Tell me, Mr Beuster, why a cat on the quarry pond?
Because it presents a rather unusual picture. And somehow also because everyone said: "That's not possible!" Something like that always makes me want to do it anyway.
You offer round trips by boat. But isn't such an ocean-going vessel in the wrong place here??
When we built our Mediterranean hotel resort "Seensucht" directly on the lake, people also said that something like that belongs in the Mediterranean and not on a quarry pond. My response was: "There's already something like that there. It's missing here."
How did you come across the catamaran?
I'm a sailor myself, so I wanted to offer a water sports highlight on the lake. For me, it was a catamaran, because nobody has anything like that here. Ideal for taking our guests on a three-hour short holiday and spoiling them a little.
What were the initial reactions to your plans?
When I wanted to order a boat at the trade fair stand in Düsseldorf, they asked: "Where do you want to sail it?" When I replied: "On a quarry pond near Bitterfeld", they said: "We don't have time for that kind of silliness." But at some point they realised that I was serious.
How did the large ship end up on the lake?
It was an exhibition boat at boot 2018, and after the trade fair it was put into the Rhine in Düsseldorf, and then our journey began in a group with the other trade fair boats. At the Minden waterway junction, everyone turned onto the Weser and we continued into the lock to the Mittelland Canal. The lock keeper thought we had got lost. "You have to go over there, that's where it goes to the North Sea," he shouted. We replied: "But we want to go to Bitterfeld."
Was the man persuaded?
On the contrary, he called the police. We had to show our papers and even take an alcohol test. Everyone thought we were crazy.
But at some point, even the canals came to an end.
The boat travelled the last 35 kilometres from the Elbe to the lake on a low-loader. Traffic lights and traffic islands had to be dismantled for this.
How was your idea received in Bitterfeld?
They all flipped me the bird there too. But when local radio stations found out about the transfer, I no longer had to keep explaining myself. Our arrival became a big event.
Have you been doing your rounds here with guests ever since?
It was great fun at first. The quirky idea attracted many curious people to the lake, some stayed overnight on board and even the shipyard sent potential boat buyers to view the boat. But everything has its time, which is why we are considering moving the boat to the Mediterranean next year and continuing to offer our tours there.
This means that Lake Goitzsche will probably lose its biggest attraction ...
That's true. But I already have a new crazy idea: how about a seaplane on the lake?
About Andreas Beuster
