Vereinigung der Hochseesegler Berlin e.V.
The Vereinigung der Hochseesegler Berlin e.V. (VdHSSB) is an open Berlin sailing club with no club premises, harbour or boathouse; its focus is on promoting offshore sailing in the Baltic and North Sea, the Mediterranean and other cruising areas. Founded in 1974 by TU Berlin sailing instructors, the club combines experience sharing, joint voyages and regular meetings – on the first Thursday of each month at 20:00. Each year the sports officer organises at least the Whitsun regatta with mostly chartered cruising yachts; members also publish voyage reports, the newsletter "Die Wurzel" and take part in Whitsun sailing in the Baltic. The annual membership fee is 30 euros; since the rename in 1999 the club has been open to all sailing enthusiasts regardless of university affiliation.
History
The VdHSSB was founded in 1974 by TU Berlin sailing instructors and from the outset focused on promoting offshore sailing – reflected in its burgee and statutes. Sailors with inland experience were to prepare for the Baltic and North Sea, the Mediterranean and other dream destinations. For decades the club was the only Berlin club offering comprehensive training from the Sport Boat Licence Sea through SKS and SSS to the Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS), plus radio certificate preparation (SRC and LRC) and navigation courses. At the general meeting in March 1999 the club was renamed from "Hochschulsegler" to "Hochseesegler" after 25 years to remove barriers for non-university members; the decision was approved by the DSV. For the 20th anniversary in 1994 the long-distance regatta "Hanse Rund" (Travemünde-Wismar-Rostock) was created in the Mecklenburg Bight; later came three-country voyages, fjord trips and other cruises. The Whitsun regatta, originally "Fehmarn Rund", was alternated with longer regattas. In 2023 the sudden death of long-serving chairman Reinhold Balzer and the COVID pandemic blocked classroom teaching; the training room was cancelled and course training discontinued, with focus shifting to promoting offshore sailing. In 2024 the club celebrated its 50th anniversary with a jubilee event.
Information
Facilities
No own club grounds, harbour or boathouse; monthly meetings at changing locations in Berlin
Activities
Experience sharing, joint sporting activities and further training in offshore sailing, monthly get-together, Whitsun sailing in the Baltic, Whitsun regatta, voyage reports and club newsletter "Die Wurzel"
Youth section
Junior sailors welcome at Whitsun regatta and offshore voyages
Guest berths
No, no own harbour