Press conference August 5th 2008

Kriminaldirektor Peter Mainka (Polizeiinspektion Rostock) Konteradmiral Axel Schimpf (Amtschef Marineamt), Roland Methling (Oberbürgermeister Hansestadt Rostock), Holger Bellgardt (Leiter des Büros Hanse Sail) und Gisbert Ruhnke (Hafenkapitän) (v.l., ganz li. Moderator Horst Marx)


Ships from all directions of the wind rose

Once again the “big orchestra of the wind harps” plays at Rostock. The “melodies” bring a breeze from countries of the Atlantic Ocean, the Black Sea or the North and Baltic Sea to us. Masts, shrouds, and sails of the ships become “wind harps” which drive to the maritime event with the magnetic name in the world from every direction of the wind rose.

The Hanse Sail offers its visitors from August, 7th to 10th an exciting programme at the water, ashore as well as in the air. About 230 traditional and museum ships create in combination with cruisers, big ferries, ships of the German Navy and many yachts an impressive and vivid picture at the Warnow and at Warnemünde. More than one million of visitors may expect attractive ships which arrive at Rostock for the first time, for example the Dutch “Stad Amsterdam“ (constructed in 2000) and the Rumanian ship “Mircea” (1938).

At the Hanse Sail Rostock, one of the world’s biggest maritime events, a lot of anniversaries will take place. In the centre of attention is the 50th anniversary of the sailing training vessel “Gorch Fock”. For this reason on August, 7th a commemorative stamp and a 10 euros votive medal will be presented to public at the passenger’s quay at Warnemünde. Being a long term partner of the Hanse Sail the German Navy enriches the maritime festival with the “Gorch Fock” as well as with the days of the open base or the open ship on the corvette “Braunschweig” which is the latest ship of the NATO.

Further anniversaries are the 75th jubilee of the steamer “Stettin” which participates in every Sail since 1991 and the centenary of fire ship “Fehmarnbelt” and the kuff-tjalk “Jan Huygen”.

Another good friend of the Hanse Sail is the 82-year-old four-mast barque “Kruzenshtern”. This second tallest and still active historic windjammer is the title of the Hanse Sail. Another close connection evolved with the Polish “Dar Mlodziezy” which participated in the Hanse Sail for the first time in 2007.

Maritime heritage in action
A unique advantage of Rostock in comparison to other maritime festivals is the possibility to experience the traditional ships in action next to visit them in the occasion of the open ship. When the traditional sailing vessels drive in the direction of Rostock from 13 different countries two special highlights will take place: On the one hand the Hiorten regatta from Karlskrona to Rostock which means an exciting duel on the distance of 180 sea miles of the Dutch “Artemis” and the German “Greif”.

A little bit slower but nevertheless also spectacular is on the other hand the third cogs race of seven medieval replicas from Sweden, the Netherlands, Bremen, Kiel, Lübeck and Wismar. For the first time two international participants arrive at Rostock, which will be the Dutch “Kamper Kogge” and the Swedish “Tvekamp Av Elbogen“. The cogs race in the direction of the Hanse Sail is the beginning of a number of actions in Lübeck, Wismar and Rostock. These three cities will commemorate a happening which took place 750 years ago. They confederated to a defensive alliance in 1259 which meant the base of the Hanseatic League.

The ships at the Hanse Sail will be moving all the time. Whether it is the traditional regatta of the sailing vessels on Sail’s Saturday or the day and evening trips along the line of “Sail away!” are recommended by the organizers because of the unique atmosphere on board of the galleasses, brigs and schooners. Who books first gets the possibility to sail with its favourite ship. Free places are offered next to others by the “Stad Amsterdam“, the “Dar Mlodziezy“, the “Minerva“ or the “Kvartsita“. Flights on board of helicopters and water planes can be booked at the 8th meeting of the sea planes at Rostock-Marienehe.

Worth seeing water show at the City harbour and at the Warnow
The Hanse Sail increases also in a sportive way by offering an interesting programme at the City harbour, on the Warnow and in the area of Warnemünde. In the Segelstadion at the City harbour (August, 9th and 10th) participants compete for the “NDR-Segeltalent” which is the best new blood sailor of Northern Germany.

The first race of the paddle club Rostock will take place on Sunday (August, 10th) in the occasion of the Hanse Sail. The “Hanse Sail eight” will be paddled in an individual time trial over a distance of 1000 metres and in a triangular course. Since 1991 the traditional regatta of the ZK-10-ranking list for the “Ostseepokal” takes place on August, 9th.

