Bulletin 1 - August, 9th 2007

Prime minister Dr. Harald Ringstorff:
"The port Rostock opens Mecklenburg-Vorpommern the world. The sea connects peoples and nations. That´s how international flair enriches the city. Who once has experienced the hospitality of the inhabitants of Rostock, likes to come here again. Even the Hanse Sail 2007 will contribute to the feelings guests and visitors will have: MV, feels good!"

Mayor Roland Methling:
"Rostock prepares for the Hanse Sail and looks forward to the guests from all over the world. The inhabitants of Rostock enjoy the nicest maritime-days of the year. The Hanse Sail stands for hanseatic traditions and for the maritime economy of Rostock and this region of the Baltic coast. That´s how an event has grown out of a maritime funfair. This event has become, one of the city’s most important representatives. The Hanse Sail not only shows the history of Rostock, but also the future. Welcome to the Warnow and the Baltic Sea!"

Rostock expects guests from 15 cities
Rostock expects guests from 15 cities to come to the 17th Hanse Sail. Among the guests from 12 countries are the ambassador of Mexico, S.E. Jorge Castro-Valle-Kuehne, the ambassador of Canada, S.E. Paul Dubois as well as the envoys of Sweden and Poland, Jan Lundi and Wojciech Pomianowski. Mayors and presidents of the cities Halmstadt and Karlskrona in Sweden, Szczecin in Poland, Beloslav (Bulgaria), Rijeka (Croatia) and Kiel have also announced. Apart from that, congressmen from Denmark, Russia, Lettland, Litauen and Finland followed the invitation to the 17th Hanse Sail.The guests are welcomed today (Thursday) by the mayor of Rostock, Roland Methling. They will also sign up in the visitor´s book. Journeys by ship are planned as well as a visit at the concert of the "Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern".

A very special German-Polish Sailing trip
An anniversary and the short time between two great maritime events was, and still is, cause for a special meeting between German and Polish entrepreneurs. It also is a unconventional way to get closer referring to business and private sphere. The Polish port Szczecin and the Hanseatic city Rostock are partner cities since 50 years. Because of the ending of the Tallships' races in Szczecin 40 women and men with great expectations met on Monday this week on board of the Polish tall ship "Dar Mlodziezy". They wanted to sail to Rostock to enjoy the Hanse Sail together. Besides the "Dar Mlodziezy" the German "Greif" - set course towards Rostock. The German-Polish crew members are expected to arrive on Thursday at 9.00 a.m. in Warnemünde.

An overview from the head of the big wheel from Denmark
There are two big wheels in the city harbor of Rostock for the first time. The new vantage point, which is 38 metres high and has a weight of 104 tons, comes from Denmark. There, in Denmark, more specific in Jutland it was bought by Kathrin Übrigkeit (35) and Alfred „Friedl“ Geisler (36), two young carneys from Rostock. Their first tour with their new trinket through the land of Hans Christian Anderson took 6 weeks. Now the big wheel is going to be in Rostock for the first time during the Hanse Sail and will be located near the Kabutzenhof. Of Course everybody is hearty invited to visit the new, maritime decorated attraction. „In Denmark we bought old anchors, buoys, barrels for herrings and hawsers from several fishers and junk-dealers,“ Katrin Übrigkeit describes „ to fit visually in the meeting of the tall ships.“ Especially the Hanse Sail big wheels are mainly visited by photographers and film-makers since there is no higher observation point at the harbor than the big wheels.

A unforgettable impression in the wind of a guest sailor-journey
The message for guest sailors: on Thursday, Friday and Sunday there are still places for guest sailors on 31 of 100 ships that offer journeys day and night. Saturday is unfortunately full. Here are some advices: A special offer is the "Eendracht", a 3-mast schooner, which has a good price, especially for families. 160,00 € for two adults and two children. The other prices vary between 25,-€ on the cutter "Greif" and 99,-€ on the barkentine "Antiqua", These prices include a drink and usually a soup or stew. Ones, who want to be guest sailors, can ship on the "Concordia", "Linden", "Fortuna", "Fulvia", "Hanne Marie", "Jane","Marco Polo", "Sunthorice" and on the "Swaensborgh". So, if you´re interested call the Tall-Ship Buchungszentrale. You will be connected to Mandy Schulz, if you dial +49 (0)381 208 52 26.

Our Sail-series 1
The kingdom Sweden is partner at the Hanse Sail 2007
Sweden is this year's partner country of the Hanse Sail. A long lasting, collective history connects Rostock and Sweden. The Danish Queen Margarethe I. proclaimed the union from Kalmar in 1397, which unified the three kingdoms Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Because of the 30 Years War, Sweden gained a lot of land at the south part of the Baltic Seas coast. After the Nordic Wars, maintained by Napoleon, only Western Pomerania remained in the hands of Sweden. Subsequently, in 1808 Napoleon announced his marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte as the new King of Sweden. He managed it to keep out of warlike conflicts. This was the basis of the policy of neutrality, Sweden has stuck to since the Krim-War, in other words for more than 150 years. The most famous assertor of the policy of neutrality in these days, however, is Olof Palme.

Weather
Absolutely fantastic weather right from the start of the 17th Hanse Sail: A high above the Azores pleasures the organizers, the designers and the guests of the Hanse-Sail. It wasn´t expected to be that great. Although the temperatures are varying between 18 to 20 degrees with wind forces from 3 to 4 one feels quite comfortable in Rostock and Warnemünde. There is no rain, which makes it even more attractive to go shopping and have a look around in the city harbour or in Warnemünde.