Bulletin 2 - August, 8th 2008

Bangers in the sun: The 18th Hanse Sail begins
Shots of historic cannons underlined the opening of the 18th Hanse Sail Rostock. Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Dr. Harald Ringstorff opened the big maritime festival of Rostock and remembers the last ten years with good grace. “The meeting of traditional sailing ships became a motor of the tourism of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with an effect beyond the boundaries”, said the patron of the 18th Hanse Sail. The sunny ceremony at the stage Hanse Sail attracted many viewers. The Latvian band “Podzinas” as well as Latvian costume dancers completed the felicitous opening.

Rostock’s first navigation officer is not a freshman at the Sail
Weather-beaten and experienced in the Sail: Gisbert Ruhnke (57) is the new harbour captain of Rostock since five weeks. He already attended seven big events in his former position of a harbour master and substitute of the former harbour captain Stefan Rathmanner. Now Ruhnke who is Pomeranian-born is the manager of the Hafen- und Seemannsamt and guides a crew which experienced already 17 meetings of windjammers. Ruhnke studied seafaring in Rostock and discovered the whole world. Furthermore he became a Captain of ocean crossing and passed a machine’s patent. His professional development can be titled by a “non stop learner”. At the “Deutsche Nautische Verein” and at the “Deutsche Seemannsmission” the harbour captain is as engaged as in the education of prospective navigators or experienced sailors.

Sponsors sail on board of the „Stad Amsterdam“
Today partners, sponsors and promoters of the Hanse Sail will sail across the Baltic Sea on board of the smart clipper “Stad Amsterdam”. This 3-mast full rigged ship with white sails and a slim and black hulk of steel comes to Rostock for the first time. About 100 guests get the possibility to experience a sailing trip on board of an “old” traditional sailing vessel from the 19th century by enjoying the comfort of the present. Next to ambassadors of the Hanseatische Brauerei Rostock also Coca-Cola Erfrischungsgetränke GmbH and the OstseeSparkasse Rostock, which are the most important sponsors of the meeting of windjammers, participate in the trip. The trip also means a thanks for the various smaller enterprises of the area in and around Rostock, starting with a car dealer to the Supermarkt Vertrieb. “Stad Amsterdam” is a fast offshore sailing ship and means pride and joy of the Dutch traditional sailing ships. The clipper has been reconstructed according to historic ideals from 1997 to 2000.

Neighbouring country Poland visits Rostock
This year two beautiful Polish ships participate in the 18th Hanse Sail Rostock: The full rigged ship “Dar Mlodziezy” (Warnemuende, pier 8) and the brig “Fryderyk Chopin” (City harbour, berth 79). Both rank among the world’s fastest sailing ships and were planned by the Polish design engineer Zygmunt Choren. The coast guards of the Hanse Sail were assisted by Polish policemen from Szczecin for the first time. The managing marshal of the coast guard police department of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Wolfgang Ewerdt informs guests of the Sail about the coast guard’s work at the festival. The policemen from Poland want to benefit of the experiences of the German policemen with regard to future Polish sailing events. The Polish country, people, culture and culinaria can be experienced every day at the Polish market across the City harbour.

Economy meets at the Warnow and at the Baltic Sea
for the 5th time
“Business meets Hanse Sail” already for the 5th time. The meeting of economics at the Sea attracts also in 2008 more than 300 persons of policy and economy and got the meaning of being the meeting of deciders of northeast Germany. The meeting starts with the vespertine reception of the Lord Mayor of Rostock and the “Gesellschaft für Wirtschafts- und Technologieförderung Rostock” at the newly opened Neptun Einkauf Center on the area of the traditional shipyard. Saturday starts with a Sail Brunch at the Yachthafenresidenz Hohe Düne. Next to an impressing view on the sailing ships the manager of Germanwings and further orators report their experiences to the audience. A visitation of the “Großrohrwerk”, a guided tour through the historic city of Rostock and a trip on board of the Russian 4-mast barque “Kruzenshtern” are also prearranged.

6th Rostocker Pilsener Hanse Sail-cup thrills football player
of the ships
The winners of the Hanse Sail-cup impress with melodious names: In 2005 the players of the “Mecklenburg-Vorpommern” won the cup as crew members of the “Gorch Fock” won in 2006. In 2007 the cup was dominated by the Polish football players. The team of the training sailing ship “Iskra” won in an exciting final against the team of the “Dar Mlodziezy” by 4 to 0. In regard to the thrilling combats of the last years it’s no surprise that 10 teams have already announced in the next cup at the SV Eintracht Rostock which organizes the event. “We also expect some waverers to participate spontaneously” says the active manager of the tournament Gerhard Wendt who awaits a total participation of 12 to 15 teams in the cup 2008.

Helping hands at the 18th Hanse Sail
They are between us. At the stage, at the car park, at the souvenirs stand, shuttle between ship and booking centre: the honorary assistants of the 18th Hanse Sail Rostock. Guenther Senf assembled a 170 person strong team, which overturns itself by helpfulness. Around the clock it is available to crews, artists and guests – goes shopping, takes care about repairs and the information supply. Tanja Voigt (23) is the person in charge for the Latvian pop group „Podzinas“. She escorts the four girls to their performances, solves their problems and shows them the local sights. „We like to show that Rostock is a hospitable city“, Guenther Senf explained. That works: the compliment of the first class support at the Hanse Sail crosses abroad the borders of the city.

