Newsletter September 2026
Sailing brings people together. Participation grows.
From the very first day of sailing to the World Championships: shared experiences, sporting successes and new opportunities for participation.
Dear members, partners, supporters and friends of inclusive sailing,
inclusive sailing means: people with and without disabilities sailing together – on the same boats, in the same courses, as part of the same crew. From taster days to competitive regatta racing.
This is only possible when we work together: with partner clubs, foundations, companies, sponsors and numerous volunteers. And through raising awareness – because only those who learn about inclusive sailing can join in, help out or support the cause.
Here we explain what your support achieved in 2026 – and what is needed in 2027.
INCLUSIVE SAILING PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
A taster sailing day turns into a regular course
Caption: Together on the water: experiencing inclusive sailing.
It all began with taster sailing days at the Bugenhagen School in Alsterdorf – and with a question from the young people: “Why can’t we do this much more often?” Since 2025, there has been a weekly school sailing course there, firmly established in the timetable.
Since 2026, two year groups have been sailing there: whole classes, children and young people with and without disabilities, together on the same boats. Now, over 160 children and young people with a wide variety of disabilities regularly take to the water with us: with the Bugenhagen School in Alsterdorf, the Werner-Otto Institute, Campus Uhlenhorst and the Elfenwiese School; in courses for blind and visually impaired children and young people; in the ‘Jüngste’ programme for the very youngest; and in one-to-one and one-to-two coaching – now involving eight children and young people.
“Every time the wind and water rush past my ears, I feel a little sense of adventure inside me,” says Sophia, aged ten and visually impaired.
Donate now: Inclusive sailing for children and young people
“Why can’t we do this much more often?” – Background information on the courses
Since October 2025, young sailors with disabilities have been receiving targeted training for competitive regatta sailing as part of the Heinz Kettler Inclusive Youth Sailing Team Germany – a joint initiative supported by the Hamburg Sailing Club, the Heinz Kettler Foundation and Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. The patron is Anna Barth, strategist for the Germany SailGP Team.
About the Heinz Kettler Inclusive Youth Sailing Team
TOGETHER ON THE WATER
Inclusive sailing is for everyone
Sailing for everyone – that means: for people with and without disabilities, for children, young people and adults, for families, for beginners as well as for ambitious regatta sailors. We also make sailing accessible to people with severe disabilities: on the accessible RS Venture Connect, even those who cannot sit upright unaided can take the helm. Give it a go! Our network connects many partner clubs. Discover what they have to offer and get in touch with the clubs in your region – or write to us; we’ll help you make the connection.
I’d like to try inclusive sailing
FUNDING 2027
So that we can carry on – ideally for several years
We’re looking for partners and sponsors to help us run inclusive sailing programmes and ensure their sustainability in the long term: courses, school sailing courses and programmes for people with severe disabilities. Of all our courses and programmes, only two are currently funded for up to three years. For all the others, funding ends at the end of the course year – every autumn we have to raise funds anew for the coming season: for trainers’ fees (the biggest expense after boat maintenance), for places in one-to-one and one-to-two training sessions, for full school sailing courses spanning an entire season, and for further accessible boats.
We would like to extend our special thanks to the Kroschke Children’s Foundation: it has been supporting our courses for years and has already secured funding for the sailing courses at Campus Uhlenhorst and Elfenwiese School for the next two years, 2027 and 2028. It is precisely these kinds of multi-year partnerships that help us the most: they give schools, families and trainers planning certainty.
We are also seeking partners, supporters and sponsors for our inclusive regatta projects: for the Heinz Kettler Cup, our inclusive regatta series with rotating partner clubs; for the Helga Cup, the world’s largest women’s sailing regatta; and for the inclusive sailing activities running alongside SailGP in Sassnitz in 2027. The Reinhard Frank Foundation has been supporting our BAT Sailing Team in the 2nd Sailing Bundesliga for years – this is the sort of partnership we’d like to see for each of our projects.
Would you like to discuss funding with us?
VOLUNTEERING ON BOARD
Pass on your sailing experience
Do you have sailing experience and some spare time? Support our coaches on a voluntary basis – in school sailing courses or in one-to-one and one-to-two training sessions. We’ll help you get started in inclusive sailing.
Interested in helping out? Get in touch!
SAIL GP 2026, TEAM GERMANY, SASSNITZ GRAND PRIX, BEHIND THE SCENES, SAILING, RACE WEEK
GEMEINSAM IN SASSNITZ
Regatta support trips for wheelchair users
Caption: Regatta support trips for wheelchair users on the ‘Henk de Mol’ – a joint project with Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V.
