Bulletin August 11th 2006

Ship bells – starting signal of the 16th Hanse Sail
The 16th Hanse Sail began on time at 5.30 pm by the striking of the ship bells. Germany’s Finance secretary, Peer Steinbrück, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s premier, Harald Ringstorff and Rostock’s mayor, Roland Methling, performed this ceremonious tradition. Cannon shots from historical cannons and seaplanes accompanied the start of Rostock’s great event.
“The Hanse Sail is the summer top event in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and one of the biggest windjammer reunions worldwide.”, underlined the premier in his speech. Furthermore he praised the university and harbour city “as a location of the maritime superlatives”, because it was economic centre, attractive holiday destination and contact bridge to the Baltic Sea region at the same time. Rostock’s mayor, Roland Methling, said in his opening speech that the traditional sailing city considered the further development of economy and culture as a duty and a chance.
In his speech he announced furthermore, “The Hanseatic city is going to apply as sailing competition location for the Olympic Games in 2016. The federal government strongly supports this decision.”

Successful start in the sailing stadium
20 talented children opened the sailing stadium (Segelstudium) on Thursday at noon. With smooth winds, they slided from the wood peninsula (Holzhalbinsel) and modern storehouses on the water. The regatta conductor, Uwe Ochmann, coaches the 8 to 15-year old children. According to him“The kids are really nervous because they have never sailed with such an audience before.” 
Many guests had gathered at the quays and watched the competitions, which were accompanied professionally on the stages. The agency “Advertising& Events” and “Eurawasser Nord” are sponsoring partners of the sailing stadium. Furthermore, the “Ostseesparkasse” supports the events and sponsors the prizes which are water paintings on canvas. Today at 10am, the final race is going to be held and at 4 pm the former football players from  the local club FC Hansa (Rainer Jahros, Juri Schlünz and Hilmar Weiland) are going to accompany top sailors from Rostock. On the weekend, further regattas and the NDR sailing newcomers are going to begin.

Naval Base ‘Hohe Düne’ open to visitors
The Naval Base Hohe Düne is open to visitors from Friday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Apart from the availability of numerous information, all different armed forces are represented on the Naval base for the first time. The standing army, the Air Force, the Navy and the medical services are going to present their work and are looking forward to answering the visitors’ questions. Apart from that, catering service has naturally been prepared .
The training sailing ship, GORCH FOCK, can only be visited on Sunday on the Naval Base.
This year, a free shuttle service is being provided again by the Navy which makes it easier for the visitors to get there. Barges and harbour tugboats (from the passenger quay near the ferry-boat) take the visitors to the base and thus show them the site from the sea. Buses can be taken hourly from the camp site in Markgrafenheide.

Moorage of GORCH FOCK and MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN
Yesterday, in the morning sunshine, the GORCH FOCK and the frigate MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN moored at the passenger quay in Warnemünde. The training sailing ship of the German Navy, GORCH FOCK, is the flagship of this year’s Hanse Sail. A great number of visitors were gathering at the quay in order to welcome the two ships. The frigate MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN is going to be open to visitors the following days. The opening hours can be seen on the pier next to the ship. The GORCH FOCK can be visited on the Naval base in Warnemünde.

NDR – on the Hanse Sail
The windjammer regatta is centre of the reports of the North German radio, NDR. Daily life-and recorded broadcasts bring the most beautiful pictures on the water, in the air and ashore to the cosy living rooms (6 pm on weekdays, 7:30 pm daily). The TV presenter, Birgit Müller, is going to find a great number of interesting things on the Chinese junk KUBLAI’S KAHN II, when looking at the replica and gathering impressions between galley and engine-room. Hanse Sail guests can have a look at the shooting on Friday and on Saturday at 8.15 pm, the 90 minutes report is already going to be on air (NDR TV).
The NDR reports about many different news from the quays of the Hanse Sail. On Sunday, Andreas Dietz, who will have a look at all the pots and saucepans, not only wants to make the people hungry for the festivities but is also going to prepare the lunch on the NDR stage together with top cooks from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. You are most welcome to have a look.

“No limits XXL” – the mega kick from the Netherlands
Just like a church tower, the carousel crane of 51 metres scrapes the sky in the city harbour. According to market manager, Heiko Lange, the absolute mega kick of all carousels of the 16th windjammer reunion is also the hottest and toughest ride ever seen on the festivity ground in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Eight ‘test pilots’ can go on each trip with the gondola which is made secure for loops, rolls and vertical take-offs. The steel arm takes the brave guests 51 metres up into the air, just to go down towards the ground again. Apart from the ups and downs, the gondola turns around sideways. These parts are responsibilities of the engine and the 2.5 ton heavy counterweight. Heiko Lange admitted, “I will risk a ride – but only before lunchtime ...”

Music and talk on ten stages
The Hanse Sail stage on the Haedge peninsula is offering Shanty and Country music from 11 am to 10 pm and afterwards Rock’n’Roll with the “Crazy Boys” from Rostock.
The biggest stage on the event site was built by the NDR in the city harbour. At 3 pm there is a summer harbour party with the “Fritzing-Dixie-Crew” and a “Dirty Dancing show”. At 7 pm NDR 2 is going to present Mike Leon Grosch and Ayman.
On the stage of the sailing stadium, there will be life music and competetion coverage. From 2.30 pm, different cover bands are going to interprete songs by Jimi Hendrix, the Doors and the Rolling Stones. The “N-Joy” party takes place at 8.30 pm with “Der Fall Böse”, “Bosse” and “DJ Christian Regener” and will especially liven up the younger Sail guests.
On the stage of the LOHRO local radio station in front of the MAU club, there are more bands, “The Season Standard”, “Mensa”, “Tricky Lobsters”, “Beangrowers” and the “Tarantinos”.
The singer Olvido Caché is going to seduce her audience with Cuban sounds at the harbour terrace.
Furthermore, an “Oldieparty” is going to take place on the GOLIATH stage near the landing sites of the passenger boats. The stage in Warnemünde, Baltic point is going to offer Icelandic music. Besides, Olaf Straube, is going to present there his new Hanse Sail song at 3.30 pm.
Moreover, there is more music and entertainment on the occasion of the promenade festivity in Warnemünde in the music pavillion near the lighthouse.

