The Rumregatta is the start of the season for traditionally rigged sailing ships in Germany every year. Ship lovers don't want to miss it. So in this year too, as the 42nd edition of the irresponsible squadron trip on the Flensburg Bay took place.

There are years when you wait longer for the season to start. That's what happened to me this spring. April and early May were still cold and often rainy in our area. Then the sun came along with some strength at just the right time. And after we were still skeptical about the wind after the storm experiences last year, a really optimal weather situation developed, which made it easier for ships to arrive and which offered the prospect of relaxed sailing.

The registrations of the sailing ships for the Rumregatta 2023 were initially only sparse. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding here that sailing ships and crews that are there almost every year don't have to register. That's not the case and it makes the preparation easier and increases the anticipation for the event immensely if you know who is actually planning to be there.

My experience began the day before. A few very enthusiastic wooden boat friends always meet here in the harbour for smaller fishing boats in Flensburg. Featuring replicas of traditional fishing boats of different regions, mostly at home on the Baltic Sea coast, old traditions are revived in a relaxed atmosphere when you sail a small regatta in the harbour of Flensburg, also row a certain distance and fish for bottles then. This time there were 18 registered boats and their crews with a lot of vigor and visible fun sailing the course in the Flensburg harbour. A 19th boat joined shortly before the start of the regatta and is a sign that the crews of the youth fishing boats from the local area are enjoying this exciting and entertaining event as well. You can discover the start of the rum regatta for yourself, enter into a fair competition with like-minded people or simply have fun on the water. It's a pleasure and best advertising for youth work under sail when you can follow the sailing skills of the mostly young crews from shore. The boats with the furthest journey to the regatta were the "Knipdul" from Poland and "Albatross" from Fareham in England.

After an hour of watching the small fishing boat regatta, I boarded the "Maria Merit" to meet the larger sailing ships on their way from Sonderburg to Flensburg. Actually, we should follow the finish of the Fjord regatta at a buoy in the Flensburg Fjord. We were too late for that. The wind came from for the regatta participants favorable direction and very quickly drove them to their destination this year. We listened to what was happening at the finish buoy over the radio and then saw a few more of the regatta participants, who mostly steered towards the destination of Flensburg harbor under sail. This year the wind and weather were ideal for the Flensburg Fjord Regatta and the sailing ships so very fast on the way. In the evening there was another highlight in the courtyard of the Flensburg Maritime Museum. At the award ceremony, there were also anniversaries, such as the now 170 years old "Rigmor", and loyal guests like the "Johanna von Amrum" considered. At the end, an old gaffler's song was sung, which was written years ago in many stanzas and characterizes the people and scene around the gaff-rigged sailing ships very well.

At this rum regatta, of course, I saw old friends again. These included the three former loggers "Ryvar", "Belle Amie" and "BV2 Vegesack", hajkutters like "Bodil", "Elsa Margrethe", "Jane", "Dagmar Aaen", "Ebba Aaen" and "Dana". I was particularly impressed this year by the "Nobile", which was also once a logger but is now rigged as a racing yacht in the style of the late 19th century Americas Cuppers. She was impressively presented at the Fjord Regatta and the Rumregatta with all sails up.

I had not seen some sailing ships before. These included Danish ships such as the jagt "Kirstine" and the kattegatbåd "H223 Svalen", Colin Archer "Grimsø" and the rescue cutter "Christina RS". Also the "Engelina" I think took part in the Rumregatta in Flensburg for the first time. Finkenwerder cutter "HF244 Astarte" from Bremerhaven had not been there for a long time. The only participating viking ship was "Freja Byrding" from Denmark.

Of course we again experienced an extensive price giving ceremony in Flensburg. The crew around the ships "Clara" and "Seestern" from the Kiel youth cutter project conributed a song. I can still hear their anthem to this day. The "Seestern" was particularly emphasized by the laudator at the award ceremony for hoisting 11 sails at a gaff ketch rigged ship!

On Sunday, the Rumregatta ended quietly, but of course with the blasting of the ship's typhoon to say goodbye when leaving the harbour. Thanks to the "A-team" and the crew of the "Gesine" for all experiences.