{"id":3182,"date":"2026-06-14T21:45:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T19:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/?p=3182"},"modified":"2026-08-27T18:16:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T16:16:23","slug":"silke-basedow-and-her-crew-from-the-hamburg-sailing-club-win-the-9th-helga-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/silke-basedow-and-her-crew-from-the-hamburg-sailing-club-win-the-9th-helga-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Silke Basedow and her crew from the Hamburg Sailing Club win the 9th Helga Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Are Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world\u2019s largest women\u2019s sailing regatta, featuring around 360 female sailors from eight nations\u2014Team Sophia wins in the inclusive RS Venture Connect class\u2014Debut for the new Change Makers Race<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamburg, June 14, 2026 \u2013<\/strong> The 9th Helga Cup came to a close on Sunday with the final races on Hamburg\u2019s Outer Alster. For four days, the Hanseatic city was all about women\u2019s 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. \u2013 in partnership with the City of Hamburg. The Helga Cup took place for the ninth time; the host was the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014women sail at the highest level even in the harshest winds. The final races served as a fitting climax to an intense regatta weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winners of the 2026 Helga Cup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

J\/70<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd47 Silke Basedow and team (Hamburger Segel-Club)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd48 VSaW Ladies (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd49 Kieler Yacht Club<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RS Venture Connect (inclusive class)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd47 Team Sophia (Wir sind Wir)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd48 Windbr\u00e4ute (Segler-Verein Wakenitz)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd49 Skyline Sisters (Offenbacher Ruderverein 1874 \/ HSSC Frankfurt)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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 \u00d6zo\u011fuz, 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: \u201cThe 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\u201d<\/em>, said \u00d6zo\u011fuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u00d6zo\u011fuz and the initiators, participants included Mareike Miller (member of the DOSB Executive Board and Paralympic champion in wheelchair basketball), Regina J\u00e4ck (Hamburg City Parliament, spokesperson for people with disabilities), Juliane M\u00f6cklinghoff (journalist, ARD\/NDR), Svenja Weber (executive director of Dialoghaus Hamburg), Jessica Staschen (Zeit Foundation), and Nuray Paulsen (office manager for Aydan \u00d6zo\u011fuz), as well as Frauke Rawert (Reinhard Frank Foundation).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of five boats, each with two \u201cChange-Makers\u201d participants, took part, accompanied by experienced skippers\u2014one of the boats was helmed by Olympic sailor Susann \u201cSanni\u201d Beucke. The \u201cHelga\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silke Basedow, who won the J\/70 class with her crew (Hamburg Sailing Club), also offered an evocative summary: \u201cThis 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\u2014the 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\u2019re already looking forward to next year\u2019s anniversary celebration.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winning team Sophia from the inclusive RS Venture Connect class also shared some heartfelt reflections: \u201cWinning the inclusive division means an incredible amount to us\u2014especially given the tough conditions on the final day. But at the Helga Cup, there\u2019s far more at stake than just the result: Here, women with and without disabilities sail as equals, and it\u2019s precisely this sense of togetherness that makes the regatta so special. We\u2019re taking home plenty of energy and memories,\u201d<\/em> said Sophia Hein and Talissa Hackbarth of Team Sophia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking Ahead: Ten Years of the Helga Cup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014once again on the Outer Alster, of course. Sven J\u00fcrgensen launched the Helga Cup in 2017; the first regatta took place in 2018 with 248 female sailors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detailed Results<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J\/70:<\/strong> View results (SAP Sailing)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RS Venture Connect:<\/strong> View results (SAP Sailing)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Press Photos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Royalty-free press photos available for download: View the photo gallery (Flickr)<\/a>. Please include the following credit when publishing: \u00a9 Helga Cup \/ Lars Wehrmann, Sven J\u00fcrgensen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s largest women\u2019s sailing regatta, the association hosts nationwide inclusive sailing regattas\u2014including the Heinz Kettler Deutschland Cup and SailGP Inclusive in Sassnitz\u2014and 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the North German Regatta Association (NRV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Press Contact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sven J\u00fcrgensen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chairman, Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Email: sven.juergensen@wir-sind-wir.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phone: 0171 683 5555<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#thinkHelga #weallsail #allaboard<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PRESS RELEASE We Are Wir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. The world\u2019s largest women\u2019s sailing regatta, featuring around 360 female sailors from eight nations\u2014Team Sophia wins in the inclusive RS Venture Connect class\u2014Debut for the new Change Makers Race Hamburg, June 14, 2026 \u2013 The 9th Helga Cup came to a close on Sunday with the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3181,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-unkategorisiert"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3182"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3191,"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3182\/revisions\/3191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wir-sind-wir.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}