Yachtclub Dessau e.V.
Yachtclub Dessau e.V. has been based at Leopoldshafen on the middle Elbe in Dessau-Roßlau since 1931, directly on the Elbe Cycle Route at river kilometre 261. The club operates a floating pontoon system with around 35 berths, a slipway with electric winch for boats up to 8 tonnes, and since 2013 a portal crane for boats up to 4 tonnes. The enclosed club grounds include boat sheds, a clubhouse with sanitary facilities, tent and motorhome pitches, and free Wi-Fi for guests. Most members enjoy cruising on inland waters as well as the North and Baltic Seas; in the home waters of the Elbe they take weekend trips to scenic spots. Club life is shaped by harbour festivals, seasonal opening and closing sails, and successes in the cruising competition of the Saxony-Anhalt sailing association. The club also offers guest services for water sports enthusiasts, boating licence courses in cooperation with Yachtschule Halle, and an experiential sailing project for young people.
History
Yachtclub Dessau e.V. has existed since 1931 and is located in the central part of Leopoldshafen in Dessau-Roßlau, where four water sports clubs are based. Over the decades the club became a fixture of the sailing scene in Saxony-Anhalt; members have repeatedly won the cruising competition of the Saxony-Anhalt sailing association. The fleet ranges from dinghies and 15er Jollenkreuzer to keelboats and ewers, some built or refitted by their owners. Harbour festivals and seasonal opening and closing sails are important parts of club life. Due to fluctuating Elbe water levels, a floating pontoon berth system with about 35 places was installed. In 2013 the club installed a crane system capable of lifting boats up to 4 tonnes from truck or trailer onto a slip trolley or for repairs; a slipway with electric winch for boats up to 8 tonnes already existed. During the 2013 Elbe flood, buildings at Leopoldshafen were inundated; substantial public funds and donations flowed into renovation and replacement buildings in subsequent years. Dessau also experienced a centennial flood in 2002, when help arrived from across Germany. The vessel "BERTA von Dessau" was returned to service after restoration and was temporarily based at the club. The club is socially engaged through an experiential sailing project for behaviourally challenged young people from St. Ansgar children's home, supported by members Jörg Westram, Thomas Mayer and Michael Finger. After the 2021 flood disaster in NRW and Rhineland-Palatinate, the water sports clubs at Leopoldshafen jointly raised over 3,000 euros for flood victims and transferred the money to the "Deutschland hilft" appeal.
Information
Facilities
Floating pontoon berth system with approx. 35 berths, slipway with electric winch (up to 8 t), portal crane (up to 4 t, since 2013), boat sheds, clubhouse with WC, shower and drinking water, enclosed club grounds, tent pitches for canoeists and cyclists, shelter for bicycles, motorhome pitches, barbecue area, free Wi-Fi, bicycle hire, hire of party tent and beer bench sets
Activities
Cruising on inland waters, North and Baltic Seas, weekend trips on the Elbe, canoe touring, harbour festivals, seasonal opening and closing sails, Saxony-Anhalt sailing association cruising competition, experiential sailing project with young people, boating licence courses (SBF inland/sea), guest services for international water sports enthusiasts
Youth section
Experiential sailing project with 20 young people (aged 12–18) from St. Ansgar children's home, supported by club members
Parking
Yes, designated guest parking spaces
Guest berths
Yes, no reservation, alternative berths
Boating license training
Available: 1
Dates via Yachtschule Halle