Name: Helga Cup – World's Largest Women's Sailing Regatta 2026
Start: 2026-06-11T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-14T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Außenalster / Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV)

Helga Cup

About Helga Cup

The Helga Cup is the world's largest women's sailing regatta: four days of competition on the Außenalster with up to 81 crews and around 340 female sailors. Boats from the Segelbundesliga (J/70 and RS Venture Connect), short races of 10 to 12 minutes, right in the middle of Hamburg. Organized by WirsindWir Inclusion in Sailing together with the traditional NRV.

Dates 11 Jun — 14 Jun 2026

Venue Hamburg (02000)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Helga Cup — edition 2026

Tickets →

Helga Cup 2026 from Thursday, June 11th to Sunday, June 14th on the Außenalster. Up to 81 crews with around 340 female sailors will compete in the J/70 and RS Venture Connect classes. Short races of 10 to 12 minutes, crew rotation every two to three races, final races on Sunday.

Four days of competition on the Außenalster

The Helga Cup 2026 takes place from Thursday, June 11th to Sunday, June 14th on Hamburg's Außenalster. The regatta is organized, as always, by WirsindWir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. together with the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV), which provides the nautical infrastructure.

Two boat classes

Sailing will take place in two parallel classes: the J/70 sports boats of the German Segelbundesliga and the inclusive RS Venture Connect (S/V14), which also allows sailors with physical disabilities to participate. Up to 81 crews with a total of around 340 female sailors are registered, plus a waiting list.

Highlights Helga Cup 2026

World's largest women's sailing regatta. Up to 81 crews, around 340 female sailors. Inclusive RS Venture Connect class for sailors with physical disabilities.

Programme Helga Cup 2026

Format

Short races 10–12 minutes
Crew rotation every 2–3 races for fair boat distribution
Cumulative scoring over all races
Final races on Sunday with the top-scoring crews

Daily schedule (typical)

Thu, June 11 – Registration, skippers' briefing, first races in the afternoon
Fri, June 12 – Full day of races in both classes
Sat, June 13 – Full day of races, evening crew dinner at the NRV boathouse
Sun, June 14 – Final races and award ceremony

Registration

J/70: Registration link J/70
RS Venture Connect (S/V14): Registration link S/V14

Prices Helga Cup 2026

Registration via helgacup.de (crew fee). Spectators on the Außenalster are free. Crew dinner and supporting program at an additional cost.

Practical information

Practical information — Helga Cup

Venue

Außenalster, boathouse of the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV), Schöne Aussicht 39, 22085 Hamburg-Uhlenhorst. Also easily visible from Harvestehude-Ufer and Schwanenwik.

Registration

Via helgacup.de: separate registration links for the J/70 and the RS Venture Connect (S/V14) class.

Spectators

The Außenalster is freely accessible all around – every promenade offers views of the competition area. Free admission for spectators.

The world's largest women's regatta

The Helga Cup has existed since 2017 and has developed into the world's largest women's sailing regatta in just a few years. The event is organized by the association WirsindWir Inclusion in Sailing e.V. – with the aim of bringing more women and girls into competitive sailing, which is often male-dominated. The host and logistical base is the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) on the banks of the Außenalster, one of Germany's oldest sailing clubs.

Competition Format

Up to 81 crews, around 340 female sailors, four days of competition. Sailing takes place in two boat classes: the J/70 sports boats of the Segelbundesliga and the inclusive RS Venture Connect. The races are deliberately short – 10 to 12 minutes – so that as many starts as possible take place per day. The crews rotate every two to three races, so the boat pairings change and material advantages are minimized.

Inclusion as a Program

The Helga Cup is open to all levels: from beginners, cruising sailors, and students to senior sailors. With the RS Venture Connect class (S/V14), the event also integrates sailors with physical disabilities. A waiting list is common – places are usually quickly filled.