Potsdamer Yacht Club e. V.
Potsdamer Yacht Club e. V. is a traditional sailing club on the southern shore of the Großer Wannsee in Berlin-Wannsee, only a few minutes' walk from Wannsee S-Bahn station. With around 1,000 members it is one of Germany's largest sailing clubs and maintains harbour facilities with jetties, a slip crane, clubhouse, restaurant and a dependance on the western shore. The sporting programme ranges from Optimist, ILCA and 420 in the youth section to club boats such as the J/70, the German Sailing Bundesliga and the weekly Wednesday regatta. Since its founding in 1891 and the inauguration of the clubhouse in 1909, racing, offshore cruising and the friendship with the training ship Gorch Fock have shaped club life.
History
Nine sailors agreed on 10 April 1891 in Potsdam to found the „Seglerverein der Unterhavel“ to organise regular races with other clubs. On 3 May 1900 the club was renamed Potsdamer Yacht Club. Early years lacked a clubhouse; boats lay at various places in Potsdam. In 1904 the club merged with Yachtclub Wannsee and became co-tenant on the eastern Wannsee shore. In 1907 it acquired today's plot on the south-western shore; the new clubhouse was inaugurated on 21 May 1909. The youth section was founded in 1921. By 1930 the club had grown to 418 members, 117 sailing yachts and 30 motorboats. After World War II sailing in Berlin was initially banned; in 1946 it was permitted again in the Seglerverein Wannsee. From 1948 the name Potsdamer Yacht Club could be used again; the grounds, used by the Americans as a recreation centre, returned to the club only in 1956. Member Heinz Klaußner played a major role in founding the Berliner Segler-Verband in 1948. In 1951 the PYC took on the traditions of the Berliner Segler-Club founded in 1867. Since 1954 the Georg-Grünwald chain has honoured the club's best racing sailor each year; since 1970 the Franz-Schönborn prize has recognised the best offshore sailor. Since 1966 friendly ties with the naval training ship Gorch Fock have included mutual visits and short sea voyages for young sailors. Today the club remains firmly established on the Wannsee with a large youth section, a Bundesliga team and guest berths in the Gelbe Welle network.
Information
Facilities
Harbour with berths up to 13 m, slip crane up to 3 t, slipway, mast crane, clubhouse with toilets and showers, club restaurant, dependance with dinghy and catamaran slip jetty and floating jetties, club boats (J/70, Elliots).
Activities
Wednesday regatta and club championship, holiday regatta, German Sailing Bundesliga, youth training and Optimist beginner courses, training camps, girls' sailing camp, offshore sailing, regattas on the Wannsee.
Youth section
One of Germany's largest youth sections with about 150 children and juniors, two full-time coaches plus freelance coaches; training in Optimist, ILCA and 420, twice-weekly on-water training, camps, Optimist beginner courses and regatta support.
Guest berths
Yes, no prior booking