Premiere for the Brassfahrt - Travemünde 2022: Three men, one idea: new Shorthand Baltic Sea regatta

Originally, Matthias Renner, Olav Arne Nehls and Timo Manske - themselves enthusiastic single-handed sailors from Lübeck and Travemünde - had in mind "a mini-regatta without much organisational effort". After further brainstorming sessions, the idea quickly turned into an open single-handed race last year. And now it has even grown into a single and double-handed regatta: the Brassfahrt - Travemünde is set to celebrate its premiere this year on Ascension weekend. The course will take the participants from Travemünde over 100 nautical miles through the Bay of Mecklenburg and back. In westerly winds, the course will start from Travemünde via Heiligendamm in the direction of Rødnyhavn and then head east past Fehmarn back to the start and finish harbour. If the wind blows from the east, the route is sailed the other way round. Click here for the regatta information and the announcement (please click!).

The organisers have divided the potential field of participants into six categories: under 25 feet, 25 to under 30 feet, 30 feet to under 35 feet, 35 feet to under 40 feet, from 40 feet upwards and multihull. In the style of the legendary Silverrudder, but with a slightly smaller format at the start, there will be no payout for competing with and against each other within the divisions. The new regatta initiative is supported by the Lübeck Yacht Club and other volunteers. "The original idea has now simply become a little bigger, but preparations are going well," says co-organiser Olav Arne Nehls. "We are very excited about the premiere. 30 participating boats would certainly be a very strong field at the start."

The organisers do not see it as a problem that the sailing rally with check-in and helmsmen's briefing on 26 May, the race itself on 27 and 28 May and the award ceremony on 29 May clashes directly with the dates of the already well-known and popular Baltic 500 two-handed regatta. "We thought about it, but there aren't really many alternative dates given our need for a long weekend and taking into account holiday dates as well as Travemünde Week and Kiel Week," explains Nehls. "With a race over 100 nautical miles, we don't really see ourselves as competition for the Baltic 500 over 500 nautical miles, but rather as a regional event with many participants from our region and neighbouring areas."

The new organisers were able to register the first dozen entries in the manage2sail entry portal at the beginning of the year. The dynamic trio of organisers are expecting starters from the catchment areas of Lübeck, Travemünde, Heiligenhafen, Wismar and Kühlungsborn in particular. The registration deadline is 1 May.