Report: Tradition meets modernity - behind the scenes of Havel Klassik 2023
YACHT-Redaktion
· 09.08.2023
A text by Luisa Conroy
At the beginning of the 20th century, Max Oertz designed the "Prosit III", an 18 metre long sea cruiser with two masts. In 1919, "Prosit III" was transferred from the shipyard in Rostock to the Akademischer Segler-Verein in Berlin, where it was to serve as a training ship. At that time, Berlin was the capital of the newly founded Weimar Republic, there were more carriages on the streets than cars, and women were allowed to vote in elections for the first time. However, the lecture theatres at Charlottenburg Technical University, where Max Oertz had studied, were mostly occupied by men, and the Academic Sailing Club (ASV) did not accept any women as members either.
One hundred years later, I am sitting on the identical successor "Prosit IV" in front of the same club. At the tiller of the Yawl, which replaced its predecessor in 1969, is a rather nervous Anita Opaczyk. It's a sunny summer's day in Berlin, shortly before the start of the 27th Havel Classic. "Schrick mizzen sheet. Fier on mainsheet." Anita gives concise instructions, her facial expression betraying the utmost concentration. Behind her is Matthias Kahnt, who everyone calls Mutz. "Go a little further," he says. "I want to get to the starting line from the bottom with momentum."
Mutz is now the skipper, he is also focussed, but appears experienced and relaxed. He joined the "Prosit IV" as a crew member more than ten years ago and is now right at home here. At 36, the cheerful boat builder is the oldest person on board, and yet it feels as if we have travelled a hundred years into the past.
60 classic yachts in the June sun
The commands are "That's right" or "Look out, backstay runner" and seem bizarre to me, who at 30 years of age actually fits in well with the crew. But then I turn my gaze to the water and look at over 60 classic yachts, their varnished wooden hulls gleaming in the June sun. I'm a little cold in the white top that was requested as crew clothing, but even that somehow fits - after all, a hundred years ago there was no high-tech clothing, no windbreakers, no softshells.
But the picture of historic beauties makes up for it and illustrates the largest German inland regatta for classic yachts wonderfully. It has been attracting lovers of traditionally built sailing boats since 1997.
Why? "Because I like sailing in classic regattas," says Harry Naujoks from Dortmund, who has been coming here for over 15 years. "Because we like to immerse ourselves in the cultural landscape," says another participant, referring to the many historical landmarks such as Glienicke Bridge, Peacock Island and the parks in Sacrow and Babelsberg, which the field passes by.
Because the Havel Classic is a long-distance regatta. After the start in Scharfe Lanke in front of the ASV, the boats wind their way along the Havel, past the islands of Schwanenwerder, Imchen and Pfaueninsel, through Sacrower Bucht to the Markboot in front of Glienicker Brücke and back again. The route is around 30 kilometres long, and there is not always enough wind to sail it all the way.
Best moment after the start
But even if the course has to be shortened, the fleet itself offers a magnificent sight, says Max Reichardt, who is race director at the Havel Classic for the 20th time this year. "The best moment is always after the start," he says. "When the beautiful fleet sails away, it always looks great. Then we open a drink and enjoy the peace and quiet for the first time in days."
Annie Taylor confirms that this regatta is not just something special for German participants. The Australian came to Berlin with her husband especially for the event. The Havel Classic exceeded all expectations, she enthuses. So many immaculate classic cars competing peacefully against each other is something very special.
He also wants to see "beautiful pictures", says Norbert Seidel before the start, who has travelled from Potsdam with his hundred-year-old tugboat "Bolle" and the Scandinavian 15 from 1934 in tow. This makes him one of the few who have already arrived on Friday this year. "That's a bit of a shame," says Max Reichardt. "This year it may have been due to the constant rain, but in general it's become less frequent." Many used to arrive on Friday and only leave again on Sunday.
Changes over time
With the opening on Friday, regatta and garden party on Saturday and a parade with musical accompaniment on Sunday, the Havel Classic was originally a three-day event. "We have now dropped the parade as there was no longer enough interest," says Reichardt. "Many people now come straight to the start on Saturday morning and leave again after the award ceremony," he explains somewhat sadly. "It's all a bit more fast-paced these days."
The "Prosit IV" is also fast, at least in the gusts. The large ship accelerates surprisingly quickly, and there is a bit of a rush on board. Skipper Mutz and Kilian Mühle, who at the age of 21 has already passed the ASV's internal skipper training programme, keep calling out instructions to Anita and the crew, and their ambition seems to rub off on the others. "Go up a bit more with the gust" or "Get the jib tight" echo across the old yacht. And suddenly it's like any other regatta, we're just a couple of young people who want to sail successfully.
The "Prosit IV" ploughs through the Wannsee, where I sailed as an Opti child. 20 years later, I can see the Wannsee lido and the river island of Imchen, a familiar backdrop, passing behind the mainsail. What has escaped me all these years is that young people are learning to sail here on a historic yacht.
Christian Masilge is certain that this will not change any time soon. The 63-year-old was once a co-initiator of the Havel Classic and has been a member of the ASV since 1979. "Certain traditions are simply part and parcel of our organisation," he says with regard to "Prosit IV".
How the Havel Classic regatta came about
However, the fact that classic yachts are part of the ASV's inventory was not the only reason for the Havel Klassik. In 1996, the Friends of Classic Yachts were looking for an organiser for a regatta in Berlin. "There was no classic yacht regatta here at the time," says Masilge, explaining that the event was originally intended to take place alternately in West and East Berlin. However, after the success of the first edition at the ASV, the club and the circle of friends agreed that the regatta would stay here.
