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Dear readers,

Was it just a careless statement by the Schleswig-Holstein state environment minister or a hidden hint of a perfidious plan to push through his already failed Baltic Sea National Park through the back door - at least parts of it? A passage from an interview with Tobias Goldschmidt published by the Kieler Nachrichten newspaper last week certainly made people sit up and take notice. In it, the minister was quoted as saying the following, among other things: "So we have to answer the question of (...) whether we should not set clear guidelines as to when the boats come out of the water. In any case, things can't go on like this. The climate crisis means changes for everyone, as does climate impact adaptation."

Clear guidelines on when boats should be taken out of the water? When asked by YACHT, Goldschmidt explained:"The storm surge of the century in the Baltic Sea was a harbinger of what we can expect as a result of the climate crisis. With a sea level rise of around 50 centimetres, we have to assume that such events will statistically occur every ten years. The federal and state governments expect a rise of almost 80 centimetres by the end of the century. Sailing harbours will also have to deal with this development, whether through structural or organisational measures, such as fixed times by which boats must be taken out of the water. Sunken sailing boats are a major nuisance for their owners, and water pollution - for example from leaking fuel - must be prevented at all costs."

It goes without saying that we must not contaminate our waters with fuel leaks. And, of course, new harbour concepts are also required. However, there are usually already guidelines as to when boats should be taken out of the water. Many harbours in this country usually close in the middle or end of October, and boats are brought in from the beginning or middle of April. It is therefore questionable what dates the minister has in mind. The current ones do not seem to suit him, otherwise he would not have made the suggestion.

Goldschmidt probably meant a point in time before the autumn and its storms. After all, the statement was made in connection with the devastating storm surge that hit the German Baltic coast on 20 and 21 October and left behind a picture of destruction in many harbours.

Assuming this were the case, sailors would perhaps have to be prepared in future to have their boats decanted by 31 August at the latest. After all, 1 September is the meteorological start of autumn. But for many sailors, 31 August feels like the end of the summer cruise. A good six weeks - or at least six sailing weekends - would fall victim to the ministerial request. Absurd!

And that's not all: consequently, there would probably also be a date at the beginning of the season before which it would not be possible to enter the water. Because of the spring storms, of course. After all, the meteorological summer "already" starts on 1 June. That leaves a whole three months for sailing. The rest of the time, nature would have its peace and quiet, even without an official national park. A rogue who thinks evil of it.

If a severe thunderstorm then passes over the Baltic Sea during the summer months - yes, these do happen, Mr Minister - further sail-free periods could be ordered. How about, for example, the period of the Arietids at the beginning of June or the Perseids in mid-August? After all, such powerful shooting star storms could also be dangerous for boats and harbours.

But enough of the irony. Tobias Goldschmidt actually seems to be sticking to his national park plans. This is despite the fact that Minister-President Daniel Günther has already waved goodbye and the Schleswig-Holstein CDU recently signalled that it would refuse to cast the votes required for a majority decision.

In the middle of the week, the Environment Minister invited all the associations and interest groups from business, tourism and sport that had been involved in the previous months to the final event of the previous national park consultations. According to Goldschmidt, this was supposed to be the place where the results were "dovetailed", i.e. presented and concrete recommendations for action on the organisation of a national park compiled. The only problem was that his plans had been consistently rejected in almost all previous discussions.

The minister reacted and quickly changed the focus of the event. Suddenly, those invited were asked to submit proposals on how the existing protected areas along the coast could be expanded without a national park. The excitement was great, the participants felt taken by surprise by the minister and did not want to play along with his game.

According to Flensburg lawyer Hans Köster, who was involved in the consultations as a board member for environmental issues on behalf of the Schleswig-Holstein Sailing Association, the meeting was "heated". Köster had previously told YACHT: "We are quite at a loss as to how to proceed. Our great concern is that in future it will be one-sidedly about sailing regulations and even sailing bans on the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea coast."

• Interview: Restricted zones through the back door?
• Continuation of consultations - a toothless tiger?

If he is right, this would once again be an example of how much politics has become disconnected from the will of the citizens and how much politicians like Tobias Goldschmidt are trapped in their own egos. He is not helping those whose lives he is intervening in. And neither does he help the environment.

Pascal Schürmann,

YACHT copywriter

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