Bulletin 2 - August, 10th 2007

At the opening day: Surprises and traditional receptions
The opening of the Hanse Sail 2007 had become a fun and enthusiastic. One reason for that have been as well the two authors of water sport books Britt Grünke and Detlef Stöcker wit h a special surprise. The have presented the charming Mayor of Rosenheim with a barrel of the traditional liquor Rostocker Doppelkümmel. Mr. Methling the Mayor of Rostock received in exchange a traditional high percentage liquor from Rosenheim. One of the highlights of the Hanse Sail is the reception for the captains and the technicians of the participating ships. "Captain´s Reception" and "Engineer´s Reception" happened on the trawler "Frieden" in the IGA Park for the first time. 260 captains followed the invitation to the shipbuilding - and navigation museum of Rostock. Among them are the pilots of the 7th Seaplane Meeting .

Seaplanes for the 7th time: four Cessnas were the first
Four Cessnas of different types were the first seaplanes that landed in Rostock yesterday at noon. Even the biggest one-engined seaplane in the world travelled in the direction of the basis of seaflight in Rostock-Marienehe. Altogether eight seaplanes from Sweden, the Netherlands, England, Austria and Germany are expected to take part in the 7th Seaplane Meeting and they are daily inviting to sightseeing flights (Fr./Sa. 10.00 a.m. to 08.00 p.m./ Sunday 10.00 a.m. to 03.00 p.m.). Seaplanes, helicopters and planes of the region overflew the ceremony building a formation and greeted the Hanse Sail opening in the city harbour yesterday. Some of the attractions in Marienehe are also the sightseeing flights in helicopters as well as rescue trainings made by marine divers. Model builders are going to demonstrate the airworthiness of their treasures, especially in the first part of the day.

Coloured variety on the international market
The international market is in front of the Headge-Halbinsel in the city harbour of Rostock. Different European countries like Poland, Russia or Latvia just like many German Baltic cities and holiday regions present themselves at 30 standings. Beside information about the region there are also culinary specialities and typical souvenirs. Member country Sweden presents itself with five stands and will offer a numerous cultural programme. Thomas Lindström takes part in the Hanse Sail with his stand for the first time. Together with his colleagues he offers fresh hand-made candies, "which can’t be found anywhere else in Germany". Lindström is pleased with the following days and hopes to get to know many people and to improve his German.

New possibilities of orientation at the quest for ship-berths
Beside numbered flags in the standing rigging of the participating ships, the visitors of the Hanse Sail in the city harbour will be digitally supported at the search after the berth of their ship. By request, the positions of the ships will be forecasted on two screens and printed. This will happen at an information booth at the anchoring for the passenger ships (around ship berth 84). "We´re glad to take part at in the Sail and to watch the atmosphere directly", comments Christian Fietz, the leader of the BT Fietz company. Information about the berths, the schedule of the Hanse Sail are available here till sunday from 10.00 a.m. to 07.00 p.m. Furthermore you can inform at www.damv.de/hansesail.

Bob Dylan at the "Churchs Night"
"We´re glad about everybody, who visits us", stresses sailor deacon Folkert J. Janssen, one of the initiators of the 3rd "Churche Night". Within the framework of the 17th Hanse Sail, today, guests and seamen will have the opportunity to have a look at the centers of churches, from 09.00 a.m. to midnight. Seven churchs in the city and in Warnemünde are inviting guests to leasure and consciousness. Organ music, liturgical verses and even a youth-rockband shape as well as prayers the night programme. The musical and literary event in St. Petri is called "Petri goes Dylan". Songs by Bob Dylan will be played just like German recitations of his texts. The traditional seaman prayer, which will be on Sunday in the church of Warnemünde takes place under the slogan "Matter of trust". This seaman prayer will be celebrated with the Shantychoir "De Klaashahns" from Rostock.

Car out of the Seine and dentures out of the Warnow
"Shit, the rope is in the screw!". This evil proclamation exists in all languages. Even in Rostock one is able to help immediately when such an accident happens. The Baltic divers, an international honourable enterprise for diver‘s work, retriever’s work and repair work with more than 20 members, have been the rescuers in need for 14 years. They are available day and night, in case of something at the underwater hull clamps, leaks, must be repaired or inspected under the waterline. They have already made great diver’s works in 15 nations on three continents. They pulled cars out of the Seine in Paris and fetched the dentures of a sailor from the bed of the river Warnow, in Warnemünde. There is also something unique in the company´s history: The "Incident Bicycle" in the tunnel of the radiator at the bow of a Baltic Sea ferry.

The Hanse Sail is something like Christmas
for the passenger shipping
The passenger shipping of Rostock has fully flagged, the "days of celebration" of the great event are welcome. The big boat trip round the harbour or the cost line of the "Neuer Strom" in Warnemünde towards the city harbour and back. Courses starting at "Alter Strom", over the "Breitling", towards "Schnatermann" are also offered. With approximately a dozen ships suitable for 3000 passengers the biggest fleet for passenger shipping of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has its home in the Hanseatic city. The paticipating ship "Freya" supports the passenger shipping. The passengers have to deal with a paddle steamship, in this case. This paddle steamship invites to enjoy the wind, the sea and the waves on a slow journey.

Stamp exchange market near the historical cranes
Who looks for stamps with special motives or who wants to have advices for the setting up of a collections at the Hanse Sail, should have a look around the historical cranes in the city harbour. There you can talk to Horst Jann and Kurt Herrmann, who are pensioners acting as representatives for the HANSEPHIL association. They have been taking part in this great event since 1991. "One must be experienced", Herrmann describes his work with stamps. Since the reunification, there are less people who are interested, but he doesn’t mind, "Who once pasted stamps, pasts as long as he lives." A special highlight for collectors are the dialy changing post marks, with maritime motives, as for example the "Dar Mlodziezy", or the city partnership between Rostock and Szczecin.

Our Sail-series 2
Assembled since 700 years
The Swedes, the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's inhabitants have been assembled since over 600 years. The contact started in 1363, when the Duke Albrecht of Mecklenburg became king of Sweden. Cultural events like "Nordischer Klang" and the "Usedomer Musikfestival" have emphasized the historical roots of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania already for years. Participants from Sweden are as present and important as the weekly Sunday church service. Queen Silvia visited the musical festival of Usedom last year and made the event more glamorous. By the way: After Gustav II. Adolf has already steped on German ground in Peenemünde, Olof Palme, the Premier of Sweden, followed. But he used the plane, and he wanted to go to Stralsund as well. In Stralsund Palme brilliantly portrayed with fluently spoken German the history of Swedish Pomerania.

Preview for Saturday, the 11th of August
The gunshots from the banks of Gehlsdorf might wake the last dozers around 10.00 a.m. and they pointed out to the 8th cannoneer meeting of Rostock. Already one hour before, at 9.00 a.m., the start for the 15th cutter sailing race will be made by cannons. The organizer is the "See- und Segelsportverein Rostock e.V.". For that event, approximately 40 cutters are expected. At 01.00 p.m. the first races of the NDR-sailing-talent cup start in the "Segelstadion". Definitely be the SAILOR'S fireworks in Rostock and Warnemünde should be seen, which are presented by the OstseeSparkasse of Rostock.

Weather
The weather is unforeseeable in Middle- and South-Germany, but also in the North-West it could impress some doubtful minds. But the influence on the 17th Hanse Sail should not be that great. Because the low from Austria with thunderstorms weakens towards the West. But satisfyingly the high from Russia will intensify. In some early fog, the weather stays unclear, and there might be some humid cooling with 24 to 26 degrees. But the visitors of the Hanse Sail will be thankful for that.