(Tutzing, Germany)- It was an amazing, enthusiastic turn-out for the first, and only, 2020 SAILING Champions League Qualifying event in Tutzing, Germany for the grand finale in Porto Cervo, Italy at the spectacular Costa Smeralda YC. Twenty-two teams showed up to go sailing on Lake Starnberg, a beautiful lake surrounded by lush green mountains in the middle of Germany. For four days, the teams competed in a huge variety of weather, from no winds and sunny warm temperatures to strong winds, choppy waters and driving rain.
After four days of sailing, the Württembergische Yacht-Club was able to prevail against all 22 competitors. Second place went to the Norddeutsche Regatta Verein, third place was taken by the team from Bordée de Tribord from Switzerland. In addition to the respective champions of the 19 national leagues who have already been determined as finalists, the twelve best clubs of the Tutzing Qualifier have now qualified for the SCL Final in Porto Cervo, Italy, from the 15th to 18th of October.
Under ever-changing conditions on Lake Starnberg, four clubs, the Norddeutsche Regatta Verein, Bordée de Tribord, the Regattaclub Oberhofen and the Württembergische Yacht-Club, went through to compete in the four-boat finale. At first, the Norddeutsche Regatta Verein dominated with a 1-2 tally. But, the Württembergische Yacht-Club closed the regatta with two bullets that were necessary for overall victory. Behind the top two German teams were two Swiss teams, third was Bordee de Tribord and fourth was Regattaclub Oberhofen. Past SAILING Champions League overall winner- Deutscher Touring YC ended up in an uncharacteristic fifth place.
“We are totally overwhelmed,” explained Conrad Rebholz, helmsman of the winning WYC. “We always wanted to keep the freedom to make our own decisions, to concentrate only on ourselves and not be distracted. We didn’t expect it to work out so well in the end, but we’re all the more pleased.”
The following teams have qualified for the SCL final in Porto Cervo:
- Württembergischer Yacht-Club, Germany
- Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, Germany
- Bordée de Tribord, Switzerland
- Regatta Club Oberhofen, Switzerland
- Deutscher Touring Yacht-Club, Germany
- Wassersport-Verein Hemelingen, Germany
- Bocholter Yachtclub, Germany
- Segel- und Motorboot Club Überlingen, Germany
- Segelclub TWV Achensee, Austria
- Münchner Yacht-Club, Germany
- Mühlenberger Segel-Club, Germany
- Hjuviks Båtklubb, Sweden
Sailing Photo credits- Lars Wehrmann. Sailing video highlights:
- Day 1- https://youtu.be/ECD38tR5cBs
- Day 2- https://youtu.be/DOrwkxmOUF4
- Day 3- https://youtu.be/jc8iJ3YsD-k