Historia Spektaculum –
mediaeval market situation at the museum market
Go back in time on a journey, when the beer tasted sweetly, the meal was solid and the cups were made of wood. Daily from 10.00 a.m. the historical market sets the visitors of the Hanse Sail back into the mediaeval. The regularly highlight is the pirate spectacle starting at 12.00 a.m. every second hour. Herein fire-eater, juggler and musicians show a breathtaking show. At the do-it-your-self-mile tanner, marker and marionettes artists produce and sell their goods. The event mile allures with dainties, produced by mediaeval recipes. A sip honey beer or cherry beer, a piece of spit-roasted pig and bread from the oven of stone will starch you for the further visit of the Hanse Sail. While the parents feast, the children can enjoy themselves on the swing boat.

Harmonic sounds at the 2nd harbour symphony
It has been an adventurous project. Even the conception of the “Hafensinfonie”  “Luft und Wind” meant a lot of work for its composer Wolfgang Schmiedt. On Thursday August, 7th at 11.00 p.m. uncommon instruments created a mystical and maritime harmony: Seven ship’s tyfones, the brass band “Fun Horns”, a ten-person percussion ensemble, one harmonica and the church bells of Rostock. The audience at the pier of the Headgehalbinsel were impressed by the creative sounds and colours. “The courage has been worthwhile” says Schmiedt. However the project could not be possible without the help of a lot of sponsors: Baltic Lloyd, Fairplay Towage, Frachtcontor Junge & Co., Heinrich Hirdes GmbH, Homtrans Service, Interseroh Metallaufbereitung, Sartori & Berger, ScanRo GmbH, Seehafen Wismar GmbH, Techem.

Radio Station on tour
After some years of abstinence the popular radio station Antenne MV will present itself again at the traditional location between the grain silos at the city harbour Rostock. Regine Hildebrandt member of the producing company points out, that it is very important to Antenne MV to be on the spot again at the biggest cultural event of this federal State. Holger Bellgardt, leader of the Hanse Sail office, is also looking forward for the well-known music programme and the extra cultural offering. On Friday 7.00 p.m. the summer hit 2008 will be elected, which the Antenne-listener could choose from ten aspirants, the last weeks. Three summer hit aspirants will be on the spot, for example Revolverheld with their football song for the EM 2008. Constantly for years at the habitual location at the city harbour is the Norddeutsche Rundfunk with its programmes N JOY (Thursday), NDR 2 (Friday) and NDR 1 Radio MV (weekend). The local radio station LOHRO let its listener „rock & pop“ in front of the MAU-Club.

Insight into the Navy
Open ships, days of the open base and presentations. The Hanse Sail offers a lot of possibilities to get a keen insight into the German Navy – at three different locations. From Thursday to Saturday the naval base Warnemuende opens its doors for interested guests and presents a varied maritime programme. A highlight of the Hanse Sail will be the open ship of the “Gorch Fock” which is the sailing training vessel of the German Navy which is going to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Visitors will be welcome on Friday and Sunday to get in touch with this impressing ship. In contrast to the “Gorch Fock” the corvette “Braunschweig” the latest ship of the Navy opens its stelling for interested visitors. Both ships are moored at the passenger’s quay. From Friday to Sunday the speed boat “Zobel” is open at the City harbour.

Heavy diving under the copper helmet
„Also under water the Hanse Sail is beautiful“, Rolf Schmeckel is smirking, as he is standing dry and sportive ashore. Three great event days and several baths in the city harbour are approaching for the chairman of the Warnemuende helmet diver club „Ostsee“ and his friends. From Friday to Sunday (August 8th-10th) from 10.00 a.m. at the top of the hour there is the show of the mermen. 20 friends of helmet diving are attending to the Hanse Sail. A helmet diver in a complete outfit increases his own body weight about 70 kilogram by the helmet, the plumb belt and the iron shoes and needs to be in tow by two men. 10 years ago the unique club in Northern Germany was founded in Warnemuende. It maintains the tradition of the former helmet divers, whose dangerous hard work was replaced long time ago by the modern light diving equipment.

Fireworks at the city harbour and Warnemuende at the
18th Hanse Sail
Traditionally the Saturday remains to the fireworks at the city harbour of Rostock and Warnemuende. In each case the first sky rockets will be shot in the air at 10.30 p.m. and impress the Sail guests with its adventurous figures in the sky until 10.45 p.m.  Otherwise the different events determine the face of this day: from the regatta races of the NDR talents in the sail stadium at 9.00 a.m., to the open ships „Braunschweig“ at passenger quay Warnemuende or the speed boat „Zobel“ in the city harbour (both German navy), right up to the continuation of the events under the programme of the 8th international sea plane meeting or the international market with stalls of the Sail partner country Latvia.

Our Sail-Series - 2
The Christmas tree – a present of the Latvian for the Christendom
„All over the top of the fir tree I saw lights sparkling”. Who wrote this christmassy line of poem could possibly have been in Riga. They say 1510 the traders there have decorated a fir with flowers and lights to commemorate the Nativity. Nowadays this „Bomis Ziemsvïtki“ is a symbol of Christmas in many countries! But the Latvians did much more for the world. Thence the colour photography obtained strong impulse. The smallest camera was built at the Riga VEF factory at the coast of the Duena. This company had a significant part by the constant electrification of the USSR. Automotive engineering and aircraft construction, the production of energy and the port economy promoted and communicated the country.

Weather
It’s easy to understand that several visitors of the Sail look back with fear on the weather of the last year. Sail manager Holger Bellgardt remembers it as the most terrible weather of the last years. On Friday another thundery day is going to annoy the guests of the Hanse Sail. Maybe the chance of clearing off during the day may encourage the visitors. However it is not sure if the weather will improve. Visitors should bring along their umbrellas.