Registration now open to first SSL City Grand Slam
by Star Sailors League 14 Jan 2016 14:19 GMT
3-7 May 2016
SSL City Grand Slam 2016 © Star Sailors League
The 1st ever SSL City Grand Slam is taking shape and we are happy to announce that online registration is now open on the official website, city.starsailors.com
The event is organized by Star Sailors League in cooperation with Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and Hamburger and Luebeck Bay Starboat fleets and will take place from April 30th to May 7th on Lake Alster in Hamburg, Germany. The regatta will celebrate the Jubilee of the Hamburger and Luebecker Bay Starboatfleets with the 50th Erich F. Laeisz-Prize.
The entries will be initially limited to 70, but the hosting Club reserves the right to adjust this number. In addition to these entries, 20 spots are reserved for invited teams (VIPs). There is not a proper entry fee: anyone wishing to enter will pay a 200€ deposit to NRV and it will be refunded at the end of the official registration at the club.
The regatta will consist of a Qualifying Series and a Final Series.
The Qualifying Series will have a first and a second round. In the first round races will be sailed in groups decided by the organization authority each day after racing and a combined results list will be produced. VIPs will also need to sail this first round of Qualifying Series like anyone else.
The top ranked 30 teams of the first round are qualified for the second round, and the winning team in the first round will be awarded the "Heinz Nixdorf Trophy".
Heinz Nixdorf was a German businessman who founded Nixdorf Computer, a successful German computer company, and was also a very keen Star sailor. He began sailing later in life at age 45, but was as driven in sport as he was in business and, with his crew Josef Pieper, finished 8th at the Worlds in Spain in 1974 and 5th at the North American Championship in 1980. He was the founder of the "Heinz Nixdorf - Verein zur Förderung des Segelsports e.V." (HNV).
Today's German Top Teams - all in SSL Top 10 ranking - have already confirmed their entries – among other 30 teams – to the first ever City Grand Slam in Hamburg (Stanjek & Kleen, Polgar & Koy, Hubert Merkelbach). They all are former HNV Star Teams.
In the second round all of the 30 teams will sail in one fleet a maximum of 5 races. Top 10 teams will go ahead to sail the Final Series, the first qualified team will go straight to the Final, the second will have a bye to Semi-final. In the Quarter-final only 5 teams out of 7 will gain access to Semi-final and only 3 teams out of 6 will join the second round winner to the Final.
The first to team to cross the line during the Final will not only be the 1st SSL City Grand Slam winner but will be also awarded with the 50th Erich F. Laeisz-Prize.
Erich F. Laeisz was the founder of the North German Fleet (now Hamburger Fleet), it was based at the NRV since he was a member and sponsor. From the beginning he was truly fond of the Star class and ordered his first Star boat from A&R builders. Ever since, Lake Alster has been the cradle of the North European Star boats and so many German Champions belong to that area.
There will be a US$100,000 prize money as for every Star Sailors League Grand Slam and more than 60 teams from over 15 nations are expected to participate, among them Olympic medalists and World Champions from different classes.
You will be able to watch all the action live with expert commentary from special studio guests. On the water, the latest in hi-tech camera technology, as well as Virtual Eye 3D Graphics, will provide thrilling viewing. Armchair sailors can also join the race with Virtual Regatta.