Inclusive Alster 2026

Germany’s most inclusive water sports area

Joint patronage by the Hamburg-Nord and Hamburg-Mitte districts

Since 17 September 2026, the ‘Inclusive Alster’ has been under dual patronage: Dr Bettina Schomburg, Head of the Hamburg-Nord District Office, and Ralf Neubauer, Head of the Hamburg-Mitte District Office, jointly assumed this role at the launch event at the Hamburg Sailing Club. To mark the start, pupils from the Bugenhagen School in Alsterdorf – both with and without disabilities – took to the water together. Through this dual patronage, both districts emphasise that the Alster, as a shared water sports area, is a place where inclusion is put into practice – and that this project, which is unique in Germany, enjoys strong support within the city.

1. Our vision

‘On the water, we are all equal – disability stays on land.’

‘Inclusive Alster’ brings together seven dedicated partners from Hamburg’s water sports community to form a network for inclusive water sports that is unique in Germany. Together, we are creating an initiative that enables people with and without disabilities to sail, paddle and row together on the Alster – thereby proving that inclusion is not a utopian ideal, but a reality in practice.
Sailing, paddling and rowing are considered particularly inclusive sports. On board and in the boat, everyone is an equal partner – regardless of physical or mental abilities. Doctors, teachers and carers regularly confirm the therapeutic and positive effects of inclusive water sports activities.

2. Achievements in 2025 – A Year of Growth

2.1 Annemarie Dose Prize 2025

In December 2025, the association ‘Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.’, in partnership with the Hamburg Sailing Club, was awarded the Annemarie Dose Prize 2025 – the highest prize money since the award’s inception: 6,666 euros. The prize recognises the exemplary inclusive sailing course project run with the Bugenhagen School in Alsterdorf.

The success story began in 2021 with Noa Ronig, a girl with Trisomy 21, who discovered her passion for sailing at the first Inclusive Sailing World Championships. Her enthusiastic accounts in class sparked a movement: what began as taster sailing days developed into a sustainable, weekly sailing programme.

The entire prize money will be used to expand the inclusive sailing courses for children and young people in 2026.

2.2 Scope and Impact in 2025

In 2025 alone, over 150 children and young people with various disabilities benefited from the regular inclusive sailing courses:

Weekly school sailing course at Bugenhagen School, Alsterdorf (HSC, Level 3) – approx. 50 children
Sailing courses for visually impaired children and young people (HSC, fortnightly)
Uhlenhorst Campus (NRV) – 8 young people per week
Werner-Otto-Institut (HSC) – 8 children/young people fortnightly
Holiday sailing course at the Werner-Otto-Institut (HSC)
Holiday course at Elfenwiese School (HSC) – 14 children/young people
Inclusive sailing training for young children (SVAOe)
Individual sailing courses for children and young people with disabilities on the RS Venture Connect (HSC; Titus, Tristan, Sophia, Leander, etc.)

In addition, numerous adults with disabilities are involved in the inclusive sailing activities on the Alster:

Sailing get-together (HSC) – weekly open meet-up for all age groups
Inclusive sailing course for women
Inclusive Alster regattas – HSC Wednesday Regatta, Helga Cup, J/70 regattas and Heinz Kettler Germany Cup (1st match day 14–15 May, HSC) with inclusive teams
BAT Sailing Team (NRV & WsW) – inclusive regatta team with adults competing in the Sailing Bundesliga, a joint project of the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.

3. Inclusive Alster 2026 – Our plans

2026 will be a year of expansion and consolidation. All successful programmes from 2025 will be continued and further expanded to include significant new projects.

3.1 Continuation of tried-and-tested programmes

All inclusive courses, workshops and activities from 2025 will continue in 2026:

Weekly school sailing course at Bugenhagen School, Alsterdorf (HSC, Level 3)
Individual sailing courses for visually impaired children (HSC; Titus, Sophia, Tristan, Leander, etc.)
Uhlenhorst Campus (NRV) – 8 young people per week
Sailing course at the Werner-Otto-Institut (HSC, fortnightly)
Holiday sailing course at the Werner-Otto-Institut (HSC) ‘Parents and children sail together’
Inclusive training for young children (SVAOe / HSC)
Sailing get-together (HSC, every Friday)
Elfenwiese School (HSC) – 10 children

FunFari (Ruder-Club Favorite Hammonia)

Five years ago now, a wonderful group joined us. It’s called FunFari and consists of rowers with intellectual disabilities. And to be honest, the specific nature of their disabilities is of no concern to us whatsoever. We’re very keen to ensure all participants have a great time. Rowing is very complex: the boat, the oars, the movement, the crew, the water, the wind – it’s all part of it. But the whole package is great fun and a fantastic experience. This year, we’re even competing with a four at the Special Olympics National Games in Saarland. And the whole club is proud of us. We meet every Saturday at 2.00 pm for training.

