Basedow Wins J/70 Helga Cup in 30-Knot Hamburg Finale

(Hamburg, Germany)- The 9th Helga Cup concluded last weekend on Hamburg’s Alster Lake, co-hosted by Norddeutscher Regatta-Verein (NRV) & Hamburger Segel-Club (HSC). For four days, the Hanseatic city was all about women’s sailing at the world’s largest women’s regatta: seventy-one teams from eight nations, with about 360 women sailors, competed, exchanged experiences, and became part of an extraordinary community. The regatta was sailed in a fleet of matched J/70 one-design sailboats.

For the finale, the Alster presented its most challenging conditions: with gusts exceeding 30 knots, the decisive races were held under extremely demanding circumstances. The crews delivered outstanding sailing and sent a powerful message— demonstrating that women sail at the highest level, even in the toughest winds. The final races provided a fitting climax to an intense regatta weekend.

In the end, the hometown heroes from Hamburger Segel-club repeated their past performances. Silke Basedow and her STIFTUNG MAMMAZENTRUM team of Maren Hahlbrock, Marion Rommel, and Juliane Zepp ran the table, winning all six of their races and the Top 10 Finale race. It was a convincing victory for Silke and her team.

Basedow shared her enthusiastic reflections: “This Helga Cup was truly special for us; we returned to the starting line after a two-year hiatus. What looks simple from the outside is actually hard work— honed over many years. Yet, in the end, a bit of luck was on our side, and we managed to bring home the win. The team from VSaW would have deserved it just as much. The atmosphere— both ashore and on the water— was, as always, a real highlight. We reconnected with many old friends and acquaintances and met new faces. The helpfulness, genuine interest, and mutual respect are unique. We are already looking forward to next year’s 10th anniversary event.”

Taking the silver medal was the equally talented VSaW LADIES (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) team, led by skipper Frederike Westphalen and her teammates Catharina Schaaff, Carolin Schaaff, and Anna Kromke. They also compiled an impressive record of all 1sts, but ended up taking 2nd in the finale behind Basedow’s very talented team.

Rounding out the podium to take the bronze medal was the KIELER YACHT CLUB team led by skipper Henriette Haberland. Her team of Gesa Papenthin, Luca Sartori, and Paula Broneske compiled a strong record of five 1sts, a 2nd, and a 3rd in the finale.

The balance of the top five saw the SCHLEIPERLEN TEAM, led by skipper Suzanne Willim, take fourth place, while the Danish BLUE GIRLS TEAM, led by skipper Sara Jackson, finished in fifth place.

A huge “Thank You” goes to the clubs backing the NRV and HSC with their boats and support:
– Blankeneser Segel-Club
– Hamburger Segel-Club
– Flensburger Segel-Club
– Mühlenberger Segel-Club
– Heinz Nixdorf Verein zur Förderung des Segelsports

The Helga Cup wouldn’t be possible without their support— thanks for the boats and the trust!

Furthermore, the support from VIP officials from the city of Hamburg was significant. At the Friday, June 12th, opening ceremony were the following dignitaries:
🔹 State Councilor Christoph Holstein (Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg)
🔹 Dr. Bettina Schomburg (Head of the Hamburg-Nord District Office)
🔹 Katharina von Kodolitsch (President of the Hamburg Sports Confederation)
🔹 Pınar Coşkuner Genç (President of EuroSAF, the European Sailing Federation)
🔹 Olympic silver medalist Susann “Sanni” Beucke

#thinkHelga #sailing #womeninsailing #regatta #hamburg #j70 #womensailing #sailinglife

Helga Cup photos on Flickr- by Sven Jurgensen
https://www.flickr.com/photos/svenjjj/albums/

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