Expecting 24 clubs from 15 nations for Sailing Champions League final

For the first time international sailing history one club will be nominated as the best sailing club at the newly established “SAILING Champions League” in Copenhagen taking place from 17th to 19th October 2014. The hosts from the national German sailing league (Segel-Bundesliga), the Danish sailing league (Sejlsportsligaen) and the Royal Danish Yacht Club are expecting 24 clubs from 15 nations. Next to the European Sailing Federation as patron, the World Childhood Foundation (Childhood) joined the event as the Charity Partner. Further partners are SAP SE and Marinepool.

Only one week to go: The SAILING Champions League starts as the first international club competition in Denmark, after the format of national leagues in the sailing clubs of Germany and Denmark did create an unexpected wave of enthusiasm. The great interest in the SCL demonstrates, that the organizers from Hamburg were right in assuming that the fight “club against club” is also a concept for the international sailing sport.

The participating clubs are sending a crew of four of their best sailors and are fighting for the first time for the sought-after “ROBBE & BERKING SAILING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHY“. Robbe & Berking donates the silver bowl of around five kilogram. The clubs will sail in fleet races at Copenhagen on eight J/70 one design boats, that have proven their worth in the leagues.

The clubs will be sailing right in front of the famous “Little Mermaid” at the entrance of the Danish capital. 45 races are planned in three days, each of the races lasting between twelve and fifteen minutes. Thanks to the broadcasting of technology partner SAP, you can follow the races live on sailing-championsleague.com. The expert commentators are Andy Rice from the UK and Marcus Baur from Germany – two sailing experts and former competitors in the Olympic 49er.

The worldwide sailing premiere combines the sailing sport with a charity event for Childhood, supported by SAP. “SAP SE has been a founding partner of the ‘World Childhood Foundation’ since the beginning and we are happy to be also connected via the sailing sport now”, said Stefan Lacher, Head of Technology Sponsorships of SAP SE.

Childhood was founded in 1999 by H.M. Silvia the Queen of Sweden. “Childhood has a close partnership with the sailing sport since many years. The SCL is a great new possibility to sail for children in need. Together, we will ensure that more children have a happy childhood and therefore we want to further develop this partnership,” says Susanne Labonde, Executive Director of Childhood Germany.

Report by SCL media.