The World’s Largest Women’s Regatta · June 11–14, 2026 · Outer Alster, Hamburg

Helga Cup 2026: A regatta has evolved into a movement for women’s sailing

The races will be sailed on modern J/70 regatta boats and on the accessible RS Venture Connect, which is specifically designed to enable women with severe physical disabilities to participate in competitive sailing. The Helga Cup will be opened by Dr. Andreas Dressel, Senator for Finance of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. A special highlight is the HELGA CUP Empowerment Race on Sunday.

Hamburg, June 9, 2026 – From June 11 to 14, 2026, the Helga Cup returns to Hamburg’s Outer Alster for the ninth time. Over the past nine years, the world’s largest women’s regatta has become far more than just a sporting event—it has evolved into a movement that has visibly transformed women’s sailing in Germany. Under the motto “Empowering Women in Sailing,” the Helga Cup stands for equality, active inclusion, and a passion for the sport; this year, crews from numerous nations will once again take to the water.

The Helga Cup is organized on the Outer Alster by the nonprofit association Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. in collaboration with the North German Regatta Club (NRV). The regatta ranks among the top ten events in the city of Hamburg (Hamburg Active City).

A Movement for Women’s Sailing

Over the past nine years, the Helga Cup has sparked a movement that extends far beyond Hamburg: New formats and women’s regattas have emerged across the country, and more women than ever before are now competing in the German Sailing Bundesliga. In 2026 as well, numerous crews are preparing specifically for the event with partners and training sessions nationwide—including in Berlin, at Möhnesee, and in Hamburg. The goal: to pave the way for women to participate in all areas of the sport, whether inshore, offshore, the Sailing Bundesliga, or class regattas.

Visible signs of this network include close collaboration with Olympic silver medalist Susann “Sanni” Beucke and her “This Race is Female” campaign, as well as the partnership with the Germany SailGP Team, whose strategist, Anna Barth, also serves as patron of the Heinz Kettler Inclusive Youth Sailing Team. A recent international study shows that such initiatives are still needed: The “2×25” study, published by the Magenta Project in collaboration with World Sailing, demonstrates that women remain underrepresented in the sport of sailing—around 65 percent of those surveyed reported experiences of discrimination.

Inclusive Regatta Racing Across Two Boat Classes

The competition will feature two boat classes. On the modern, sporty J/70 keelboats, crews of four will compete against each other in short, thrilling races lasting ten to twelve minutes. With the accessible RS Venture Connect, the Helga Cup specifically enables women with severe physical disabilities to actively participate in regatta racing. This allows women with and without disabilities to sail together as equals—a concept that has been an integral part of the Helga Cup since 2020 and has grown steadily ever since.

The spectacular, spectator-friendly sailing right in the heart of the city is covered by a professional media and broadcasting team. On race days—Saturday and Sunday—a livestream will broadcast the action from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at www.helgacup.de.

Opening Ceremony with Prominent Guests

The official opening ceremony will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. at the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein. Dr. Andreas Dressel, Senator of the Department of Finance and Districts of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, will open the 2026 Helga Cup with a speech. This will be followed by welcoming remarks and speeches by Katharina von Kodolitsch (President of the Hamburg Sports Federation), Dr. Bettina Schomburg (Head of the Hamburg-Nord District Office), Sanni Beucke, and Pınar Coşkuner Genç (President of the European Sailing Federation, EuroSAF). Klaus Lahme (NRV) will serve as the emcee for the evening; Sebastian Ropohl (Offshore Board Member) will also be on site representing the club. Susann Kunkel, Chief of Police Precinct 34 (PK 34), will give the starting signal for the races on Friday, June 12, at 11:30 a.m. As in previous years, the patron of the Helga Cup is Kristina Vogel, two-time Olympic track cycling champion and eleven-time world champion.

Since last year, the Helga Cup has been releasing its own annually changing poster in cooperation with Pantaenius, designed by Hamburg-based artist and Pantaenius Creative Director Hinnerk Bodendieck. There will be a new design in 2026 as well; the posters have since gained some collector’s value. This year’s design will be unveiled at the opening; a few autographed copies will be presented during the opening ceremony and awards ceremony.

“The Helga Cup is more than just an event—it’s a symbol of empowerment, community, and inspiration.”

— Kristina Vogel, patron

“After nearly a decade, the Helga Cup has become an indispensable part of Active City’s sports calendar. No other regatta format has made such a splash in recent years as this event. We’re proud of that! With the Helga Cup as the world’s most important women’s regatta, Hamburg is once again sending a strong signal this year for greater visibility of women in sports.”

