The ‘Locals’ Polgar and Koy: Give it everything we have

Eleven VIP teams are confirmed for the inaugural Star Sailors League City Grand Slam, in Hamburg 2-7 May and Johannes Polgar and Markus Koy can be considered as the local team for the City Grand Slam, both are members of the host club, Norddeutscher Regatta Verein on the banks of Lake Alster, Hamburg.

Markus Koy was born in Hamburg and lives there to this day and Johannes Polgar has lived in Germany’s second largest city for over 16 years. Polgar’s rise in the Star Class has been impressive, he represented Germany at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the vastly different Tornado Class, before switching to the Star with Markus Koy. Just three years later, the German pair won the Star European Championship and this year finished fourth in the SSL Finals in Nassau. READ MORE

Let’s dance on Lake Alster

In the heart of the city of Hamburg, the first ever Star Sailors League City Grand Slam, will take place on Lake Alster. The wind conditions on the lake can vary tremendously, both in direction and wind speed. Reading the shifts, pulling off perfect starts and text book maneuvers, all on short legs, will be the keys to success.

Whilst the helmsman will be in control of the Star, the crew will need to perfect trimming, tuning, boat balance and maneuvers to maximize performance. Bruno Prada was born in São Paulo and formed a winning partnership with Robert Scheidt. The Brazilian pair have won three Star World Championships and two Olympic Medals in the Star. Bruno came desperately close to a fourth world title with Augie Diaz in 2014. Bruno will be crew for Augie for the SSL City Grand Slam on Lake Alster, Hamburg, this May. READ MORE

Star Sailors League is ready for next step

Star Sailors League was born from sailors for sailors.

When in 2013 a group of sailing enthusiast – particularly fond of Star boat – met and started molding the project that would have become SSL, they had a major goal in mind: make it competitive and sustainable.

You can find SSL concept of competitiveness in SSL final knock-out day, where you start with 11 best team and after three races you end up with just the top 4 remaining teams fighting for the podium. You can also find it in the yearly ranking: the more regattas you attend to and the best you perform, the most points you get. If you are among top twenties at the end of the year you have lots of chances of being invited at the prestigious SSL Finals in Nassau, Bahamas competing with top sailing athletes. It doesn’t get more competitive than this. READ MORE

Golden Year for George

2015 was a golden year for San Diego’s George Szabo, winning the first ever SSL Lake Grand Slam in Grandson, Switzerland and the SSL Finals in Nassau, Bahamas. George raced with different crew for each event, neither of which has English as a mother tongue. Prior to his two big wins last year, George won the Star World Championship in 2009 with Rick Peters. George is recognized as one of the fastest Star sailors in light conditions. READ MORE

Robert Stanjek and Frithjof Kleen: Winning the Bacardi Cup and getting ready for the Worlds and SSL City Grand Slam in their home Country

70 Stars entered the 89th edition of the Bacardi Cup and in a thrilling six race series held in bigbreeze in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Robert Stanjek & Frithjof Kleen won by a single point from Diego Negri & Sergio Lambertenghi with Augie Diaz & Bruno Prada in third. It was the first time Stanjek & Kleen have won the Bacardi Cup and in doing so become the first German pair to win the prestigious cup since the first regatta in 1927. READ MORE