GICON and IfAÖ at Hansesail 2010

Joint sail on the cog ship "WISSEMARA"

Just like every previous first weekend in August, the Hansesail took place this year in Rostock.  From August 5-8, approx. 28,000 sailors chartered several historic tall ships at the 20^th anniversary celebration of the event  

Officially, just fewer than 250 sailing ships participated in the sail, from flat-bottomed ships and schooners, zeesen boats, clippers, yachts, to cogs.  Also present were the legendary “Stettin” steam ice-breaker, the “Stefan Jantzen” a retired ice-breaker, diverse paddle steamers and even a “concrete ship”.  Alongside were countless small private sailboats and motor boats.  The largest participating ship was the “Sedov” (Russia, 4-masted boat, built in 1921, 117.5 m long), followed by the “Kruzenshtern” (Russia, 4-masted boat, built in 1926, 114 m long) and the “Dar Mlodzeizi” (Poland, fully-rigged ship, built in 1982, 108.6 m long).      

The highlight of the Hansesail was, just like every year, the Saturday evening cruise in which all participating ships sail from the city harbor down the Warnow River, past the international port, out to the Baltic Sea and there, after setting the sails and receiving the “Engines off!” command from the captain off the coast of Warnemünde, crossing the Baltic Sea.   

GICON and IfAÖ (English: Institute for Applied Ecology) chartered, together with partners, the cog ship “Wissemara” from Wismar  (www.poeler-kogge.de ) and took part in the cruise with approx. 60 guests.  The completely successful cruise on an impressive ship was supported by the good weather, frolicking atmosphere, and not least by the exquisite buffet on board.  At the conclusion, a 20-minute fireworks display took place, which were set off in Warnemünde on the Mole.  Our guests could be astounded by the fireworks direct on the sea from the cog ship, which prefaced a successful conclusion of the cruise back along the Warnow River to dock 92 in the city harbor.  Our special thanks go to the crew which perfectly controlled the ship and were always cheerfully available for information.  We’d also like to thank the team at Seeperle in Wismar (www.seeperle-wismar.de) for the flawless catering.          

GICON and IfAÖ will also be taking part in next year’s Hansesail aboard the “Wissemara”.