How many of you already know a bit of English?" asks Axel Schün. The pupils in Year 4 at the Waldorf School in Kiel are still a little shy. No one dares to answer him. Schün smiles and then explains: "Look, the 'RORO' on the big ferry there, that stands for 'Roll on/Roll off'. It means that the cars can simply drive onto the ship and then drive off again at their destination."
This somewhat different teaching content is not taught in a classroom, or even anywhere on land. But on the water. More precisely: on board one of two youth cutters sailing on the Kiel Inner Fjord on a Tuesday morning in May. Although it is stormy and occasionally raining cats and dogs, the group of students have set sail with Schün and his colleagues.
The sailing camp fleet
The "Teamusine" and the "Eny VII" each have 33 square metres of sail area, divided between jib, main and mizzen. However, in view of the gusts of over 20 knots that repeatedly sweep across the water, only the foresails are set. The children should not be overwhelmed or even frightened. After all, most of them are on a sailing boat for the first time.
In addition to the two cutters, the sailing camp's boat fleet includes a small Skippi 650 Cruiser cabin yacht, three Aira 22 dinghies, four O'pen skiffs and no fewer than 25 Optimists. Four motorboats are also available as support boats. Provided the wind cooperates, there are boats to try out for every type of sailing - from leisurely to sporty and ambitious.
"Outside of the summer holidays, we actually have school classes here every morning of the week," says Sinje Gürke. She runs the sailing camp. The schools can decide for themselves whether they just want to take a taster trip on the cutters or book a two to five-day project course, says Gürke. In addition to sailing, this would also include activities on land, for example on the subject of the environment. "But we also offer units in which we specifically try to strengthen social interaction within the class group."
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As the wind is blowing from the south-west this morning, the sailing instructors on the cutters start the outboard engines as they cast off. They don't want the fourth-form pupils to have to endure constant cruising in the maze of commercial shipping on the inner fjord. So they set off under motor against the wind towards Kiel city centre. Once there, the headsails can be hoisted. We then head back towards the camp under a room sheet.
Everyone should take the wheel once
The students take turns at the tiller. Everyone gets to steer the cutter and experience what it feels like to keep a boat on course. The trainers stay by their side at all times and lend a hand if necessary. "See that blue line on the big ship?" asks Karin Wortmann as she points to one of the large ferries travelling to Scandinavia. The 61-year-old is a carer on the second cutter. The children on board stretch their necks in the direction of her outstretched arm. But they have no explanation for the line. "When the ship is fully loaded, it sinks into the water because it carries more weight than when it's empty," explains Wortmann. The young pupils listen to her spellbound.
You can see their amazement at the dimensions of the freighters and ferries. Hardly anyone has come this close to them before, at least not on the water. One child asks anxiously whether a ship as big as the one they are sailing past might tip over and fall on top of them. Wortmann reassures her and explains why this cannot happen due to the large amount of ballast on such a freighter. The pensioner is usually involved in the Kiel sailing camp once a week during the season. She enjoys getting the children excited about boating and seeing how their horizons literally expand.
"So, how was it on the water?" teacher Tim Krutein asks his pupils when they have returned and tied up to the jetties in front of the camp. "It was great fun!" shouts a girl from the group. There is no more feedback, because now the pupils want to know what their classmates who have stayed ashore this morning - not all pupils can go sailing despite the two cutters at once - have been up to.
"While you were sailing, my colleague Matze carried out our flora and fauna land programme with the other half of the class," explains camp leader Gürke. Armed with landing nets, they set off and learnt about the animals and plants that live on the shores of the fjord under expert guidance.
Commitment to the environment at sailing camp
The day before, the group of pupils had already taken part in various fun activities that focussed on team building. "Tomorrow, those not involved in sailing will collect waste on the promenade," continues Gürke. The main focus will be on how long which material takes to decompose in nature. In recent years, environmental issues have become increasingly important in the sailing camp programme, as they have in society as a whole. "The children experience the effects of environmental pollution first-hand here," says the 30-year-old.
Who is the sailing camp suitable for?
The camp is more about the sailing experience itself when the school classes have left and the afternoon and evening programme begins. A wide variety of courses are aimed at both young people and adults who want to try their hand at the tiller and sheet. "We also offer special events for companies and families," says Gürke. On Mondays and Tuesdays, for example, there is always sunset sailing out on the fjord in the early evening. "Up to four people over the age of 16 can then sail for around two hours with a trainer on one of the Aira 22s." As a rule, you have to register for the various courses, especially school classes or larger groups.
But also individuals who want to take part in a sailing course, for example. At weekends and on public holidays, however, it's open camp. Anyone who wants to can drop in spontaneously and take part in a taster cruise. The cost is a very reasonable eight euros.
This is quite intentional. No less than 23 years ago, the marketing managers at Kieler Stadtwerke came up with the idea of launching a project that would enable every schoolchild in the state metropolis to sail across the fjord on a sailing boat. The city of Kiel is now also on board, and numerous companies and institutions support the sailing camp.
This is particularly evident on the hulls of the Optis. Each one is labelled with the logo of a camp sponsor. Gürke says with a wink: "The cooler the design is in the eyes of the children, the more often the corresponding Opti is chosen for sailing." You can definitely see the popularity of individual boats.
Two children, one dinghy
This afternoon, two children have signed up for a beginners' sailing course, which they had started the day before. First they practise a few knots, then they discuss the construction of an Optimist dinghy. While sailing instructor Philipp patiently explains one boat detail after another to the two in the tent, the rain continues to pelt down relentlessly. "It's bound to stop soon, then we can go out in the Opti for a bit," he hopes. A weather window does indeed open later, but it remains very windy. So the Opti rig stays on land and we paddle out onto the water instead. The two children should get a feel for the small dinghy. They make their way between the harbour jetties.
"Try going under the harbour bridge," Philipp calls out to his protégés. The two are literally in the same boat. While one of them paddles, his sailing partner tries to manoeuvre the Opti under the bridge. Their sailing instructor is standing on the jetty less than five metres away from them. When it is clear that they have understood the basics of the rudder action, Philipp throws some tennis balls into the water, which the children collect one by one and bring back to the jetty. He then deploys five grey plastic poles with the motorboat, between which the two sailing students have to slalom. At the end of the day, Philipp takes the optimist in tow with the motorboat. Much to the delight of the children, who clearly enjoy the speedy ride. The rain sets in again shortly afterwards, putting an end to the fun. Back to the jetty, the Opti is quickly pushed up the ramp and it's off to dry land.
Taster sailing conveys values
More than 30 of these and other taster sailing programmes at the public, non-commercial camp spark a passion for sailing in young and old alike every summer. This is unique in Germany, emphasise those responsible - and a great opportunity to promote "values such as team spirit, social skills and communication". Experiencing nature and understanding the environment are also strengthened, they say.
Above all, however, one or two camp visitors may well discover their love of boating during a taster session. In such cases, they are then referred to the sailing clubs based on the fjord. Even if the camp is not designed to produce the next Kiel sailing Olympian, it has certainly established itself as a suitable means of promoting young talent in recent years. According to the organisers, this is mainly due to the fact that the offers are low-threshold: They are non-binding, require no prior knowledge, are aimed at all age groups and there are no membership fees or high course fees.
Incidentally, the camp, which has pitched its tent on the Reventlou meadow on Kiel's Kiellinie, is not only open to residents of the city. Day visitors or holidaymakers who fancy a trip on the fjord are also welcome.