Regatta escort trips for wheelchair users have been a feature of Kiel Week for years – a joint project between Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. and Inklusives Segeln für Alle e.V. This year, they came to Sassnitz for the first time: on the “Henk de Mol”, guests remained on board in their own wheelchairs. The construction of the boat was supported by the Herman van Veen Foundation; its deputy chair, javelin world champion Steffi Nerius, sailed along.
Laura and Steffi decide for themselves
Caption: Laura and Steffi enjoying the GC32 experience.
Laura and Steffi – one a wheelchair user, the other with a physical disability – decided for themselves, after a seat trial and a chat, to sail on the GC32: a foiling catamaran that flies over the water at speeds of up to 25 knots. Alfred, who sails with us at RS Venture Connect, was also there. Thanks to Paul Kohlhoff and Moritz Burmester from the Germany SailGP Team, who sailed with them as the GC32 crew.
Read Laura and Steffi’s experience report
A strong network makes it possible
None of the five clubs could have managed these days on their own: 15 crews from four nations, 32 races, the regatta support trips for wheelchair users, and the prize-giving ceremony hosted by the Germany SailGP Team. This is exactly what we mean by cooperation – and this network is here to stay: at the Heinz Kettler Cup, at Kiel Week, and wherever a club wants to make sailing inclusive.
The inclusive regatta in Sassnitz and the regatta support trips for wheelchair users were supported by the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Vorpommern Fund, the Heinz Kettler Foundation, the Viessmann Foundation, the Deutsche Postcode Lottery and its participants, the town of Sassnitz, Sassnitz Town Harbour, Salzbrenner Würstchen, ELLETEC and the Hamburg Meat Wholesale Market.
More about the inclusive SailGP Sassnitz 2026
WHAT DRIVES US
Why we raise the profile of inclusive sailing
Sailing rarely attracts much media attention – inclusive sailing and parasailing even less so. That is why we report on it so regularly: to show the foundations, sponsors and partners what their support achieves; to give the sailors visibility, respect and recognition; and to demonstrate what participation means. What is taken for granted in an inclusive crew – making decisions together, sharing responsibility, winning and losing together – is what we also hope to see on land. Through inclusive sailing, we aim to set an example for greater participation in society.
And visibility works: according to reports, parents, relatives and people with disabilities are getting in touch with us – often saying they never thought this was possible. This leads to new enquiries, new courses and new crews.
So here’s our request: forward this newsletter, share our posts on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram – and spread the word in your clubs.
2. NATIONAL SAILING LEAGUE
BAT Sailing Team – inclusion in action on the regatta course
Caption: BAT Sailing Team – together on the regatta course.
Four race wins on the third match day of the 2nd Sailing Bundesliga in Kiel and 10th place in the season standings: the BAT Sailing Team will be competing in the next match day on Lake Wannsee from 18 to 20 September.
The team is a joint project between the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. Sanni Beucke is the team’s patron; the Reinhard Frank Foundation has been supporting the team for years.
More from the BAT Sailing Team
19 AND 20 SEPTEMBER
Heinz Kettler Cup 2026: Final in Belgium
The outcome will be decided on 19 and 20 September at the Royal Yacht Club Warche in Bütgenbach. We are looking forward to the final with our Belgian hosts.
Following the first round at the Hamburger Segel-Club and the second round in Sassnitz, the SALTO SAILING Team Norway leads the overall standings with 3 points. In second and third place are the team ‘Die zwei’ (7 points) and the BLAG Sailing Team (9 points).
OUTLOOK FOR OCTOBER
Steffi and Dirk to compete at the World Championships
Steffi Brix and Dirk Thalheim will be competing for ‘Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.’ and the Hamburg Sailing Club at the RS Venture Connect World Championships, part of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships, from 1 to 11 October.
We’ll be following the pair on their journey to the World Championships: there are several training sessions lined up in the run-up to the event, and we’ll also be actively supporting them throughout the Championships.
Caption: 2026 European Championships: silver in the inclusive category for Hans Nee and Calle Sibbert, bronze in the para category for Steffi Brix and Dirk Thalheim.
OUR COMMUNITY IS GROWING
A warm welcome to our new members!
We welcome Laura Weise, Benedikt Weise, Christopher Wood, Clara Trommer, Fenna Weissbrod, Ilka Weissbrod, Cara Becker, Marion Cormier and Lillemor Köper as new members of our club. It’s great to have you on board! Many of you are also active in partner clubs – such as Laura and Benedikt Weise, or Steffi Brix and Dirk Thalheim, who are competing in the World Championships for Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. and the Hamburger Segel-Club. This is exactly how we understand inclusive sailing: through collaboration between clubs, not competition.
Thank you to our volunteers and to everyone who supports our work. You make participation possible – on the water, at the jetty and behind the scenes. And if you know anyone who would like to sail, help out or get involved: please feel free to forward this newsletter.
Warm regards
Your Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing team