— Andy Grote, Senator of the Department of the Interior and Sports of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

Premiere: The HELGA CUP Empowerment Race

A new highlight is the HELGA CUP Empowerment Race 2026 on Sunday, June 14, at around 2 p.m. The idea was conceived by Katharina von Kodolitsch, Juliane Möcklinghoff, Juliane Timmermann, and Claudia Langenhan—as a new format and a catalyst for greater visibility of women’s sports. On the water, powerful voices from politics, sports, the media, and society will come together. Participants will include, among others, Aydan Özoğuz (Chair of the Committee on Sports and Volunteer Work in the German Bundestag, Member of the Bundestag, SPD), Katharina von Kodolitsch (President of the Hamburg Sports Federation), Mareike Miller (Paralympic champion in wheelchair basketball and member of the DOSB Executive Board),

Juliane Timmermann (sports policy spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group in the Hamburg City Parliament), Juliane Möcklinghoff (television journalist, host, and author), Svenja Weber (Managing Director/CEO of Dialoghaus Hamburg in the Speicherstadt since 2022), and Nuray Paulsen (office manager for Aydan Özoğuz).

The Empowerment Race is integrated directly into the Helga Cup finals: Together with the two final races, Sunday afternoon will be an exciting sporting highlight.

Mareike Miller, one of the leading voices in parasports, will be on site: Since December 2025, she has been the first active Paralympic athlete to serve on the DOSB Executive Board and as spokesperson for active athletes of the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS), and she will be in Hamburg on Saturday and Sunday.

“The fact that this event was created by a group of dedicated women demonstrates exactly the kind of strength we’re talking about: When women network and come together to make something happen, it creates real visibility—on the water and far beyond.”

— Katharina von Kodolitsch, President of the Hamburg Sports Federation

“This Race is Female”: The team is set—ten women, two crews, and Sanni Beucke as coach

Under the motto “THIS RACE IS FEMALE,” the city sports magazine Sporting Hamburg sought out female sailors from all over Germany to form their own crew for the 2026 Helga Cup—the response was greater than ever before.

This strong response resulted in two crews of ten women: Sporting Sisters and Sporting Spirit. Both teams are coached and mentored by Olympic silver medalist Sanni Beucke—she won’t be at the helm herself, but will pass on her knowledge to the sailors. Over the Pentecost weekend, the crews trained with her on the Outer Alster.

“The Helga Cup is far more than a regatta—it’s a place where women network, learn from one another, and gain visibility together. On the water, it’s all about the competition, but it’s the encounters on land that bring about real change. That’s exactly what ‘This Race is Female’ stands for: not a race between women and men, but one for greater equality—and for making it the norm to see women at the helm, on the water and far beyond.”

— Sanni Beucke, Olympic silver medalist and ambassador for Hamburg Active City

Six teams from one club: ASV Hamburg

This movement is also making a tangible impact right here in Hamburg: a wonderful example is the Akademischer Segel-Verein Hamburg e.V. (ASV Hamburg). The club, with around 500 members, will field six teams in the J/70 class at the 2026 Helga Cup—a powerful sign of how much the world’s largest women’s regatta inspires female sailors and mobilizes clubs. This makes the club a true role model.

Key facts at a glance

Date June 11–14, 2026

Venue Außenalster, Hamburg

Organizers Jointly organized by Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. and the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV)

Boat classes J/70 and RS Venture Connect (accessible)

Participants Over 70 teams, an inclusive field of women with and without disabilities

Patron Kristina Vogel (Olympic and World Champion)

Status Top Ten Event of the City of Hamburg (Hamburg Active City)

Motto #thinkHelga · #weall sail · #allaboard

Program Overview (all times tentative)

• Thu, June 11: Team check-in, practice, pre-opening event at the Hamburg Sailing Club (starting at 6:30 p.m.)
• Fri, June 12: First regatta start scheduled (11:30 a.m.), official opening with evening program (8:00 p.m.)
• Sat, June 13: Regatta starting at 9:30 a.m., livestream 12:00–4:00 p.m., evening program (7:30 p.m.)
• Sun, June 14: Regatta starting at 9:30 a.m., HELGA CUP Empowerment Race (approx. 2:00 p.m.), final races (approx. 2:30 p.m.), awards ceremony (approx. 4:30 p.m.)

About Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.

Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. is a nonprofit organization that promotes and organizes inclusive sailing. The focus is on working with people with disabilities. Together with its partners, the association brings the Helga Cup—the world’s largest women’s regatta—to the Alster and also organizes nationwide inclusive regattas, including the Heinz Kettler Deutschland Cup and SailGP Inclusive in Sassnitz. It offers inclusive sailing courses and is committed to equal participation and visibility in the sport of sailing.

About the North German Regatta Club

With approximately 2,200 members, the North German Regatta Club (NRV) 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 is being held at the NRV for the ninth time and has long been an integral part of club life. In 2026, the NRV will once again host the Helga Cup—a TOP 10 event for the City of Hamburg—in collaboration with Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.

Press & Accreditation

Media representatives are welcome at the 2026 Helga Cup at any time. Accreditation and contact inquiries should be directed to Sven Jürgensen (see below). Upon request, we will provide a press boat so that the races can be followed live on the water at any time. We look forward to your coverage.

Press photos of the Helga Cup are available for download free of charge (with credit): www.flickr.com/photos/svenjjj/albums/72177720326722057

Press Contact

Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.

Sven Jürgensen, Chairperson

Email: sven.juergensen@wir-sind-wir.org · Phone: 0171 683 5555

Web: www.helgacup.de · www.wir-sind-wir.org

#thinkHelga #weallsail #allaboard