Jugendsegeln Steckborn

History

In 1993, Benny Hebing, supported by Jürg Tschiemer, ran a sailing course for school pupils on the yacht Fun, aiming to train youngsters from age 14 to exam readiness by the end of the season. A year later the group appeared as Jugendsegeln Steckborn, and from 1995 Laser dinghies were used for training. A handful of youngsters met every Wednesday evening for sailing practice. In 1996 Benny Hebing gained support from Lukas Pfammatter, then president of the Berlinger Segler-Vereinigung, which took on patronage. The ship chandler provided a RIB, dinghies and infrastructure; private donors and Yacht Club Schaffhausen also supported the project. From 1997 to 1999 various staff of Jürg Tschiemer led Wednesday training and the summer sailing week, which became a fixed part of the programme. In 2000 Jürg Tschiemer recruited Samuel Dössegger as a J+S coach, training children aged 10–12 on Optimists and older participants on Lasers. From 2002 two Laser groups were run, and from 2003 holiday courses were extended to two weeks. Sämi Dössegger and Jürg Tschiemer built the fleet to six Optimists, five Lasers and two 470s, and in 2003 acquired the Swisscat rescue boat. From 2004 the dinghy sails carried sponsor names. In 2002 Jürg Tschiemer founded the Segel-Sport-Förderung Untersee (SFU), with Jugendsegeln Steckborn as a sub-division. At the 2005 general meeting all present agreed to convert the SFU into JSS, and the club became independent and entered in the commercial register. A five-member board under Sämi Dössegger led the club; Damian Ruppen became training coordinator. In 2007 Jürg Hochstrasser replaced Sämi Dössegger, the board grew to seven members, and around 50 youngsters were trained annually in courses and summer weeks. In spring 2008 a new club room was built in the Feldbach area as theory and equipment space. In 2009 Damian Ruppen took over as J+S coach and the 470 fleet grew to five boats. In 2010 kids' sailing for ages 5–10 started, reaching a record of 56 trained children and youths. In 2011 a new clubhouse with kitchen, sanitary facilities, boat storage and workshop was built in just three weeks. In 2012 JSS replaced the 470s with five 29er skiffs and a road trailer, training 58 youngsters. In 2013 JSS organised its first match race in Steckborn. In 2014 JSS bought another 29er and older members founded Jugend Meersegeln. In 2015 a team took part in the Youth World Championship in Poland. In 2016 JSS celebrated its 10th anniversary with Adrian Knöpfli as new president and held the first Junioräsegeltag. In 2017 Antonia Straden took over the presidency and winter training was introduced. In 2018 annual courses, summer week, junior day and a Garda camp followed. In 2019 JSS hosted the Youth Cup on J/70 boats, celebrated the launch of Ocean Youth Sailing's catamaran Vellamo and reached a record 81 participants. The club's history is shaped by sponsors, coach development and continuous expansion of the youth fleet on Lake Constance.

Boat types

Training times

Membership fee