3.2 New inclusive projects for 2026

‘Inclusive Alster’ will expand in 2026 with six significant new projects:

‘Heinz Kettler Inclusive Youth Sailing Team Germany’

The most groundbreaking initiative in 2026: this unique pilot project trains young people with disabilities to become well-trained sailors capable of leading inclusive crews. The target group consists of talented young people such as Titus, Sophia, Tristan and Leander. In addition to the regular weekly or fortnightly training sessions, there will be five training weekends, each lasting two days, on the Alster and in Kiel. The project is being run jointly by the HSC and WsW. Alongside experienced coaches, professional sailors such as Anna Barth and Susann Beucke are actively involved as assistant coaches. Anna Barth from the Germany SailGP Team is the project’s patron.

Bugenhagen School – Level 2

Expansion of the successful school sailing course to Level 2: a weekly sailing course at the HSC using J/22 and RS Venture Connect boats. This enables us to provide access to inclusive sailing for a further 50 children and young people as part of the Bugenhagen School Alsterdorf’s school sailing project.

One-to-one sailing courses for children and young people with severe disabilities (HSC)

In autumn 2025, we were approached by several interested families whose children require intensive one-to-one support due to severe disabilities. Thanks to new sponsors, in 2026 we will be able to offer further additional one-to-one sailing courses at the HSC on the accessible RS Venture Connect – an important step towards enabling these young people to enjoy the unique experience of sailing too.

Inclusive canoeing programme in two-person surf skis and outriggers (HKC)

In 2026, the Hamburg Canoe Club will, for the first time, offer an inclusive canoeing programme in two-person surfskis and outriggers. These specialised types of canoe combine the advantages of racing and sea kayaks/canoes and, thanks to their unique seating and boat geometry, enable athletes with and without disabilities to paddle together. This means that experienced paddlers can train alongside beginners or para-athletes in the same boat, learn from one another and be safely introduced to more challenging conditions – an important step towards expanding the ‘Inclusive Alster’ initiative to include canoeing. To this end, as an extension of the para-training programme in elite sport, regular training sessions in touring and racing will be made inclusive, and additional taster sessions will be offered for people with disabilities

Inclusive rowing for blind and visually impaired children and young people (RVT)

From April 2026, the rowing club at Teichwiesen will launch an inclusive rowing programme for blind and visually impaired children and young people – thereby expanding the ‘Inclusive Alster’ programme to include rowing for the first time. Training will take place once a week at the club, with the aim of integrating participants into the existing children’s group and introducing them to regatta rowing. As early as 19 April 2026, a children’s inclusive race will be held as part of the club’s own regatta at the boathouse – the first test for the new programme and, at the same time, an invitation to all partners of the Inclusive Alster to get to know the new inclusive rowing group.

Inclusive sailing on the European Day of Action for the Equality of People with Disabilities – 5 May (HSC)

On 5 May 2026, the European Day of Action for the Equality of People with Disabilities, an action day for inclusive sailing will take place on the Outer Alster. In the morning, children and young people will sail alongside guests from the world of parasport. In the afternoon, para-athletes and inclusive athletes will be given an insight into inclusive sailing. The event will conclude with an after-work sailing session featuring inclusive sailors and guests from the worlds of business, politics and sport. The event raises the profile of para-sport and inclusive sport and promotes the Paralympic Games in Hamburg.