Riding donkeys and playing the didgeridoo
Wednesday night this year’s winner of the HIORTEN regatta was awarded on the donkey farm in Schlage. According to the Dutch captain of the 5TH SYMPHONY, Wim Spaargaren, this year the regatta was a very exciting race. The 66-years old captain was alone on his ship. Because of unfavourable winds, he closely missed the second place of the group C. Winning ship of group A was the GREIF. Its captain, Wolfgang Fusch, tried to ride a donkey on the farm, yesterday, being applauded by the other guests.
All other HIORTEN captains were able to prove once again that they are not only invincible at sea. Riding donkeys, digging and playing the didgeridoo, they also showed their qualities ashore. According to competition conductor, Per Inge Lindquist, the four-hour lasting trip was characterised by a great atmosphere.”
The winners of the HIORTEN regatta were awarded by Rostock’s mayor, Roland Methling, and Hanse Sail manager, Holger Bellgardt as well as by the competition heads.

Birthday at the Hanse Sail
The captain of the three-masted top-sail schooner, HENDRIKA BARTELDS, Robert Postuma, celebrated his 35th birthday, yesterday. The sailor has moored at quay no. 80 and is going to stay there till the end of the Sail. He is offering to take interested guests on his sailing trips. Happy birthday! from everyone in the Hanse Sail office.

Join a trip on a ship
Passengers can still get tickets for a day trip on the beautifully styled classical ships. There are still tickets for the SWAENSBORGH, a three-masted top-sail schooner with 500 square metres of canvas. Tickets are available for Sunday, August 13th.
For Friday, tickets can be acquired for a trip from 10am to 5pm on the HANNE-MARIE from Germany. The high-speed cutter has sailed not only the European seas since 1991. The same goes for the galleass HELENE which was built in 1916. On Sunday, August 13th you can still join a trip on the ship to the bay Mecklenburger Bucht. Interested? Please contact the Tall-Ship booking centre: phone +49 (0)381 208 52-26/-61 or 0162-458 777 2.

Hanse Sail Business forum discussed Baltic Sea region as trade show location
“The Baltic Sea region as a trade show and fair location in the present and future” was subject of yesterday’s Hanse Sail Business forum, which took place in the rotunda of the Hanseatic tradeshow grounds. Many participants had been invited by the German CCI, the trade association, the chamber of trade, the trade show association Rostock and regional businessmen. Furthermore, 15 Polish companies took part in the discussions. The statement of Rostock’s CCI general manager, “Trade show cooperations support the regional economic development. Furthermore, they contribute to the internationality and help to improve the business locations.

Preview for Saturday, August 12th
The squadron parade of all Sail ships begins at 10 am tomorrow. This is one of the Hanse Sail highlights. At the same time, the first beach volleyball matches and first rounds of the KiteSurf Trophy are held. 
Furthermore, the model train exhibition in Warnemünde station is open to visitors from 10am. The same goes for the adventure mile, the market and the showmen in the city harbour.
In the fishing harbour Marienehe, the 6th seaplane reunion is going to start at 10 am. The arrival of the participants of the Hanse Tour Sonnenschein is expected at 5.30. They are going to arrive together with Mecklenburg-Vorpommern premier, Harald Ringstorff, at the city harbour.
“Tango under sails” is the name of the Hanse Sail dance attraction TaMiRo at 9pm on the Waldmarhof. At 8.20 pm the Sailors’ firework will lighten up the harbour sky. Those who fancy music by the Mallorca king, can see and listen to Jürgen Drews at 10.45 pm on the Hanse Sail stage.

Our Hanse Sail series (2)
Iceland – land and folk and the MV partnership
Fundamentally, these economic branches are important for Iceland’s economy: the deep-sea fishing with its products, sheep, cattle and horse husbandry, the textile industry, water power and hot water springs. 95 per cent of Iceland’s export products are fishery produce.
A tenth of the island is covered by glaciers. The biggest in Iceland and the world measures 8,300 square miles (the German island Rügen by eight times). The whole country  is as big as the former GDR. Statistically, about two people live on every square mile of the country. Half of Iceland’s people live in Reykjavik (the English translation: smoke bay). The capital which is 1,129 years old is one of the oldest in Europe.
The relations between Iceland and the Germany’s North-Eastern region go back to the mid-20th century. Of course, even 100 years earlier there have been Danish consulates in Rostock. However, it is not known if they dealt with specifically Icelandic affairs. Between 1956 and 1967 the Icelandic fishing industry bought more than 50 ships from shipyards in Stralsund and Boizenburg and thus opened the doors for a stable trading partnership. Today, Germany is the most important trading partner and trading contacts go a long way. The cultural festival “Nordish tunes” in Greifswald is dedicated to Icelandic music. Other aspects of Icelandic-German relations are tourism, architecture and publishing.
Finally, there is an Icelandic consulate in Rostock, whose head is Detlef B. E. Thomaneck, head manager of DITHO Immobilien. He is the oldest consul here.

The wheather forecast
Unfortunately, we will need an umbrella again. There will be small showers or thunderstorms and a temperature of 19 degrees Celsius. However, no true Sail fan will be irritated by that because there is no such thing as bad Hanse Sail wheather, there are only not adequate clothes.