In the occasion of the 18th Hanse Sail the Hanse Sail office offers a challenge cup which will be kept by the “winner over all” until the 20th Hanse Sail in 2010. A sportive highlight with the support of motor craft will be presented at the first water ski shows at the opening day (August, 7th) at the City harbour. In this event it will be proved, if the tugboat “Pionier” is strong enough to tug the water skiers.

Every visitor of the Hanse Sail is invited to participate in the first “Hanse Sail Go Cart Racing Pokal” at the City harbour in front of the “Georg Büchner” on every day of the Hanse Sail. The winner will gain a cruise for two on board of the brigantine “Greif”.

A special guest of the 18th Hanse Sail is the one hand circumnavigator Bernt Lüchtenborg who is going to present his new project “sail2horizons” a two-way non stop circumnavigation around the world at Rostock. Furthermore Lüchtenborg will head the traditional ships leaving the port by his yacht “Horizons” on August, 9th.

Highlights at the cultural event of the Hanse Sail
An artistic highlight of the 18th Hanse Sail will be set on August, 8th at 8.08 p.m. at the IGA-Park by the “Symphonic Pop Orchestra” under conduction of Frank Hollmann and the show “Colours Of The Wind” which will present famous soundtracks.

This show is presented by 56 musicians, 20 singers of a choir and 13 dancers (booking hotline +49 (0) 381 – 60 93 50). On the evening of the opening day of the Sail (August, 7th) the second “Hafensinfonie” under the title “air and wind” takes place at the City harbour of Rostock from 11.00 p.m. In this event seven tyfons, the famous brass band “Fun Horns” as well as a percussion ensemble of the “Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock” build an unforgettable orchestra which will be accompanied by church bells of Rostock.

Almost a dozen stages like those of the NDR, Radio Antenne Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and LOHRO present a varied programme to the visitors. Latvia which is the partner country of the Sail enriches the festival by the participation in the international market as well as by cultural and musical performances. Vivid market live of 500 carnies and marketers dominates the whole area of the City harbour as well as the sea channel and the passenger’s quay of Warnemünde including the stage at the lighthouse.

Another highlight mean two fireworks on Sail’s Saturday which will be shot at the same time at 10.30 p.m. at the City harbour and at Warnemünde. The waterside of Gehlsdorf will also become a little bit noisy. The meeting of historic cannoneers became an inherent part of the Hanse Sail. The salvos out of 40 pipes remember every inhabitant of Rostock at the latest on Saturday (August, 9th): It’s Hanse Sail time.

The event will be almost over when the “Miss Hanse Sail” will be elected for the 4th time on Sunday August, 10th at the stage Hanse Sail.

Exhibitions and further quiet moments
The Baltic Point presents an exhibition of the famous Finish under water photographer Jukka Nurminen. Maritime impressions will also be presented at the “Rostocker Hof”. On Sail’s Friday the big churches of the city of Rostock and Warnemünde invite to silent moments of devotion and small concerts from 9.00 p.m. to 12.00 p.m.

Partners
Since a period of almost 10 years the Hanse Sail office of the Tourismuszentrale Rostock & Warnemünde are closely connected to the international renowned fair BOOT & FUN Berlin. Both big events support each other in their presentation and public relations. “This partnership” says Holger Bellgardt manager of the Hanse Sail office, “is as effective for the exhibition at Berlin as well as for the Hanse Sail. Therefore we are looking forward to keeping this corporate course.”

The Hanseatic city of Rostock thanks to every sponsor and promoter for the generous and uncomplicated support of the Hanse Sail 2008. “Without the committed work of many economic partners and the media on board of the Hanse Sail, without the unweary assignment of assistants and organizers and without the cordially hospitality of Rostock’s inhabitants the festival of the beautiful ships would not be possible”, accentuates the Lord Mayor of Rostock Roland Methling.

Hanse Sail office
Warnowufer 65, 18057 Rostock
Phone +49 (0)381 208 52 33, Fax +49 (0)381 208 52 32
hansesail@rostock.de

Press contact
Press centre at the Hanse Sail from August, 4th to 10th 2008
Warnowufer 65, 18057 Rostock
Phone +49 (0)381 121 64 27, Fax +49 (0)381 121 64 82
presse-hansesail2008@gmx.de

Booking of sailing trips and flights
Tall-Ship Buchungszentrale, Warnowufer 65, 18057 Rostock
Phone +49 (0)381 208 52 26, Fax + 49(0)381 377 74 66 tallshipbooking@gmx.de

Gisbert Ruhnke und Holger Bellgardt (v.l.) präsentieren im Rahmen der Pressekonferenz die neue Fahne zur Liegeplatz-Bezeichnung P 8 während der Hanse Sail Rostock.