3.3 Inclusive Regattas 2026

The ‘Inclusive Alster’ will also offer genuine competitive opportunities in 2026:

Participation in the NRV and HSC Alster regattas in March/April and November
Inclusive rowing regatta (19 April) – inclusive children’s race at the rowing club at the Teichwiesen
Round 1 of the Heinz Kettler Germany Cup (14–15 May)

– Hamburg Sailing Club, Alster
Helga Cup (June) – The world’s largest women’s regatta, inclusive and a TOP 10 event of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg; a joint project of the North German Regatta Club and Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.
HSC Wednesday Regatta – Open weekly to inclusive teams

4. BAT Sailing Team – Inclusion in action on the regatta course

The BAT Sailing Team is a flagship project of the ‘Inclusive Alster’ – an inclusive regatta team comprising 16 members: deaf, visually impaired, blind, sighted and wheelchair users all sail together at the highest level.

Highlights of the BAT Sailing Team:

Participation in the Sailing Bundesliga for the past 2 years
Participation in various national regattas (RS Venture Connect, J/70 and SV 14)
Partner of the City of Kiel – Kieler Woche Inclusive
BAT workshops: The team actively trains blind and visually impaired people

A joint project of the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing

5. Inclusive Alster Network

In addition to regular training sessions, ‘Inclusive Alster’ organises joint events that bring everyone together:

Inclusive Sailing Summer Party (HSC, 2 July 2026) – Joint celebration for all partners
End-of-season party at Campus Uhlenhorst – To mark the end of the season for everyone involved in the inclusive children’s and youth projects

Back in 2025, we organised a highly successful inclusive Alster summer sailing festival as well as an inclusive end-of-season party for and with our inclusive sailing courses for children and young people. These events provided valuable opportunities for networking, for the exchange of experiences between sponsors, coaches, supervisors and families – and, of course, for celebrating together. We would like to continue and further expand this well-established tradition in 2026.

Objectives: Networking – Exchange of experiences – Attracting new sponsors – Celebrating

6. Scientific basis, therapeutic effect and social added value

International scientific recognition

The three-year scientific study of our BAT Sailing Team was published in November 2024 in the renowned international journal ‘Frontiers in Sports and Active Living’. The study, ‘Sailing together: challenges for an inclusive team of visually impaired and sighted athletes at Kiel Week’, documents the team’s development from 2021 to 2023. A research team from Humboldt University of Berlin, Leuphana University of Lüneburg and the University of Hamburg, led by Dr Steffen Greve, provided scientific support to the team during three Kiel Weeks. This publication in a peer-reviewed open-access journal means that our work has withstood a rigorous scientific peer-review process and is now visible worldwide.

Building on these valuable findings, we are planning to expand the scientific support in 2026. We are particularly pleased that our inclusive sailing projects for children and young people on the Alster are also set to receive scientific support.

Therapeutic effects

The therapeutic successes of inclusive sailing are impressive. Teachers and medical professionals regularly confirm the positive changes in the participating children and young people.

“Inclusive sailing has a profound effect on my pupils; it’s like the best form of therapy.”

– A teacher at the Bugenhagen School in Alsterdorf

Documented effects:

Boosting self-confidence and self-efficacy
Fostering social skills and teamwork
Improving motor skills
Positive effects on concentration and attention
Reducing reservations about interaction between people with and without disabilities
Scientific confirmation from the University of Hamburg: sailing is one of the most inclusive sports

7. Summary: Why ‘Inklusive Alster’ is worth supporting

‘Inclusive Alster’ is more than just a sports project – it is a beacon of inclusion in action and a role model far beyond the borders of Hamburg.

The project at a glance

Annemarie Dose Prize 2025 for the ‘Bugenhagenschule Alsterdorf’ project
Seven strong and highly committed partners: Fari, HKC, HSC, HSgV, RVT, SVAOe, WsW
Over 150 participating children and young people in 2025
The unique ‘Heinz Kettler Inclusive Youth Sailing Team Germany’
BAT Sailing Team in the Sailing Bundesliga
Nationwide model project for inclusion in water sports within schools
Inclusive regatta formats all year round – truly inclusive sport
Inclusive canoeing
Joint patronage by the district authorities of Hamburg-Nord and Hamburg-Mitte (since 17 September 2026)

The partners of Inclusive AlsterSieben starke Partner bilden das Rückgrat dieses einzigartigen Netzwerks:

Hamburg Canoe Club e.V. (HKC)

The Hamburg Canoe Club has been promoting canoeing in Hamburg for over 100 years and today brings together a range of disciplines – from racing and sea kayaking to canoe polo and stand-up paddleboarding. There is a particular focus on para-canoeing, featuring two outstanding athletes: Edina Müller – a five-time Paralympic medallist (2x gold, 2x silver, 1x bronze), world and European champion in para-canoeing, and flag-bearer at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris – and Lillemor Köper – two-time world champion (2021, 2022) and two-time European champion (2021, 2022) in para-canoe Va’a. From 2026, the HKC will be expanding its inclusive programme to include additional courses, as well as the purchase of a two-person surf ski and outrigger canoe, which, thanks to their special seating and boat geometry, are particularly well-suited to inclusive paddling – athletes of different performance and ability levels can paddle together and learn from one another.

