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Hanse Sail Rostock 2021

A small Hanse Sail took place in Rostock in August. Finally watching sailing ships again! We have waited for this a long time. Optimistically different, that was an official motto. In the months before the Sail, a holistic survey of the current situation was discussed with an Action Plan 2021+, the comprehensive proposals for future direction of this major maritime event. The Hanse Sail of the future should be maritime, sustainable and individual. The maritime atmosphere with traditionally rigged ships, for many visitors sailing ships are the main motive for a visit to Rostock. It is precisely this part that should become even more important in the future.

In order to meet the requirements for distance between visitors and to be able to control the number of visitors, fenced adventure areas have been created on the event site. They had names such as "aft deck", "hold", "slipway", "engine room" or "anchorage". Those from the maritime language borrowed names of the areas were chosen deliberately in order to take into account the maritime character of the Hanse Sail. Unfortunately, this also resulted in access restrictions. This also affected many docking areas for sailing ships. That is why I largely decided not to take a stroll along the piers.

Also this year special ships and sailing ships were there for the first time in Rostock. The steam icebreaker "Stettin" now holds the record alone to have really been there at all events. The "Greif" unfortunately had to fold and is currently being overhauled.

With the Pomeranian cog "Ucra" a new ship from Ueckermünde came to Rostock for the first time. Together with "Wissemara" and the "Hanse-Kogge" from Kiel she was located close the former warehouses of the city and offered trips with guests. We would like to see her again next year and we would like to see a coordinated picture of all medieval replicas on the Warnow.

The first highlight of the Hanse Sail in Rostock was made in recent years by the Hajkutters with their own event in Nysted and a regatta across the Baltic Sea. This year too, there was the Hajkutter regatta. Because of too much uncertainty caused by the pandemic and a lack of support on the German side, I abstained to take part in the regatta this time. There were Hajkutters participating in the Hanse Sail. A much-noticed star, because she was in Rostock for the first time, was the "Valkyrien af ​​Höganäs" from Sweden.

About 100 sailing ships from 5 countries are said to have been in Rostock. Above all, I noticed ships that offer guest trips, especially the Dutch Fleet. The Hanse Sail Rostock is known for the fact that many of the participating sailing ships undertake several guest trips. In the foreground is money for the trips to earn the maintenance costs of the ships. On two days I was on the water too on board of the "Engelina" and the "Banjaard".

Where the German sailing ships have been, which are operated under the safety guidelines for traditional ships. Were the pads for a safe hygiene concept on board too high for some or was there a lack of crew? Which of these sailing ships survived the pandemic-related crisis without the income from the sailing business. Which of the sailing ships will be able to visit Rostock in the coming years?

I am concerned that there will be people responsible for promoting the Hanse Sail in Rostock so that sailing ships will visit the festival. It must be clear that this is not a matter of course. What are attractive conditions for this? Will the planned measures for a federal horticultural show in 2025 with a new pedestrian bridge that divides the city harbor, rather disrupt or help? Are quaysides in other port areas made accessible to sailing ships and visitors? Where should tall ships moor in the future?

What I will remember from this Hanse Sail are some weather situations. We had good wind for sailing, but also calm. The evening trips however, were sometimes endangered by extremely heavy rain. Several times you could see a roll cloud in Warnemünde, followed by rain, where it was better to look for cover.

Hanse Sail Rostock