Conclusion of the 84th Warnemünder Woche: Expression of pure joy of life
The 84. Warnemünder Woche ends today, and it's time to look back. The many volunteers from the various parts of the organization have a memorable one Warnemünder Woche put on its feet. Matthias Fromm, tourism director for Rostock and Warnemünde, says: “This year Warnemünder Woche was primarily an expression of the enormous joy of life of the people of Warnemünde.” Many parts of the event that had to be paused for two years were able to take place on land. “I was particularly impressed by the Niege Ümgang in perfect summer weather with the subsequent opening in the Kurhausgarten. But I was also very pleased that beach handball and rugby could take place again on the beach and the dragon boat race on the Alter Strom. In addition, the range of sailing competitions, from the small optimists to the large yachts at Rund Bornholm, was impressive.”
Also Peter Ramcke, sports director Warnemünder Woche, looks back with satisfaction on a successful regatta week: “We had one Warnemünder Woche with highlights: sailing and also weather-wise. We had a first part with almost Caribbean conditions and a world championship for H-boats, which was successfully completed with eight races.” Based on the positive feedback from the sailors, Ramcke assumes that the H-boats will be visiting Warnemünde even more often will be. He considers another highlight in the first part of the week for the dinghies to be the 505 European Cup, which is part of the dinghy for the first time Warnemünder Woche was. “The feedback from the 505 sailors was great,” says Peter Ramcke. For example, the winner of the European Cup and two-time Olympic medalist Jørgen Bojsen-Møller from Denmark expressed his enthusiasm: “It was some of the best sailing days we have ever had! It was just great. You couldn’t find better conditions anywhere than here in Warnemünde.”
The second part of this year's Warnemünder Woche was characterized by strong winds and high waves on the water. The challenging conditions sometimes pushed sailors and helpers on the starting ships, buoys and support boats to their limits, which meant that some races could not be completed, but this did not dampen the joy. On the final Sunday, among other things, a new German sea sailing champion was announced, who was honored by the President of the German Sailing Association, Mona Küppers.
With regard to the comparatively low number of registrations of sea sailors for the long-distance regatta around Bornholm (21 yachts) and the International Sea Sailing Championship (twelve yachts), Peter Ramcke says: “Here we have to have discussions with the sailors and also with the German Sailing Association “We can make the regattas even more attractive for sea sailors.” The Hohe Düne location has once again proven to be ideal for the keelboats and the new Seebahn race management was also very well received by the sailors. Next year, the Strand location will also be increasingly integrated into the program again. Among other things, discussions are held here with kiters and surfers, says Ramcke.
For tourism director Fromm it was the 84th. Warnemünder Woche a success: “I am very satisfied. We had many guests from near and far in Warnemünde. Events like that Warnemünder Woche are the best flagship for our city. The visitors and international athletes become ambassadors who bring Rostock's cosmopolitan and hospitable atmosphere home with them." He couldn't wish for better advertising than satisfied guests, says Fromm.
Last year he announced the goal of being at the next edition of the Warnemünder Woche to get back to its old size and strength. “We have certainly achieved that, which is clear when you look at this year’s program. Even if we have not yet quite reached the size of the pre-pandemic period, the various areas involved in the organization have achieved enormous things. I would like to say thank you again for this! Finally, one must not forget that the majority of... Warnemünder Woche is put together by around 300 volunteers. These helpers are what the Warnemünder Woche matters! “We in the main office only provide support here,” says Fromm.
In addition to the many helpers, there are also the partners of the Warnemünder Wochewho made a decisive contribution to its success. “I was particularly pleased that our partners continued to remain loyal to us after the last two very difficult years,” said Matthias Fromm. “First and foremost the WIRO, the Audi Center Rostock, the Rostock Brewery, the Boot & Fun trade fair, AW Niemeyer, Güstrower Schloßquell, the Navy, the Federal Maritime Police and our media partners NDR 1 Radio MV and the Nordmagazin, the Segler-Zeitung and the Ostsee Zeitung and 27 other partners.”
Ingeborg Regenthal from the Warnemünde Association, the organizer of the summer festival on land, was also enthusiastic about the week on Sunday: “It was a great week with the Niege Ümgang as a start and then a great program in the Kurhausgarten until the end today. I’m very happy that everything worked out so well!”
“Warnemünde has become one again of “It has proven to be the top area in Europe for all types of boat classes,” says sports director Peter Ramcke and concludes: “It was an exciting and successful one all around Warnemünder Woche with satisfied sailors – and that’s what counts for me in the end.”
The 85. Warnemünder Woche will take place from July 1st to 9th, 2023
