Bulletin August 10th 2006

Welcome words by German Finance Secretary Peer Steinbrück
“As a true ‘northern light’ I am very glad to be able to take part at the opening of the Hanse Sail. It is one of the top maritime events in the whole Baltic Sea region and thus a real ‘must’ for sailing fans in Germany and abroad.
Open-mindedness and tolerance characterised the Hanseatic trade and cooperation 650 years ago and are special features of today’s Hanse Sail. I wish that tolerance and open-mindedness will also become the fundament  of the intercultural understanding within Europe and of a shared European tradition. I wish good luck for the 16th Hanse Sail and I hope that all guests will have fun and enjoy the big programme.

Opening of the international village
During the Hanse Sail, the International village is going to be officially opened by Rostock’s mayor, Roland Methling, and many guests from the twin cities. There are merchants from Poland, Lithuania and Iceland.
Two years ago, Polish sutlers participated in the Sail for the first time, initiated by the Polish-German association. This lead to the idea to build a Polish village, which is supposed to become a tradition. Wojtek Miziewicz and his young team from the Szczecin Ustudio are responsible of the logistic preparation. This year, 14 merchants are going to offer Polish traditional food, ceramics, jewelry, sweets and arts and crafts.
Furthermore, Pop and Rock of the Sixties and Seventies on a stage also belong to the Polish village. Next year, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the partnership of the twin cities, several representatives from Rostock’s twin city are also going to take part.

Sky-divers at the opening
Three parachutists are going to float down from the sky for the opening of this year’s Hanse Sail. The three soldiers from the German Army (Bundeswehr) are going to jump down from a height of 1,500 metres from a ‘Seaking’ helicopter and land shortly before the opening in front of the main stage in the city harbour. Arriving safely, they want to bring the Hanse Sail flag, the Icelandic flag and a smoke candle.

50th birthday of the German Navy
Happy 50th! to the German Navy. On this occasion the Bundeswehr are going to invite the public. Among the ‘open’ ships are the training sailing ship, GORCH FOCK and the frigate MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN. The Naval base Hohe Düne is also going to open its doors to the public. Furthermore, Navy officers want to inform the visitors about the jobs at the Bundeswehr, and a maritime shuttle service has been organised. The German Navy is also going to represent itself in the city harbour. According to Vice Admiral, Ulrich Otto, “the festivities are a clear commitment that we feel very comfortable in Rostock and its surroundings.

Hanse Sail – also a media event
Rostock’s mayor, Roland Methling, and head manager of the Hanse Sail, Holger Bellgardt, were obviously looking forward to the event. The numerous journalists learned a great number of news on the press conference.
The most important numbers of this year’s windjammer reunion are 300 participating ships and 700 showmen and artists on seven event stages. Besides, 150 journalists from Germany and abroad have registered for the event. Alone 50 photo reporters are going to give an account of the Sail. The highlight of the press conference was the unveiling of the first of 45 heraldic animals of the Hanseatic city, by the Rostocker sculptor, Thomas Jastram.

HIORTEN-Regatta - GREIF first ship home
21 traditional sailing vessels and yachts took part in the HIORTEN-Regatta. Dr. Dieter Goldschmidt and Per Inge Lindquist launched the starting signal on Sunday. The GREIF from Greifswald made it in only 25 hours and 28 minutes and was thus the first ship home. The LADY ELLEN from Sweden arrived second, and third ship home was the KUBLAI’S KAHN II. The latter is the Asian junk of the adventurers, Axel Brümmer and Peter Glöckner. The regatta was a very relaxed journey.  According to the competition supervisor, Goldschmidt, no problems had occurred apart from the KUBLAI’S KAHN II whose mast had nearly broken even twice.
The race of the group of the yachts was very exciting. The Russian KARAVELLA was able to win the close neck-and-neck race. The AQUARIUS, also from Russia, came 25 minutes later. Another nine minutes after the two Russian vessels, the Dutch 5TH SYMPHONY crossed the finishing line. The GREIF VON UECKERMUENDE won the race of the group of the small traditional sailing ships and arrived long before the second vessel from the Ukraine, the PRESVIATA POKROVA.

Cogs meet cruise liners
“A unique and fascinating scenery”, says Rostock’s mayor and is enthusiastic about the five cogs which have come together to the Hanse Sail for the first time. After a cog reunion in Wismar, the five replicas of German Hanseatic cogs arrived together with others sailing ships from Wismar, like the Russian SHTANDART. The cogs are called UBENA VON BREMEN, ROLAND VON BREMEN, KIELER KOGGE, LISA VON LÜBECK and WISSEMARA. The impressive medieval art of shipbuilding is going to come upon four modern cruise liners at their farewell at the port party with fireworks.

