Another highlight: the Champions League sails to Travemünde Week

“Great news”, announces the Sailing Champions League on Instagram and reveals two of the three locations of this year’s season. The surprise: in addition to the premiere in Vilamoura, Portugal, the premier class in sailing is returning to the Bay of Lübeck. The Champions League is part of the 133rd Travemünde Week (July 22nd to 31st), which is already peppered with top-class title fights. One day after the “Heart Flag” up to 32 clubs from all over Europe set their sails over four days. It is one of two qualifying events for the grand finals, although a host is still being sought.

World’s largest venue for club sailing

“That’s another highlight on top of that. This year’s Travemünde Week can hardly be topped. We have a super class mix of everything.” Head of sport Jens Kath is over the moon. Because after the International Games of the 2024 Olympic iQFoil surfers, the Travemünde Week presents the next top event within four days. And: This year the TW will be the world’s largest venue for club sailing. Because after the Champions League, the Bundesliga will anchor at the Nordermole from July 29th to 31st with 36 clubs from the first and second divisions. “League Sailing returns. And now, after a long attempt, we are finally bringing the Champions League to the finish line,” says Kath. Because after the premiere of the Youth Sailing Champions League 2018, the Elite 2020 were supposed to sail off Travemünde, but Corona caused the second largest sailing week of the World. “It was clear that we had to catch up,” says Kath. Until 2019, the TW was also the permanent host for the Bundesliga. But after the TW failure in 2020, league sailing paused for two years in the Bay of Lübeck. Now it’s back with a double whammy. The TW makers came to an agreement with the Hamburg agency “concept shipyard”, which is behind both formats.

Champions League, German Sailing League, iQ-Surfer, plus the Formula 16 World Championships, the European Championships of the Hobie family, the German title fights in five classes, including the Olympic Formula Kiter – the Bay of Lübeck will be the championship area in 2022. However, without the splash. The youth class (Splash/Red) avoids Travemünde despite the announcement and contracts. “You canceled yourself. The parents have now decided on Lake Garda,” explains Kath and is angry about how: “A cancellation is okay, but we found out about it from third parties.” But the TW sports director can get over it: “We still have it a top program. Now even more so with the Champions League.”