Sailing on a legend
The weather was perfect with sunshine and moderate winds when the crew took over the racing boat in Rostock's city harbour. Most of the guests with disabilities usually sail on much smaller boats such as the RS Venture Connect or in the J/70 class. With one of the most important racing yachts in German sailing history, new sailing territory awaited them. The V.O.60 racing yacht "Illbruck", which now trades under the name "SkenData", was the first and so far only German yacht to win the legendary "The Ocean Race" in 2002 under skipper John Kostecki. During this race around the world, the team set two world records: the 24-hour world record of 896 kilometres and the speed record for monohulls of just under 73 km/h. Thanks to its successes and records, the "Illbruck" has a firm place in the offshore and deep-sea sailing scene.
The guests first had to get to know this new dimension: almost 20 metres, impressive winches, grinders and steps behind the two steering positions. The blind and visually impaired participants first explored the "SkenData" with their hands, and a sign language interpreter translated the skipper's explanations before the lines were cast off around midday.
Goal of the day: Making inclusion visible
The extraordinary sailing event was a new experience not only for the guests, but also for the organisers. The club "We are We -- Inclusion in Sailing" has been dedicated to inclusive sailing for five years. In 2022 and 2023, he successfully organised two inclusive sailing world championships in Rostock. It also organises the "Heinz Kettler Deutschland Cup", the world's first truly inclusive regatta series. The association also realises numerous inclusive children's and youth sailing projects.
Speedsailing in Rostock, a provider of sailing events with many years of experience in offshore sailing, and the Rostock Regatta Club support the project - Speedsailing with its ocean racer and crew, the Rostock Regatta Club with expertise, infrastructure and strong roots in the local sailing community. The three players are united by the joint organisation of the "Inclusion World Championship for Sailing" in Rostock in 2022 and 2023, and it was during these competitions that the idea for the offshore sailing project was born. For once, it was not about the competition, but about making inclusive sailing more visible. And so it was a film team from NDR was on board and reported.
Team play instead of adaptations
For five hours, the inclusive crew experienced how quickly an offshore racing yacht gets up to speed, steered the boat and worked up a sweat on the grinders. "Sailing on the Illbruck was an unforgettable and instructive experience for us. It was very exciting that we were able to sail at 14 knots in the conditions," enthuses Alex, one of the visually impaired participants: "The highlight for many of us was certainly that we were even able to steer the Illbruck for a short time."
Many boats used for inclusive sailing have adaptations that compensate for physical limitations in particular. The "SkenData" was not adapted for the trip. Instead, the sailors relied on team play: the sighted sailors kept a lookout and signalled the approaching gusts to the visually impaired sailors. For skipper Martin Kringel from Speedsailing, this was a positive experience: "I find it particularly exciting with the visually impaired people, who feel so much and so quickly," he says and continues: "This sense is much more pronounced than in people who can see normally - they like to stumble across the deck here."
All participants draw a positive balance
After five hours, the crew returned to the harbour a few hours richer in experience. "The sailing day on the Ocean Racer was indescribably beautiful," enthuses participant Jürgen. "We were proud to realise once again how team spirit had a positive effect on everyone. A team is strong when everyone pulls together and that was the case yesterday."
The professional team from Speedsailing led by Managing Director Felix Hauß is familiar with tough races, fun and team-building trips; the skippers accompanied an inclusive sailing trip for the first time. "Inclusion is important and must be practised. We wanted to find out if it could also work on board one of our ocean racers," summarises Felix Hauß. "It was an experience that we will all never forget. The crew and guest sailors were impressed. Everyone was able to benefit from each other. Inclusion works. You just have to do it."
Inclusion continues at the Helga Cup
The Inclusive Sailing continues this coming weekend. Among the almost 80 teams from eleven nations that have registered for this year's Helga Cup 2025 The 16 crews that have registered are inclusive. Several Olympic athletes will also be competing in the world's largest women's regatta from 12 to 15 June on Hamburg's Outer Alster, including silver medallist Susann Beucke. She is the skipper of the "MammaSeatas" crew, a group of female sailors who have been affected by cancer and some of whom are still in the middle of treatment. "Sailing conveys a unique feeling of freedom - especially for people with disabilities, who are often confronted with limitations in everyday life. These boundaries disappear on the water," emphasises Beucke, adding: "The Helga Cup also creates a safe environment that encourages women. It makes me particularly happy to see that more women are taking up sailing and racing as a result of the event. This empowerment and inclusion is exactly what our sport creates for our society."
The event is organised by the Norddeutsche Regatta Verein and the "Wir sind Wir" association, which has been offering sailing courses for women with disabilities on the Alster for four years. The women's crews sail on boats in the J/70 and RS Venture Connect classes. They compete against each other in short, ten to twelve-minute races - a format that guarantees exciting action and races that are easy to follow, even for non-experts. Pre-race workshops ensure that sailors with less previous experience can also take part.
