Bulletin 3 - August, 11th 2007

Enthusiastic guests on the frigate “Hamburg”
A reception on the flight deck of a German frigate is not common – even for those practised prominents like Prime Minister Harald Ringsdorff and Lord Mayor Roland Methling and the other official guests of the city as well as for the 350 guests from politics, economy, society and German Federal Armed Forces who all were invited by Head of Admiralty Rear Admiral Ulrich Otto. They were impressed by the ovation ceremony for officers and high-ranking representatives as well as by striking the flag, accompanied by the “Marinemusikkorps Ostsee”. Today, the “Hamburg”, which lies on the passenger’s quay invites to “Open Ship”.

Welcome on board for sponsors and partners
Sponsors and partners, friends and patrons of the Hanse Sail, media partners as well as international guests from twin cities made a one-day-trip on the Swedish schooners "Kvartsita" and "Ingo". Among them were representatives of the "Hanseatische Brauerei Rostock", "Coca-Cola", "Globus" and "Lidl". The car fabricators "Subaru", "Fiat", the car dealership "Goldbach", "NDR" and other media just like visitors from Szczecin. This trip combined all partners, and Rostock thanked for the support at the Hanse Sail, which would not exist without the sponsors. The planks of the Swedish schooner were also used as a podium to join new contacts within the EU-promoted "sailBaltic"-projects. Although the weather was not that good, the atmosphere could not be damped.

Good mood at unique acoustics
The concert of the ”European Union Youth Orchestra“ was a successful continuation of the cooperation of the Hanse Sail 2007 and the "Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern". The young musicians from nearly all European countries under the direction of Sir Colin Davis received standing ovations from 740 guests. Hanna Schrader, spokeswoman of the festival, talks about a good mood and says that "Halle 207" is a very good place for the meeting of Hanse Sail and Festival because of its unique acoustics. It’s something special when music is accompanied by Tyfon without disturbing it.

"Sport is trump"
Some of the participants of the Hanse Sail will demonstrate their fitness today from 12.00 a.m. 40 ships will start at the traditional "Hanse-Sail-Regatta" outside Warnemünde. These are yards, galleasses, schooners and modern yachts, under the supervision of the leader of the race Dr. Dieter Goldschmidt of the "Warnemünder Segelclub e.V.". The course starts in Warnemünde and goes to Heiligendamm and back. „A gem for all guests on board of the participants, but also for the viewers", mentions Dr. Goldschmidt.

Golden fountains shoot from the water of the river Warnow
There will be enchanting fireworks in the city harbour of Rostock today at 10.30 p.m. Lightning bombs will start the event at the East mole of Warnemünde, while golden fountains will grow out of the Warnow. Clouds of thousands of small blossoms will explode in the sky, multicoloured comets will rise to the sky, silver chrysanthemums will change into red ones. The Saxon company "Feuerwerke Mathias Kürbs" calls the impressing picture "Blinkzauber", which a French expert created for the European championships of the fireworks. He is an established pyrotechnician from the region around Berlin and has been creating surprising pictures with different effects for 30 years.

Enormous interest in the 5th soccer-cup
One thing is clear before the kick-off, the 5th Hanse-Sail-Cup of the "Rostocker Pilsener" will create a new winner. Because, neither the team of the "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" (winner of 2005), nor the previous year’s winner "Gorch Fock", will take part in the tournament, which takes place in the gym in Marienehe. Nevertheless, 12 teams will join the cup - and one replacement team in case of something bad happens to one of the other teams. The "Cuauhtémoc" (Mexico), the "Dar Mlodziezy" (Poland) and the "Hamburg" of the German navy will send two teams to the tournament. The teams of the Polish "Iskra" and "Bryza", just like the Russian "Shtandart" and the German "Fortuna" will complete the number of competitors.

Entertainment for everyone
There are 9 stages of different size to entertain and amuse the guests of the Hanse Sail. The attractions in the last two days were the bands "Revolverheld" and "Right Said Fred". One of their fans is Sandra Keller. "It was absolutely fantastic", enthuses the pupil after the performances. Today, the band "Rednex" from Sweden will perform their new single on the NDR-stage. Sandra declares: "I will definitely enjoy it". On the stage in the city harbour a diverse programme will be offered with Shanty, hits or rock´n roll. Unconventional dance interludes will be performed this evening at 09.00 p.m. by the five young ladies of the Coyote Girls Ugly on the showtruck KRÜGER.