Hamburg Sailing Club (HSC)

Founded in 1892, the HSC, with around 800 members, offers numerous regular inclusive courses. With reasonable membership fees, the club makes sailing accessible to everyone. The HSC has already hosted the final of the Heinz Kettler Germany Cup – an inclusive regatta series – twice, in 2023 and 2025, the latter as part of the Hamburg Active City Event. In 2024, the prestigious ‘Meister der Meister’ regatta was held on inclusive boats for the first time. Together with Wir sind Wir, the HSC is establishing the unique ‘Heinz Kettler Inclusive Youth Sailing Team Germany’, through which, from 2026, young people with disabilities will become well-trained sailors.

Hamburg Sailing Association (HSgV)

The Hamburg Sailing Association (HSgV) is the umbrella organisation for Hamburg’s sailing clubs and, as a regional association, actively promotes inclusion on the Alster and beyond. Through its support and networking with member clubs, the HSgV helps to strengthen and further develop the inclusive sailing movement in Hamburg in the long term.

Favorite Hammonia Rowing Club (Fari)

Favorite Hammonia Rowing Club – known as ‘Fari’ to friends and supporters.

Fari was founded in 1854. This makes us one of the oldest rowing clubs in Germany. We are also one of the largest rowing clubs in Germany. We are very proud of our club and its tradition – it brings us together, but it also entails a sense of responsibility!

At Fari, both competitive sport – and therefore primarily the development of young talent – and recreational sport are highly valued. It is rare to find so many regularly active members in a rowing club. Our competitive athletes often reach the very top at national and international level. Our recreational rowers – for whom physical fitness, health and enjoyment are the main priorities – range in age from 12 to 90 – and sometimes even older. At many events, young and old row together in the same boat. This fosters understanding across generations. We truly live by the motto ‘We are Fari’.

Ruderverein an den Teichwiesen e.V. (RVT)

The Ruderverein an den Teichwiesen e.V. is a Hamburg rowing club based on the Alster in the north of Hamburg. It offers rowing for children, young people and adults, ranging from beginners’ courses and youth training programmes to ambitious training and participation in regattas. The very large youth group, which is active in rowing trips as well as in national and international regattas, forms the backbone of the club. In addition, there are regular club activities designed to strengthen the sense of community and promote social inclusion. The boathouse, the gym and an extensive fleet of boats right on the water’s edge provide excellent conditions for sustainable sport and exercise programmes in the neighbourhood. An inclusive programme for blind and visually impaired young people will round off the club’s wide range of activities in the future.

Altona-Oevelgönne Sailing Club (SVAOe)

Founded in 1905, the SVAOe is one of Hamburg’s largest and most historic sailing clubs. With its clubhouse in Hamburg-Neumühlen and moorings on the Elbe and the Baltic Sea, as well as its own branch on the Outer Alster since 1975, the club offers a wide range of opportunities for sailing, canoeing and rowing. The SVAOe has been practising inclusive sailing for decades and has enshrined this in its constitution since 2023. Through its inclusive approach, children with disabilities are fully integrated into regular Optimist training.

We are Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. (WsW)

WsW, a non-profit association, works nationwide to promote inclusive sailing and is a specialist and driving force in this field. As co-organiser of the Helga Cup and founder of the inclusive regatta series, the Heinz Kettler Deutschland Cup, WsW sets national standards. In partnership with the state capital, Kiel, WsW organises the inclusive sailing programme at Kiel Week every year. In 2025, WsW organised its first inclusive regatta as part of the SailGP in Sassnitz – a world first. There will be another inclusive regatta at the SailGP in Sassnitz in 2026.

#weall sail #all aboard

17.09.2026