The "Groch Fock" arrives at the Hanse Sail
Around 250 traditional and museum ships, together with cruise ships, large ferries, the ships of the German Navy and many sports boats on the Warnow and in front of Warnemünde offer a fascinating maritime picture.
Over a million visitors can look forward to attractive ships coming to Rostock for the first time, such as the Dutch clipper "Stad Amsterdam" (built in 2000) and the Romanian sailing training ship "Mircea" (1938).
At the Hanse Sail Rostock, as one of the world's largest maritime festivals, there are also numerous anniversaries this year. The focus is on the 50th birthday of the sailing training ship "Gorch Fock" (also note the story on the 50th birthday of the ship in YACHT 14/2008). On this occasion, a special postage stamp and a 10 euro commemorative coin will be presented to the public for the first time on August 7th at the passenger quay in Warnemünde. As a long-term close partner of the Sail, the German Navy enriches the festival with the "Gorch Fock" as well as with the days of the open naval base or open ship on the corvette "Braunschweig"
Further anniversaries are the 75-year-old steam icebreaker "Stettin", who has been at every Sail since 1991, the lightship "Fehmarnbelt" and the Kufftjalk "Jan Huygen", both of which are celebrating their 100th birthday. An old friend of the Hanse Sail is the 82-year-old Russian 4-mast barque "Kruzenshtern". The second largest historical windjammer still in motion is also the title motif of "Hanse-Sail-Magazin aktuell". A close connection has developed to the Polish "Dar Mlodziezy", which had its Sail premiere last year
The absolute Rostock plus in the worldwide round of maritime festivals is that traditional ships can not only be seen and touched during open ship, but can also be experienced in full action. When traditional sailors from a dozen countries call it "Rostock Course" at the beginning of August, there are two special events. On the one hand there is the "Hiorten Regatta" from Karlskron to Rostock, where an exciting duel between the Dutch "Artemis" and the German "Greif" can be expected. A little more leisurely, but no less spectacular, is the third cog ride with five medieval replicas from Bremen, Kiel, Lübeck and Wismar
With the Dutch "Kamper Kogge" and "Tvekamp Af Elbogen" from Sweden, two international guests are coming for the first time. The cog ride to the Hanse Sail Rostock is the prelude to a whole series of activities in Lübeck, Wismar and Rostock. In 2009, the three cities want to commemorate an event 750 years ago. In 1259 they formed a protective alliance that is considered to be the cornerstone of the development of the Hanseatic League.
The traditional regattas of the traditional sailors on Saturday or day and evening trips under the motto "Just sail along!" have been a recommendation of the organizers for years, because the special sailing atmosphere with goosebumps comes up, especially on board the galeas, briggs or schooners. If you book in good time, you might be able to sail on your "dream ship". There are still free places at the "Stad Amsterdam", the "Dar Mlodziezy", the "Minerva" or the "Kvartsita". Sightseeing flights with helicopters, seaplanes and, for the first time, with a flying boat, which promises a special take-off and landing experience, can be booked at the 8th Seefliegertreffen in Rostock-Marienehe.
The Hanse Sail is also getting more sporty from year to year and offers interesting program items in the city harbor, on the Warnow or in front of Warnemünde. In the sailing stadium in the city harbor (August 9th / 10th) the title "NDR sailing talent", the best young sailor in northern Germany, will be won. On Sail Sunday (August 10th) there will be the first race of the Rostock rowing clubs as part of the Hanse Sail. The "Hanse Sail Achter" is rowed in the form of an individual time trial and over a distance of 1000 meters. Traditionally since 1991, the "ZK 10 Ranking List Regattum the Baltic Sea Cup" takes place on August 9th. For the 18th Sail, the Hanse Sail office will award a challenge cup, which will remain with the "winner over everything" until the 20th Hanse Sail 2010.
You can find more information about the Hanse Sail Rostock here!