"Concordia" - the training ship from overseas
The Concordia travelled most to get to Rostock. The barkentine of the West Island College, from the Canadian New Scotland, started in Vancouver, crossed the Pacific and landed in India. From there it passed the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the Strait of Gibraltar, into the Atlantic Ocean to reach Szczecin finally through the Northern- and Baltic Sea. Then the Concordia landed in Rostock. Their next stop will be Copenhagen. After an exchange of students, the sailboat having three sails will steer towards home.

The necessary supporters of the Hanse Sail 2007
As in the past years, the Hanse Sail is supported by approximately 200 volunteer supervisors. They hand out flyers, sell souvenirs and aid the "Hanse Sail Verein e.V." in keeping the Sail going. Among the supporters there are nearly 70 who take charge of individual ships. They keep the crews informed and care for the wellbeing of the crew members. One of these supporters, and a member right from the start, is Katja Herrmann, who supports the crew of the "Alexa". She hands out the regional newspaper to the crew members, cares for events and also - always smiling - for their personal wealth. All crews thank for the offer and the quality of the support by the "Hanse Sail Verein" and they will be glad if they can enjoy the same service in the following years.

The electricians run on adrenaline
In a flash the Hanse Sail would be switched off if the electricians were not on their position. Carousels, ovens and barbecues simply would not work. The team of "Elektro-Anschluss-Service Rostock" (EAS) has been in charge of the electric power supply in the areas of events from the Rostock city harbour to Warnemünde. It took 16 men from EAS about a week to build up the Hanse Sail – to run more than 15 kilometers of cable, to install about 200 junction boxes and to provide 6 big connection containers. The Hanse Sail consumes about 5000 kilowatts of electricity, as much as a small town like Tessin or Sanitz. EAS-director Wolfgang Kröger stresses the good cooperation with the “Stadtwerke”.

Parties with Livemusic on the old fishing trowler
“Welcome on board” - this is also the slogan of the art project “Stubnitz” that lies in the city harbour. This fishing trawler is 30 years old and belonged to the deep-sea fishery of the former GDR. Since 15 years, it has been an institution for youth culture in the greater Rostock area. The “Stubnitz”, which once had been on fishing tours in Greenland, Iceland and Canada, has also been one of the hosts of the Hanse Sail since 1997. The café on board has got 200 seats. Here the bands “Distemper” from Russia, “Bombus”and  “BAn BAn Babylon Bajasch” from Germany, 8 DJs and soloists will perform their music.

Our Sail-series 3
Sweden’s Rostockians – Rostock’s Swedes
In 1856, Rostock’s merchant Kassel was appointed Royal Swedish-Norwegian Consul of both grand duchies of Mecklenburg by King Oskar I. Until 1943 the Swedes have been consularly present. In 1992, King Karl XIV Gustav appointed Wilfried Hontschik, president of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Consul in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since he had retired due to his age, the businessman Axel Erdman has held this office. Because of his credits, he received a knighthood as “Ritter des Nordsternordens” by the King. Sweden’s Rostockians and Rostock’s Swedes also moved together in the course of the project of the reproduction of the postal sailer “Hiorten”.

Outlook for Sunday, August, 12th 2007
Accompanied by gunshots of the 8th Cannoeer’s and Banger’s Meeting the participating ships take leave to Warnemünde at 10.00 p.m. At the same time, the NDR-sailing talent performs his show in the sailing stadium. From 12.00 a.m. there will be “Open Ship” of the "Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger" in the city harbour, at 04.00 p.m. the "Miss Hanse Sail" contest will start, at 06.00 p.m. The winners of the 17th "Hanse-Sail-Regatta" will be honoured on the stage "Hanse Sail" and from 08.00 p.m. Rostock’s gastronomes invite the sailing crews in the course of the campaign “Gastliche Mecklenburger”.

Weather
Yesterday, the Austria-Cyclone brought rain and took the sun away from the Sail visitors. Today, all hope for a Bretagne-Anticyclone, which is wandering towards northeast and will reach the Sail after the early morning fog. If this anticyclone gets support of the South-Swedish warm front, the Saturday should be warm and dry with a moderate breeze.