6th maritime security colloquium
An improved cooperation of the Baltic Sea nations is necessary, considering the closer merging of Europe. This cooperation is especially important for the security politics, having in mind the impending international terrorism. The 6th maritime security colloquium dealt with these subjects. The Karl-Theodor- Molinari foundation, the Bundeswehr association and the German Navy Institute organised this colloquium, which took place yesterday in the TRIHOTEL Rostock. The speakers talked about new forms of future cooperation.

60 years deep-sea fishing in East Germany
That was the subject of yesterday’s 4th colloquium of the regional group of the German association of seafaring and naval history. 130 participants learned about very different aspects of the economic branch in 17 lectures. Günter Ubl, the former chairman of the fishery products company underlined a supply in line with demand as the most important task. The fleet obtained more than one third of the catch (sometimes more than 300,000 tons each year) in free sea areas. In 1990 a government programme for the transition towards  market economy was developed in cooperation with experts from West Germany. Today, the deep-sea fishing in Mecklenburg is in Dutch hands, owned by Parleviert& Van der Plas. The first internet report can be read and seen on Friday in: www.boulevard-rostock.de.

Diving show in the Haedge harbour
On the occasion of the 50th birthday of the German Navy, the helmet diving club Ostsee e.V. has organised a diving event as never seen before in Rostock. Thus, historical and modern helmet diving instruments are presented, and thus a history overview is presented – from the very beginning of diving until today.
The events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday take place between 10am and 6pm in the Haedge harbour. Apart from the shows, the helmet divers are going to offer diving trials. But of course the diving ability of the applicants will be tested in advance.

Still room available
One of the biggest and most beautiful Polish sailing ships, the brig FRYDERYK CHOPIN is inviting for a day trip from the city harbour to the sea at Warnemünde, on Thursday from 11am to 5pm. The fast windjammer ship with 1,200 square metres of canvas is as beautiful for the observer as a piano concert of the great composer is for the listener. For Sunday, there are also still available seats on the sailing trip from 10 to 5.
Moreover, the Russian frigate SHTANDART, a replica, true to the original, of the flagship of the tsar, Peter I., invites for a joint trip. Please contact the Tall-Ship booking office at phone +49 (0)381 208 52-26/-61 or 0162-458 777 2.

The pirate river at the Warnow
We are going to take 900 passengers an hour on our pirate river, says August Schneider (42) from Münster. His colleagues have built up the white-water ride in the city harbour. 150 tons of heavy equipment need to be installed, among that ten trunk boats and life-size pirate figures. One of those freebooters is the welcoming clown who attracts the visitors with the taped voice at the entrance. The wet pleasure attraction with cries of joy and splashing waves draws the tourists magnet-like. 120,000 litres of water are needed to run the boats. August Schneider enjoys a slight shower himself before his pirate river will start to flow. Before the public crowds arrive, everyone of the team gives top priority to a test ride, which is traditional for the travelling folk.

Our Hanse Sail series (1)
Iceland – a historical view
1,200 years ago, Irish-Scottish monks are supposed to have started the settlement on Iceland. Later the Vikings came there. Since 1,000 AD Iceland has been a Christian country. That was enacted by the parliament Althing, which had been founded 70 years earlier and is thus one of the oldest parliaments within Europe. The representatives as well as the president are voted by the people every four years.
On the other hand, power has not been in similarly constant hands. In about 1250 annexation to Norway – decided by Althing. 300 years later the Danish subdued the country. In 1944 the Icelanders ended the occupation  by a referendum. The country decided for a new constitution. Already in 1874, the Danish king granted certain autonomous rights to the Icelanders. Iceland was a kingdom from 1918 to1944, ruled by the Danish monarch. Today Iceland is member of the UNO and the NATO.

Preview for Thursday, August 10th
The 16th Hanse Sail is going to be officially opened at 5.30pm on the Hanse Sail stage in the city harbour. From 9pm to 1pm the gala concert of the Bundeswehr big band is planned. The noteworthy classical orchestra is going to entertain the audience with music of Gloria Estephan or Robbie Williams. Beforehand, the Hanse Sail stage is a venue for the shanty choirs, from Oldenburg and Kiel.
The stage at the lighthouse in Warnemünde offers pop songs and international hits with Theo& Corinna at 3pm. Afterwards, the “Seagulls” from Warnemünde and the popular folk band “Irish coffee” are going to liven up the public.

The wheather forecast
The truly hot summer seems to have ended one day before the opening of the 16th Hanse Sail. A low-pressure area from Poland brings rain. Sometimes the Hanse Sail guests will need an umbrella, in any case today. But there might be hope that a high-pressure area from France will win the meterological fight.