Sensation on Rügen: Jonathan brings home to the SailGP team!

Sensation on Rügen: Jonathan brings home to the SailGP team!

The anticipation for the German SailGP team's big home race in Sassnitz on Rügen is growing. On August 16th and 17th, the Baltic Sea will become a competition arena for top sailors from all over the world. The focus is particularly on Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer, grinder for the German team, who comes from Schwerin and spent many hours sailing around Rügen with his family in his childhood. “The races in my home country are particularly cool for me,” he says with shining eyes. For the event in Sassnitz he is hoping for ideal conditions: a wind from the southwest at 12 to 16 knots and flat water to enjoy racing speeds of up to 100 km/h with the futuristic catamarans, which float over the surface of the water thanks to their foils.

Knottnerus-Meyer, who began his sailing career at the tender age of six in the Optimist, not only has the water world in his blood, but also pursued an academic career. The doctor has completed his studies and is working on his doctoral thesis at the same time. However, he makes no secret of the fact that it is much more difficult for aspiring professional sailors in Germany than in countries like Great Britain or New Zealand, where sailing enjoys a different level of appreciation. He praises the outstanding work at the sailing base in Rostock in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania all the more, which acts as an important talent factory.

Sailing in Germany

Sailing is a popular water sport with a long tradition in Germany. Around 1.57 million Germans show a particular interest in sailing, which is quite remarkable given a total population of around 68.60 million. Furthermore, the German Sailing Association (DSV) has over 193,000 members and around 1,350 clubs that promote sailing in Germany. A highlight in the event calendar is the Kiel Week, the largest sailing event in the world, which takes place annually in June in Kiel and attracts over 4,000 sailors from around 50 nations. The best sailing season lasts from May to September, which every passionate sailor can only confirm.

Another driving force behind sailing in Germany is Boris Herrmann, who has greatly increased interest in this sport through his participation in the Vendée Globe and the Ocean Race 2023. But well-known historical figures such as Jochen Schümann, three-time Olympic champion, have also left their mark. As the DSV noted in recent statistics, there are over 2,300 sailing clubs in Germany that promote enthusiasm for water sports and train the next generation in the fresh sea air.

It remains exciting to see how the home race in Sassnitz will develop. Many are hoping for a spectacular event that will delight both participants and spectators. With Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer on the team, everyone is talking about Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and the region could establish itself as a real sailing mecca.

For all fans of sailing: Mark your calendars for August and be there live when the German team fights for victory and honor in home waters. The wind could carry the sailors far!