of sailing around the world into her own hands - even without a sailing partner. In 2020, she bought the "Gitana" in Spain, sailed her mostly solo to Hamburg, refitted her there and equipped her for the long voyage. The first major solo Baltic Sea voyage followed in 2022, followed by the voyage from Hamburg to the Canary Islands. The "Gitana" is currently moored in Grenada in the Caribbean. "I want to encourage other women to realise their sailing dreams - it's better to sail alone than not at all!" says Marga Keyl.
Family price
Sarah Ruiz García and Sebastian Johnke with the "Lunatix"
Sarah Ruiz García and Sebastian Johnke from the Havel Sailing Association spent their entire parental leave on board their X-332 "Lunatix" - together with their children Martha and Hugo. The Berliners sailed from their home territory via Szczecin and Bornholm to the Swedish eastern archipelago - a total of 999 nautical miles. Much of it in "one-hand-plus-mode", as their son Hugo was only seven months old. Good planning also made longer legs possible, around 80 nautical miles from Świnoujście to Bornholm. The family was rewarded with unforgettable moments: Hiking, climbing, swimming and anchoring in the solitude of the archipelago. The conclusion: any time again!
Starter price
Judith Tolomello with the "Passion"
Judith "Jules" Tolomello from the Speichersee Emsland sailing club received the inaugural Starter Prize. The hotel manager from Schüttorf is a sailing high-flyer: she bought a Dehler 31 in 2023 without ever having sailed before. With a lot of willingness to learn, mentoring help and great commitment, she quickly acquired all the necessary skills. In 2024, she took nine weeks off sailing and sailed from Friesland across the North Sea, the Kiel Canal to the Baltic Sea and back - around 1,000 nautical miles, mostly alone. Her conclusion: "This trip not only helped me grow as a sailor, but also as a person." She is now sailing her new 37-foot Malö "Courage" and planning trips to the north - step by step.
Award winners in the Lake category
Silver: Dr Thomas Wehner with the "On the Rocks"
Thomas Wehner from the Hanover Yacht Club fulfilled a long-cherished dream in 2023: his journey took him via the Kiel Canal along the western European coast and the Channel Islands, crossing the Bay of Biscay to Madeira and then on to the Canary Islands and the Azores. Ten crews shared the adventure, perfectly organised with flights and changeover plans - despite some references to a "bus timetable". In the end, the trip was a complete success, with each crew sailing their desired route.
Bronze: Susanna Huhtanen with the "Lille Ø"
At the beginning of April 2024, skipper Susanna Huhtanen from the Gothia Sailing Club and co-sailor Bergie set off from Szczecin with their "Lille Ø". They sailed via Copenhagen and Stavanger to the Shetland Islands, on to the Hebrides and finally via Madeira to the Canary Islands - to Las Palmas, where the journey ended. Huhtanen and her crew were unable to attend the award ceremony - they have since moved on to sail in Brazil.
Award winners in the Coast category
Gold: Marina Heine with the "Lille Vind"
Marina Heine from the Havel Sailing Association sailed her International Folkboat "Lille Vind" from Berlin to Lysekil in Sweden and back to Barth. The occasion was an invitation to the Swedish IF class championship. With changing crew members, she mastered the journey despite adverse weather conditions - and enjoyed the "spirit of the class" in Sweden, even without taking part in the regatta.
Silver: Guido Marx with the "Playmobil"
Guido Marx from the Laacher See Mayen sailing club sailed across Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland to the Åland Islands in 2024. To avoid Kaliningrad, he joined three other yachts and sailed with them a little further westwards in convoy. On the return journey, the route led along the Swedish archipelago and through the Danish South Sea. Marx was particularly impressed by the warm encounters in the Baltic states. His ship is now moored in Portugal.
Bronze: Olaf Quast with the "Australia"
With his crew of two, Olaf Quast from the Paderborn Sailing Club sailed his Dehlya 25 from Nieuwpoort across the English Channel to London. The challenging trip demanded precise tidal navigation and stamina - rewarded by the unforgettable moment of reaching Tower Bridge on his own keel.
Audience Award
Manfred Thiessen with the "Yggdrasil"
For the first time, the audience had a say in the decision: Five crews presented their voyages in short presentations. The audience vote was won by the Thiessen couple from the Beidenfleth Sailing Club. Their boat "Yggdrasil" - a self-built boat made of wood and GRP based on a design by Judel/Vrolijk - took them from the North Sea through the English Channel to Brittany and Vannes in 2024. Despite health challenges, the couple impressed with their courage, passion and love of the sea. They were sure to win the applause of the audience.
