While Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron and their counterparts are seeking to invoke and revitalise Franco-German friendship during their visit to Hamburg, the statesmen also took a stroll along the River Elbe. "We knew from the Hamburger Abendblatt that the entourage was travelling from the Louis C. Jacob' hotel to the 'Ponton Op'n Bulln' and that they would therefore stop by the Blankeneser Segel-Club, where the property belongs to the club. It was a 50/50 chance whether they would go up along the Elbchaussee or down by the club. Fortunately, they went downstairs," said BSC youth manager Sören Sörensen.
It was totally spectacular. The security people just let it go" Sören Sörensen
As a result, Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron, together with their wives Britta and Brigitte and other companions, suddenly surrounded a Finn dinghy that had been provided and struck up a conversation with Sören Sörensen. He was told by a French security guard that he should not move any further away from the spot. Whereupon the Blankeneser from the Treppenviertel smiled and said that although it was a BSC property, he was happy to stay with the Finn dinghy that had been set up and was "serious".
As the prominent visitors approached, the two statesmen turned towards the Finn dinghy after a brief consultation with the security staff and stopped. "I greeted them in a friendly manner from 15 metres away and asked them to come closer," says Sören Sörensen. The politicians and the sailor then talked about Europe, youth work and even the German Finn Dinghy Championship, which will take place at the BSC in 2024. "It was totally spectacular," reported Sören Sörensen about the meeting, "the security people just let it go. They kept a close eye on things, of course, but I didn't notice that at all. I was pretty excited."
I said to Emmanuel Macron: 'Look, we also have the same flag colours: Blue, white, red'"
After the BSC flying visit, Scholz, Macron and their companions enjoyed a fish sandwich at the Blankenes ferry terminal Op'n Bulln at the end of their walk along the Elbe. "This visit was great, so much fun. I'm a total fan of Franco-German relations because it means we have peace at the end of the day. We haven't had a war in Central Europe for a very long time. That's nice. I'm super happy with how it went: 125 years of BSC - and then the French president comes."
Sören Sörensen continued: "I had thought about how we could do it well beforehand. In the end, we got 15 out of ten points! Macron spoke to me in French. He also spoke a little German and then English. He speaks many languages. Then there were also shake hands with Brigitte Macron and Britta Ernst. I said to Emmanuel Macron: 'Look, we also have the same flag colours: Blue, white, red ...'"
