Segler-Vereinigung-Wuppertal

History

In 1971, as the Bever Dam section, several dinghy sailors split from Yachtclub Wuppertal Hitdorf. Under future chairman Fritz Buntenbeck, Segler-Vereinigung-Wuppertal was founded on 28 March 1971 in Hückeswagen-Käfernberg on the Bever Dam. In the beginning there was only open ground; a caravan served as the regatta office and a large tent was hired for events. From 1977 to 1980 the current clubhouse was built as a weather shelter, as the site lies in a landscape protection area. Through negotiations the club grounds grew from an initial 3,990 m² to 8,177 m². In 1991, under chairman Helmut Keunecke, a recognised sailing base was established with a representative clubhouse and covered regatta start barge; more than half of the facility was built by members themselves. At founding there were 50 adult and 3 junior members; by 1996 there were already 226 adults and 56 juniors. A boathouse followed in 2000, and in 2003 a crane system with slipway trolley and slipway track plus a flagpole. The club owns two floating piers for 36 boats, leases further pontoon facilities from the Wupper Association and provides members with 100 land berths and 27 club-owned boats of various classes. In 2004 the first renovation of the weather shelter roof took place in two phases, again largely by member effort. After fire protection measures in 2009/2010, change of use was approved in 2010; the Helmut Keunecke House has since been a full clubhouse with overnight accommodation. In 2006 the initiative Sailing – a Sport for All was launched in cooperation with primary and special needs schools in the region. In 2010 the club was designated a NRW state performance centre for sailing. The workshop building was completed in 2018 along with new sanitary facilities. In 2022, under the Modern Sports Facilities programme, a new outdoor terrace and a multi-purpose room for youth and training were added. In 2023, under the Digitalisation of Sports Facilities programme, mesh Wi-Fi and modern presentation technology were installed. For years SVWu has sailed two J/70s in the Segelbundesliga; in 2025 the team led by team manager Kirsten Roos was promoted to the first division. Today the club has around 300 members, about 50–60 in the youth section. Alongside active sailing, social events shape club life: carnival parties, dance into May with opening-of-season sailing on 1 May, youth regional championship, Good Will Regatta, club Polyvalk match race, closing-of-season sailing and after-sail party.

Boat types

Opening hours