Alongside Masilge, this was mainly thanks to Claus Reichardt, the father of race director Max Reichardt. "We organised it in a big way," says Masilge. "We advertised, invited all the owners of classic yachts that we knew and we put invitation letters under the tarpaulins of the others." With success: almost 70 yachts took part in the very first year.
When asked why he put so much heart and soul into organising a regatta that he didn't even initiate himself, Masilge answers without having to think for long: "Because classic yachts simply belong to the ASV."
I realise time and again on the "Prosit IV" that my training was not on a classic. Someone shouts, for example, "Overreep the windward sheet from the jib" - and again I only understand Spanish. But luckily this time it's someone else. So I continue to concentrate on trimming the headsail. Once the genoa is set, the barber haul-out also falls under my remit. I ambitiously try to get as much out of the sails as possible. "Fier on the barber hauler," Kilian calls out, and as I'm just taking the line from the old cleat, he adds: "Take command!"
I look at him. "Take a command?" I ask uncertainly. He grins. "That means I'm taking it back," he explains. And so, throughout the regatta, I move between classic and modern, ambition and incomprehension.
Everyone seems welcome
Nevertheless, I feel at home in the good-humoured, young crew. Everyone seems welcome here: In addition to old hands like Mutz and Helena, Anita is also on board. She is only 15 and started sailing last year.
Young members traditionally have a lot of responsibility in the ASV, as the statutes stipulate that every member must hold a board position after two years of membership at the latest. As only students can become members, the average age on the Board is quite low.
The chairman traditionally sails in the 12-foot dinghy "Nulpe" at the Havel Classic - an honour, say some, a torture, say others. Because the "Nulpe" usually arrives at the finish line a few hours after everyone else. The crews of the other boats then gather on the jetty to cheer the chairman's finish - partly because the free beer is now handed out.
Young and old united at the Havel Classic
With or without free beer - the atmosphere is great at this gathering of the classic family, which unites young and old. Christoph Huntgeburth sails his 20 dinghy cruiser together with his son and grandson. And Matthias Riese takes to the starting line in his steel dinghy cruiser, while his 15-year-old son Sebastian is sailing his own pirate this year.
But even if there are no relatives, the atmosphere is informal and everyone knows each other. The only stressful issue, says Max Reichardt somewhat annoyed, is the yardstick figures every year - you can never please everyone. This is one of the reasons why Reichardt has decided to step down as race director after 20 years. But: "I'll still be there next year, of course." However, he will then mainly be looking after the events outside the race course.
After rounding the turning mark, which this year is in Sacrower Bucht, we actually meet the "Nulpe" behind Pfaueninsel. Ruvn Fleiner, currently the first chairman of the ASV, and casino manager Thole Althoff have had to put in a few night shifts over the last few weeks to get her ready to sail and to be able to take part with her.
A boat builder had previously replaced a plank. The mast was only erected this morning. How nice that it worked out, because now people on the "Prosit IV" are murmuring words of appreciation to each other. "They've really come a long way! Even though they have to draw so much!" There is even a small sensation at the end this year: the "Nulpe" does not finish last as usual.
But even the owner of the Last Ship Home "Old Wood" should be satisfied. This time, she has achieved her previously set goal of "getting into the rankings".
Excessive ambition triggers protests
"Look, someone's sailing outside the fairway buoys!" Mutz Kahnt points to a dinghy and jokingly adds: "We could protest against them now." What he doesn't realise is that not everyone thinks it's funny. In the end, the jury will actually receive a few protests. This depresses the mood a little, as many see the protests as overly ambitious: "This is about nothing," says one participant. "I don't understand what the point is." Opinions are also divided in front of the race office. While one participant is angry and says she would prefer to go home now and never come back, another does not see the protests as an affront. "I broke the rules, so I was disqualified. That's fine." The fact that he wasn't aware of the rule doesn't matter to him.
As chairman of the jury, Christian Masilge thinks it's a shame that these protests are now affecting the atmosphere. "Next year, this should be described in more detail in the sailing instructions, and the course to be sailed with its obstacles and no-go zones will also be better explained at the helmsmen's meeting," he says.
Shortly before the finish
The "Prosit IV" completes the course in two and a half hours. As we pass the Grunewald Tower for the second time in the early afternoon, Anita becomes chatty. You can tell how the tension is easing from her now that she knows she's almost there. She prances around, laughs and makes jokes. Shortly before crossing the finish line, however, she becomes quiet again. "No more talking now," she says emphatically.
The atmosphere on board is once again one of concentration. We've been in close contact with "Lillevi", a 6-mR yacht from 1938, for a few kilometres now - sometimes she's ahead, sometimes we are. At the moment we are comfortably ahead of her.
But shortly before the finish, the Berlin air wants to show what it can do once again, the wind shifts further and further to the left, so that it must look to outsiders as if we want to cross the finish line from behind. "Lillevi" gets a better turn and pushes her bow through the finish line three seconds ahead of us. Nevertheless, we cross the line in fourth place. "Happy?" I ask Anita. "Full", she replies.
I look over to the ASV jetty, whose boathouse is now somewhat lonely, and imagine Max Oertz sitting there once again, watching the "Prosit IV", built according to his design, sail through the finish line of the Havel Classic, organised by his home club, almost a hundred years after his active days. At the helm was a young, ambitious woman. I wonder what he would have thought?
Well, one can only assume that he would have been proud. In any case, he would have had every reason to be.
