Yachtclub Ruhrland Essen e.V.
Yachtclub Ruhrland Essen e.V. is the largest of around 25 sailing clubs on Lake Baldeney and one of the most active racing clubs in North Rhine-Westphalia. The club is located at Lanfermannfähre in Essen-Heisingen and operates one of only two harbours on the lake, with berths for more than 100 boats, a clubhouse on the harbour mole, a crane, and neighbouring boatyard and sail shop. The focus is racing in Dragon, Folkboat, H-Boat, Star and Varianta; about ten regattas are hosted each year, including ranking events. A strong youth section introduces children from about age six to racing in the Optimist and offers progression to ILCA plus summer sailing weeks. Founded in 1933, the year Lake Baldeney was completed, the club today has around 300 members and about 150 boats.
History
The club's roots go back to 24 May 1927, when Automobil-Club Ruhrland was founded at Hotel Kaiserhof in Essen. In 1933, the year Lake Baldeney was completed and impounded, the club turned to sailing: on 26 June and 26 July 1933 two club regattas were held, and on 3 September the first open association regatta on the lake. In 1934 member and architect Fritz Berchem designed and built the Bauhaus-style clubhouse on the harbour mole; the land belongs to the Ruhrverband and is leased. After the Second World War, British officers requisitioned the clubhouse from 1946, so Yachtclub Ruhrland had to move to Hafen Scheppen until 1954. The clubhouse was modernised in 1973; about 30 years later a major renovation was completed for the 75th anniversary in 2008. In 1992 the club invested nearly one million DM in a new pier system with steel piles and hardwood decking. Today YCRE hosts about ten regattas a year, including high-level events for Dragons, H-Boats, Stars and Folkboats, and has around 300 members with about 150 boats.
Information
Facilities
Harbour with berths for more than 100 boats, clubhouse with terrace and restaurant on the harbour mole, modern crane, neighbouring Paulsen boatyard and Jokisch sail shop
Activities
Racing, youth training, inland sport boat licence training on Kielzugvogel boats, cruising, Friday club evening, club parties, boat christenings, children's parties, St Nicholas events
Youth section
Active youth section from about age 6: Optimist, progression to ILCA, weekly training, summer sailing weeks, taster days and race training on about 10 club dinghies
Parking
Yes, numerous parking spaces in front of the clubhouse
Boating license training
Available: 1
regular training sessions; advanced sailing courses in the winter half-year as needed