Verein Schmöckwitzer Segler e. V.
Verein Schmöckwitzer Segler e. V. is a long-established, family-oriented sailing club in Berlin-Heiligensee, with its home waters on the Oberhavel between Niederneuendorfer See and Tegeler See. The club grounds provide renovated jetties, a slipway, sanitary facilities, a mast crane and a members-only clubhouse hall used as a weekend meeting point. Sailing activities include club training boats such as Optimist, Teeny and 420er, plus cruising on the Baltic Sea and partly the North Sea, as well as internal and inter-club races. The youth programme is aimed at ages 6 to 18, with regular Saturday sessions, training toward the junior sailing certificate and organized Sportbootführerschein Binnen courses. Founded in 1888 in Berlin-Schmöckwitz, the club evolved through relocation to Heiligensee in 1959 and many construction and modernization phases into a stable community of around 50 members today.
History
Verein Schmöckwitzer Segler e. V. was founded in 1888 by seven sailing enthusiasts, and by 1890 around 60 members were already registered. In the early decades, members sailed on Dahme, Seddin and Zeuthen lakes; in 1921 the club joined the Deutscher Segler-Bund, and in 1926 its clubhouse in Schmöckwitz was inaugurated. After political and organizational upheaval in the 1940s and early 1950s, the club was re-established in West Berlin before moving to its current site in Heiligensee on 1 October 1959. The following decades were marked by expansion and modernization, including major events with hundreds or even thousands of visitors, the launch of the Koffer-Cup in 1977, joint races with neighboring clubs, and extensive building projects. After Berlin reopened, cruising toward the Baltic Sea expanded strongly, and between 1998 and 2006 VSS won the Tegel district cruising competition several times. In the 2000s, difficult lease negotiations dominated club development until a new ten-year contract was signed in 2008, followed by investments such as jetty renewal, roof work and site improvements. At its 125th anniversary in 2013, the club presented itself as a consolidated community with around 50 members and more than 30 boats.
Information
Youth section
Youth section for ages 6-18 with Optimist and Teeny training, Saturday sessions at 11:00 and preparation for sailing certificates.
Guest berths
Yes, up to 10 m when berths are free
Boating license training
Available: 1