Sail on Sunday

East-rockers are guests at the Hanse Sail
The Puhdys and Karat were the centre of the evening-program of the anniversary-Sail on Friday, August 6. A feast for true East-rock-fans. Those who were well organized could see both bands. Karat started their performance at 9 p.m. on the NDR-Stage. The Puhdys entertained the audience on the Hanse-Sail-Stage at 10 p.m.. Around 9.30 p.m. the “boys” around frontman “Machine” came together backstage to pose for a photo and to sign a VIP-shirt, which will be auctioned in the name of the GENERAL ZARUSKI on Sunday. Shortly after, the first basses and guitar-sounds were played, the audience started to cheer, and the band entered the stage. They offered a 120 minutes lasting show, which excited the 100.000 fans in front of the Hanse-Sail-Stage up to the last minute. With the last song “Das Buch”, the Puhdys said goodbye to Rostock and the Hanse Sail. A reunion is already planned. “On the 30th anniversary”, promised Peter “Eingehängt” Meyer. The Rostockers hope to see them sooner though.

At the far end of Rostock’s Port, yet not the end of it:
Life during the Hanseatic times
Even from the centre of the port, Sail-visitors have quite a walk to do to get to the Hanseatic-Village at the silos. However, it is worth a visit. Holger Sasnowsky, involved in the project “Hanse-Zeit erleben”, is quite satisfied with the organisers: “To build up more than 15 booths in only a couple of hours requires strict logistics and grasping hands. The fact that this lively village in the port has developed from our regular village Hollenhagen, is the credit of all helpers.” There is a blacksmith, a spinner, a baker, and even a Northern German coining booth with Peter Wermke. “The commemorative coins of the 20th Hanse Sail in brass, silver, and gold are bestsellers.” The helpers in the tavern are also satisfied. Publicans Anne Schumacher and Marcus Rauhut sell odin, honey, cherry and other tasteful drinks. “We cannot complain. The sales are good, and the whole atmosphere on our medieval village is a very special crowdpuller,” says Anne Schumacher. “We are located at the very end, yet we are not at the end.”

Built after the original of Czar Peter the Great
The original, 300 years back, was a warship – the replica of the year 2000 is on a peaceful mission though. The replica SHTANDART from St. Petersburg, which is located in Warnemünde during this year’s Hanse Sail, is supposed to turn young people into confident, team-minded persons, says Captain Vladimir Martus. With the help of hundreds of voluntary helpers, who learned about traditional shipbuiling that way, the ship-architect from St. Petersburg has constructed and built the 25 m long frigate after the model SHTANDARD of Czar Peter the Great. And that is not it. “We have realized a dream”, says Martus. “It proves, that nothing is impossible when you are prepared to act.” The original was the first ship of the Russian Navy. Czar Peter the Great had it constructed and built around 1700. The modern replica is true to the original above the gun deck – from the steering technologies to the guns and decorative carvings. Two engines and a generator care for the ship’s saefty. In the past ten years the SHTANDART has touched at 50 ports in eleven European cities and has been a guest at the Hanse Sail several times.

An hour of reflection
Rostock opened up during the first Hanse Sail as it has been the tradition of windjammer-meetings worldwide. In 1991, the church in Warnemünde offered the first „Sunday of Seafaring“ a sailor-service on the Sail-premiere. Now, the Rostockers and their guests emulated Bremerhaven, Brest, Amsterdam, and New York. An hour of reflection has been taken out of the turmoil of the big event and has been put into the shelter of the church. Rolf Grund, minister of the Protestant congregation Warnemünde, has taken a stand for the sailor-service as a steady event during the Hanse Sail. Like the German Seaman’s Mission (DSM), who has opened its club “Hollfast” in Rostock’s international port in 1991, Grund wanted to work together with the partners of the Hanse Sail. Tomorrow the church in Warnemünde opens its doors at 10 a.m.. The general secretary of the DSM, minister Heike Proske, will appear for the first time, to deliver a sermon at the sailor-service. “Silent” shanties of the Warnemünder shanty-choir  will enrich the festive, yet secular event. President of Rostock’s citizenship, Karina Jens, and the guests will commemorate all those, who have lost their lives on board last year.