When you think of a regatta weekend, what usually springs to mind is a flurry of activity: the crew are summoned on deck on time, the hull is scrubbed, surplus equipment is piled ashore and the sails are prepared for the race. At the Bregenz marina on the Austrian side of Lake Constance, however, a different picture emerges during the Classic Weekend. There, numerous wooden classics are moored, ranging from the small Hansa dinghy and BM Kiel dinghy, through dinghy cruisers of various sizes and Dragons, right up to the impressive Scandinavian ocean-going yacht, a Havskryssare. Instead of frantic discussions about manoeuvres, a relaxed, convivial atmosphere prevails: people chat on board with the hatches open, and there’s no question of skimping on the barbecue food and fine drinks they’ve brought along, even if it means carrying extra weight.
The Classic Weekend on Lake Constance, organised by Sylvie Schneider in her capacity as regional representative of the Friends of Classic Yachts (FKY), fills a niche that is rare in the highly regimented world of regatta racing. The multi-day cruise is intended above all as a gathering of like-minded people: a nod to the Italian concept of ‘La dolce far niente’, the sweet art of doing nothing on the water. Traditionally built boats and yachts of all sizes and ages are eligible to take part.
Cold drinks instead of penalty laps
Although the event is formally organised as a regatta and is covered by the Classic Length-Race Value Formula (KLR) is taken into account, but competitive ambition takes a back seat in favour of the sense of community. To preserve the relaxed nature of a fun regatta, the organiser made some impromptu changes to the traditional racing rules: Anyone who infringes right-of-way on the course or starts too early does not have to complete a 360-degree penalty turn. Instead, the person responsible for the error treats everyone to a cold drink at the next port of call. There is a pragmatic rationale behind this: participants should treat one another fairly and prioritise having fun rather than seeking to win at all costs. It is better to grant one another right of way than to risk scratching these beautiful old boats.
Low water levels and a storm front
The fact that good seamanship takes precedence over podium places at the Classic Weekend Bodensee was evident once again this year: The extremely low water levels This presented the organisers with the challenge of forward-planning the route. The organisers surveyed the mooring berths in advance and, in some cases, relocated yachts with a draught of up to two metres to neighbouring harbours in order to prevent them from running aground in shallow harbour entrances. This year’s route ran from Bregenz via Steinach and Friedrichshafen to Konstanz, taking in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. What made it special was that, for the first time, all three countries bordering Lake Constance were included in the route.
The weather also called for caution: when, on Friday, changeable weather conditions with a threatening storm front put the 14-kilometre stage crossing from Switzerland to the German side at risk, the day’s race was cancelled for safety reasons. The owners decided for themselves whether and when to set off for the next stage destination: smaller, open boats were already motoring across the lake at dawn to get ahead of the storm front, whilst other crews decided to wait out the day safely in the Swiss harbour. For the first time, the fleet was supported by a safety vessel from the Insurance broker Pantaenius, which, together with representatives from the offices in Switzerland, Austria and southern Germany, accompanied the team on all days.
Group course for the classic car scene
In the end, an overall ranking based on two races was determined. The crew of the Dragon-class yacht “Liemba” secured the symbolic “golden pineapple”, ahead of the 35er National Cruiser “Riki”, with the Vertens cruiser “Sternle II” coming in third. The final standings were of secondary importance. The focus was on the evenings spent together in the harbour, the exchange of knowledge and the shared enjoyment of the ‘youngtimers’ and historic vessels.
For boat owners from other sailing areas, this scheme offers an easy way to access the challenging Lake Constance sailing area. The organisers take care of administrative hurdles such as harbour coordination and arranging boat launching or hoisting, as well as trip planning. It’s an offer that participants jokingly refer to as ‘supervised sailing’.
The Classic Weekend takes place every two years, alternating with the Lake Constance Traditions Week, which is organised by the association Classic Boat Club of Lake Constance (OSB) organises. Thanks to the close cooperation between the two initiatives, the classic yacht scene in southern Germany is coming together, with the shared aim of bringing the fascination with historic yachts to life on the water.
Next year, the Lake Constance Tradition Week 2027 will take place from 1 to 6 August.
Book recommendation
Lake Constance covers Obersee, Untersee and Überlinger See, and brings together information relevant to sailors on harbours, approaches, navigation and the specific features of the sailing area. Particularly following a summer of extremely low water levels, the harbour guide helps you to plan your cruises and changes of mooring more effectively. Aerial photographs, harbour maps and information on the weather warning system and the Lake Constance boating licence complement the historical context with practical advice.
What do you think is the special appeal of a classic yacht gathering: the sailing, the boats or the socialising in the harbour?
Antonia von Lamezan
Volontärin