Silke Basedow and her crew from the Hamburg Sailing Club win the 9th Helga Cup
PRESS RELEASE
We Are Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.
The world’s largest women’s sailing regatta, featuring around 360 female sailors from eight nations—Team Sophia wins in the inclusive RS Venture Connect class—Debut for the new Change Makers Race
Hamburg, June 14, 2026 – The 9th Helga Cup came to a close on Sunday with the final races on Hamburg’s Outer Alster. For four days, the Hanseatic city was all about women’s sailing: Around 360 participants from eight nations took to the water to compete, share experiences, and be part of an extraordinary community. The event was organized by Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. – in partnership with the City of Hamburg. The Helga Cup took place for the ninth time; the host was the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV).
At the end of the event, the Alster showed its most challenging side: With gusts exceeding 30 knots, the decisive races were held under extremely demanding conditions. The crews delivered outstanding sailing and sent a powerful message—women sail at the highest level even in the harshest winds. The final races served as a fitting climax to an intense regatta weekend.
The winners of the 2026 Helga Cup
J/70
🥇 Silke Basedow and team (Hamburger Segel-Club)
🥈 VSaW Ladies (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee)
🥉 Kieler Yacht Club
RS Venture Connect (inclusive class)
🥇 Team Sophia (Wir sind Wir)
🥈 Windbräute (Segler-Verein Wakenitz)
🥉 Skyline Sisters (Offenbacher Ruderverein 1874 / HSSC Frankfurt)
A new format made its debut this year: the Change Makers Race, which is set to become a permanent fixture of the Helga Cup in the future. The event was sponsored by Aydan Özoğuz, a member of the German Bundestag from Hamburg representing the SPD and chair of the Committee on Sports and Volunteer Work in the German Bundestag: “The Helga Cup demonstrates the power of sports, especially when women take to the water with such enthusiasm, team spirit, and energy. The Change Makers Race embodies precisely this idea: change begins where people courageously lead the way. I am very pleased to serve as patron for this new event”, said Özoğuz.
The Change Makers Race was launched as an initiative by Claudia Langenhan, Juliane Timmermann, and Katharina von Kodolitsch. On the water, influential voices from politics, sports, the media, and society came together: In addition to patron Aydan Özoğuz and the initiators, participants included Mareike Miller (member of the DOSB Executive Board and Paralympic champion in wheelchair basketball), Regina Jäck (Hamburg City Parliament, spokesperson for people with disabilities), Juliane Möcklinghoff (journalist, ARD/NDR), Svenja Weber (executive director of Dialoghaus Hamburg), Jessica Staschen (Zeit Foundation), and Nuray Paulsen (office manager for Aydan Özoğuz), as well as Frauke Rawert (Reinhard Frank Foundation).
A total of five boats, each with two “Change-Makers” participants, took part, accompanied by experienced skippers—one of the boats was helmed by Olympic sailor Susann “Sanni” Beucke. The “Helga” team, consisting of Jessica Staschen (Zeit Foundation) and Katharina von Kodolitsch (President of the Hamburg Sports Federation) and helmed by skipper Jana Scherbarth, took the victory.
Silke Basedow, who won the J/70 class with her crew (Hamburg Sailing Club), also offered an evocative summary: “This Helga Cup was very special for us: After a two-year hiatus, we were back on the starting line. What looks easy from the outside is actually hard work—the result of many years of training. And yet, in the end, we had a bit of luck and were able to bring home the victory. The VSaW team would have deserved it just as much. The atmosphere on land and on the water was, as always, the special highlight. We reconnected with many old acquaintances and friends and met new people. The willingness to help, the interest, and the mutual respect are truly unique. We’re already looking forward to next year’s anniversary celebration.”
The winning team Sophia from the inclusive RS Venture Connect class also shared some heartfelt reflections: “Winning the inclusive division means an incredible amount to us—especially given the tough conditions on the final day. But at the Helga Cup, there’s far more at stake than just the result: Here, women with and without disabilities sail as equals, and it’s precisely this sense of togetherness that makes the regatta so special. We’re taking home plenty of energy and memories,” said Sophia Hein and Talissa Hackbarth of Team Sophia.
Our heartfelt thanks go to all participants, partners, sponsors, and supporters, as well as the numerous volunteers on land and on the water. Special thanks go to the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV), our long-standing host, for the trusting collaboration and our shared commitment to diversity in sailing.
Looking Ahead: Ten Years of the Helga Cup
In 2027, the Helga Cup will celebrate its tenth anniversary. Hamburg Active City has already designated the 2027 event as a Top Ten event: The 2027 Helga Cup will take place from June 10 to 13—once again on the Outer Alster, of course. Sven Jürgensen launched the Helga Cup in 2017; the first regatta took place in 2018 with 248 female sailors.
Detailed Results
J/70: View results (SAP Sailing)
RS Venture Connect: View results (SAP Sailing)
Press Photos
Royalty-free press photos available for download: View the photo gallery (Flickr). Please include the following credit when publishing: © Helga Cup / Lars Wehrmann, Sven Jürgensen.
About Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.
Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. was founded in 2022 and is active nationwide: The nonprofit association promotes and organizes inclusive sailing throughout Germany, with a focus on working with people with disabilities. In addition to the Helga Cup, the world’s largest women’s sailing regatta, the association hosts nationwide inclusive sailing regattas—including the Heinz Kettler Deutschland Cup and SailGP Inclusive in Sassnitz—and offers numerous inclusive sailing courses, including in cooperation with schools. In this way, Wir sind Wir advocates for greater visibility, participation, and diversity in the sport of sailing. In 2025, the association was awarded the Annemarie Dose Prize.
About the North German Regatta Association (NRV)
With approximately 2,200 members, the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein is one of the largest and, at the same time, one of the oldest sailing clubs in Germany. Founded in 1868, the NRV has stood for regatta racing, youth development, and competitive sailing for more than 150 years. The Helga Cup was held at the NRV for the ninth time and has long been an integral part of club life.
Press Contact
Sven Jürgensen
Chairman, Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.
Email: sven.juergensen@wir-sind-wir.org
Phone: 0171 683 5555
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