Alongside the world’s fastest boats: In Sassnitz, people with and without disabilities compete in the same regatta
SailGP Inclusive 2026: Inclusive regatta from August 18 to 20; regatta tour cruises for guests in wheelchairs from August 18 to 23 · Five sailing clubs are hosting the event, together with the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank · Patron: Stefanie Drese, Minister of Social Affairs, Health, and Sports of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Hamburg/Sassnitz, August 5, 2026
On one side of the regatta course, F50 catamarans fly across the water at over 100 km/h—the fastest sailboats in the world. A few hundred meters away, a sailor with a disability boards his regatta boat via a specially constructed accessible gangway and sets off to compete in an international regatta. Same venue, same week, same water.
From August 18 to 20, 2026, the inclusive regatta will be held for the second time at the Sassnitz City Harbor, running parallel to the ROCKWOOL Germany Sail Grand Prix—as the 2nd race day of the Heinz Kettler Germany Cup, Germany’s first and only national inclusive regatta series, which will enter its fourth season in 2026 and go international for the first time in September with a race day in Belgium. Sixteen crews from four nations will compete, with racing taking place daily from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event is organized by five sailing clubs in collaboration with the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank.
Who’s sailing here
Siggi Mainka, Paralympic gold medalist, will be competing in Sassnitz. Mainka lost both legs above the knee in an accident at the age of 18. In 2008, he won Paralympic gold in the Sonar class in Beijing, and silver in London in 2012. He is one of the most successful German sailors of all time—and today he competes in a regatta series where disability does not constitute a separate class.
The field is packed with top-tier athletes. Among those competing are Hans Nee and Calle Sibbert, 2026 European silver medalists in inclusive sailing, as well as Dirk Thalheim and Stephanie Brix, who placed third at the 2026 Para European Championships.
Sophia is ten years old and visually impaired. She had her first sailing lesson in May 2025—alongside Susann Beucke, the Olympic silver medalist from Tokyo. Since then, she has been training with the Heinz Kettler Inclusive Youth Sailing Team Germany on Hamburg’s Außenalster. Sassnitz is one of her stops this season. From the Helga Cup to the Deutschland Cup to SailGP: Sophia competes in regattas.
“I’m really looking forward to sailing on the Baltic Sea—and of course I’m hoping for lots of wind!” says Sophia.
Her parents add: “The fact that Sophia gets to be out on the water alongside experienced and successful sailors makes us incredibly proud. We hope that people won’t have to talk about disabilities, but will instead see the person for their abilities, passion, and potential. That’s exactly what Sophia experiences when she’s sailing.”
Between these two lies the full spectrum of this sport—and both sail on equal footing with everyone else, in the same boats and according to the same rules.
Sports on an equal footing, without a special program
Sailing takes place on eight accessible RS Venture Connect boats provided by the organizer. Every crew is inclusive: people with and without disabilities sail in the same boats, following the same rules, in direct competition. No separate classes, no special program.
The fact that the boats are provided is not a minor detail, but part of the concept: owning a boat, a trailer, and handling boat logistics are no longer obstacles. Anyone who wants to sail can sail.
New in 2026: Wheelchair-using guests take to the regatta course
From August 18 to 23, the organizers will take up to 40 wheelchair-using SailGP guests directly onto the water in their wheelchairs—aboard the accessible sailboat “Henk de Mol.” Two to four tours are planned each day. Guests do not have to leave their wheelchairs; the boat was built specifically for this purpose. For the first time, a SailGP event will be accessible to wheelchair-bound guests directly from the water.
The program is sponsored by the associations Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V. and Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. The Deutsche Postcode Lottery is contributing to the project’s funding—supported by its participants.
Guest of Honor Steffi Nerius – Opening on August 18
Steffi Nerius will be coming to Sassnitz as the guest of honor. The 2009 javelin world champion, born in 1972 on Rügen, is now vice chair of the Herman van Veen Foundation, which financed the wheelchair-accessible conversion of the “Henk de Mol.” In Sassnitz, she will be sailing on the boat herself. Nerius is supporting the regatta escort trips for wheelchair users, will deliver a welcome address at the opening ceremony on August 18, and will take part in the awards ceremony.
What still needs to be built in Sassnitz
Accessible infrastructure is virtually nonexistent in Sassnitz’s city harbor. The clubs are providing it themselves: a mobile, accessible boat dock, since there isn’t one; ramps and an event grounds adapted for accessibility; the rented Alte Kühlhaus Sassnitz as a fully accessible event headquarters; and a specially equipped accessible campground with appropriate showers and restrooms. In addition, there are six safety boats and over 50 volunteers traveling from Hamburg, Berlin, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Who Makes This Possible
An accessible regatta of this size cannot be funded by entry fees alone. SailGP Inclusive 2026 is made possible through a combination of public funding, private foundations, and corporate partners.
The Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank is a partner and supporting member of Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Vorpommern Fund support the event as public sponsors. The Heinz Kettler Foundation is the title partner of the Heinz Kettler Germany Cup and has supported the regatta series since its founding in 2023. The Viessmann Foundation is funding the SailGP Inclusive 2026 event as part of its charitable commitment. The Deutsche Postcode Lottery is helping to fund the project “Regatta Companion Trips for Wheelchair Users”—supported by its participants. The local hosts are the City of Sassnitz and the Sassnitz City Harbor.
