All the highlights at a glance: the video review of the 88th Warnemünder Woche

sailing

Nine days of racing, nine regatta courses, 15 class rankings, 420 boats, 808 sailors from 18 nations – these are the key facts about the sailing regattas of the 88th Warnemünder WocheWith wind conditions ranging from stormy to calm, currents, and the Warnemünde waves, the participants experienced almost the entire spectrum of conditions that the area at the Warnow estuary has to offer. Pınar Coşkuner Genç took on the role of overall race director for the first time. "Warnemünde once again delivered the full spectrum of weather. We had stormy winds, we had light winds, we had high waves and no waves, we had strong currents and weak currents. I'm pleased that we were able to sail on almost every day. Furthermore, by proactively rescheduling the races, we managed to complete the planned races in almost all classes," the overall race director summarized. Ralf Bergel, Chairman of the Warnemünder Woche, added: “I am very satisfied with how the Warnemünder Woche this year. Unfortunately, we were unable to sail on one day, but we managed to provide enough races for all classes.”

Summer festival

On land, the 23rd Niege Ümgang – organized for the first time by the new board of the Warnemünde Association – and the traditional morning wake-up procession of the marching bands marked the start of the 88th Warnemünder Woche and the summer festival. Following this, Eva-Maria Kröger, Mayor of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock, officially opened the festivities with the traditional tapping of the first keg of beer from the Hanseatic Brewery Rostock. Warnemünder Woche“It was very exciting, and I’m very happy that everything went smoothly. It was great to see so many people lining the streets. Around 3000 people participated in the parade, including some new groups,” said Stefanie Conrad from the Warnemünde Association, who was in charge of the “Niege Ümgang” for the first time.

The stage program in the Kurhaus garden was a potpourri of concerts spanning diverse musical genres and dance performances, attracting large crowds daily. New this year was the introduction of themed days to help visitors navigate the program. These included, for example, a Comedy Day, a Latin Day, and a Family Day. The cult open-air festival "Rauch auf dem Wasser" (Smoke on the Water), now in its 22nd year, once again proved a major draw for rock fans, featuring performances by Olaf Hobrlant, Ola van Sander, and the band Bad Penny. Following tradition, the popular Shanty Day brought a maritime atmosphere to the closing weekend. The pedestrian zone along the lake promenade was organized for the first time by Heiko Lange of Highlights Event Management.

The second edition of the Glashagen beach concerts was a resounding success, attracting around 5000 visitors under perfect summer skies. The event featured performances by singer Soffie, rapper Fatoni, and the indie-pop band Blond. The audience enjoyed three consecutive top acts against the backdrop of the Baltic Sea in a peaceful and cheerful atmosphere. As an added bonus, the concerts were once again accompanied by a perfect sunset. The free dance classes, introduced last year in front of the lighthouse, were again well-attended. The WAL Bar offered a variety of refreshments. Warnemünder Woche A varied program featuring an exciting panel discussion on the Olympic bid with former Olympians, a reading, an indie night, and disco music. The Techno-Yoga segment premiered and proved extremely popular.

At the WIRO Sports Day, clubs from the Rostock area presented their sports at the Warnemünde Lighthouse and invited visitors to try them out. For the second time, WIRO raffled off a sailing Optimist dinghy to a Rostock sailing club. In addition, WIRO hosted open-air cinema on the central pier on three evenings, featuring films chosen by the public and the "Rostock Sings" concert. The second weekend also saw a sporting focus at the Neuer Strom, where Heiko Lex, advisor for sports clubs and the Olympic bid, organized an Olympic sports mile with information booths and interactive stations.

Beach sports

The 30th Beach Handball Days at the Strand Arena Warnemünde saw the 88th Warnemünder Woche Two home victories were celebrated: The women's teams of the "Rostocker Beach Club" triumphed again this year. The Rostock "Old Boys" team also celebrated their first win. On Saturday of the final weekend, the beach rugby tournament saw a Berlin double victory. The players from Berliner SV dominated the women's competition, while the "Flying Pirates" won the men's.

Dragon Boat Festival

The 28th Dragon Boat Festival took place this year on the opening Saturday of the 88th Warnemünder Woche The dragon boat festival took place on the southern section of the Alter Strom and was once again a resounding success. Twenty-eight teams from across Germany competed in the 280-meter race and the 100-meter sprint. For the first time, all races were held on the same day. "We as organizers are just as pleased with the event as the teams. The atmosphere was fantastic once again. Every finish was celebrated, every success met with cheers and great joy," said Mario Herrmann of the Rostock SV Breitling. The fact that this year's dragon boat festival was exceptionally held on only one day due to the European Championships taking place shortly afterward in Munich did not detract from the event. Many teams were even happy that they could paddle more races consecutively.

International German Championship in Wheelchair Fencing

The International German Wheelchair Fencing Championship brought a touch of Paralympic flair to the Warnemünder Woche one, which was held at the Hotel Neptun during the final weekend.

The 89. Warnemünder Woche will take place from July 3th to 11th, 2027.