“True inclusion begins at the same starting line. In Sassnitz, people with and without disabilities are not guests at a top-level sporting event, but active athletes competing in the race.
With our funding, we are supporting a sporting highlight that raises awareness of the work done by Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. and gives participants the opportunity to demonstrate in direct competition what they have achieved through regular training: athletic skill, teamwork, and self-confidence,” says Markus Pfuhl, Managing Director of the Viessmann Foundation.
Five Clubs, One Alliance
What began in 2025 as a partnership between two organizations has grown into an alliance of five clubs by 2026—from the Alster to the Wannsee to the Sauerland. The Möhnesee Yacht Club was already on board in 2025. Newly added as co-organizing clubs are the Berliner Yacht-Club and the Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee; Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V.
Patronage and Awards Ceremony
Stefanie Drese, Minister of Social Affairs, Health, and Sports for the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, will serve as patron. She will attend the awards ceremony on August 20 at 7:00 p.m., which will once again take place at the Germany SailGP Team’s Team Base.
“At the highest level, in the midst of one of the world’s largest water sports events, we are demonstrating what inclusion in sports can look like in practice. People with and without disabilities compete together under the same conditions. Nothing shows more clearly that inclusion and top athletic performance are not opposites—it all comes down to team spirit, strategy, and skill. By integrating the inclusive regatta into the prestigious SailGP, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern made history last year with Sassnitz as the host city, and the fact that this commitment from all partners involved has now become a permanent fixture makes me, as Minister of Sports and Social Affairs, extremely proud. Of course, I am especially delighted for our athletes, who will be able to showcase their skills on one of the most prestigious stages in the world of sailing,” says Stefanie Drese.
“As the first SailGP event worldwide to integrate an inclusive regatta into its race weekend, we set new standards in Sassnitz. In 2026, we will fulfill our promise that this will not be a one-time event. Sports are for everyone. When everyone gives their best, we move forward together. Sailing, in particular, impressively demonstrates what is possible when diverse people work together as a team,” says Tim Krieglstein, CEO of the Germany SailGP Team.
Press Services
Accreditation through Sven Jürgensen, sven.juergensen@wir-sind-wir.org, +49 171 683 5555.
On-the-Water Rides: We offer press rides—journalists can experience and photograph the regatta directly from the course. Register through the press contact.
On-site Interviews: Sailors with various disabilities, coaches, and representatives of the hosting clubs are available for interviews. Arranged through the press contact.
Visual Highlights:
- Boarding and disembarking directly from a wheelchair via the mobile dock, daily before the start and after crossing the finish line
- Regatta action on the water in front of Sassnitz City Harbor, daily from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Regatta escort cruises on the “Henk de Mol” with wheelchair-bound guests
- Awards ceremony on August 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Germany SailGP Team’s Team Base, with Minister Stefanie Drese
Visual material from the 2025 premiere: flickr.com/photos/svenjjj/albums/72177720327729951
Award ceremony for the 2025 inclusive sailing regatta at the Germany SailGP Team’s Team Base—with Minister Stefanie Drese, Sebastian Vettel, the Germany SailGP Team, and the winners. Photo: SailGP/Felix Diemer
Key Dates
Inclusive Regatta: August 18–20, 2026, daily from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Regatta Sightseeing Cruises: August 18–23, 2026
Opening Ceremony: August 18, 2026, approximately 6:30 p.m., Altes Kühlhaus Sassnitz
Awards ceremony: August 20, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Germany SailGP Team’s Team Base
Location: Sassnitz City Harbor, Rügen – held in conjunction with the ROCKWOOL Germany Sail Grand Prix
Format: Round 2 of the Heinz Kettler Germany Cup
Boat class: RS Venture Connect (accessible, provided by the organizer)
Field of participants: 16 crews from 4 countries (Belgium, Germany, Norway, Czech Republic), 32 sailors
Patron: Stefanie Drese, Minister of Social Affairs, Health, and Sports of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Motto: #AllAboard – Sailing on equal footing; disabilities stay ashore
Partners & Sponsors
Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank (partner and supporting member) · State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania · Vorpommern Fund · Heinz Kettler Foundation (title sponsor of the Heinz Kettler Germany Cup) · Viessmann Foundation · Deutsche Postcode Lottery (contributing to the funding of regatta escort trips for wheelchair users) · City of Sassnitz and Sassnitz City Harbor (Hosts)
About the Organizing Clubs
SailGP Inclusive 2026 is being jointly organized by five clubs: Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V., Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V., Berliner Yacht-Club, Yachtclub Möhnesee, and Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee. The five clubs also cooperate closely in the field of inclusive sailing beyond Sassnitz and offer inclusive sailing projects as part of their club activities.
About the Germany SailGP Team
The Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank is part of the international SailGP Championship, the world’s most spectacular sailing league. With the #AlleAnBord initiative, the team is setting new standards for diversity and inclusion in sailing. Sebastian Vettel, Formula 1 legend and co-owner of the team, is personally committed to promoting inclusive sailing.
Press Contact
We are Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.
Sven Jürgensen (President)
Email: sven.juergensen@wir-sind-wir.org · Mobile: +49 171 683 5555
Web: www.wir-sind-wir.org
Inquiries for wheelchair users regarding regatta support trips (not suitable for electric wheelchairs; personal coordination required): news@wir-sind-wir.org
Social Media: #WeAllSail #AllAboard #SailGP #InclusionInSailing
