Review of 2024: Dramatic sinking and consequences of the storm surge - March and April
YACHT-Redaktion
· 27.12.2024
Review of the year 2024: March
New DBSV President
Henning Mittelmann is elected as the new President of the German Boat and Shipbuilders' Association. The owner of the shipyard of the same name on the Schlei succeeds Torsten Conradi from Judel/Vrolijk, who headed the association for 16 years.
Silverrudder breaks reporting record
It only takes 35 minutes for all the starting places for the 13th Silverrudder single-handed regatta to be allocated. The race around the Danish island of Funen is therefore one record richer months before the start and shows the unbroken attraction for sailing soloists.
Elbe deepening causes problems
Trouble on the Elbe: its deepening is costing marina operators dearly. Due to the higher flow velocity of the river, significantly more sediment is transported into the marinas, which now have to be extensively de-silted every year.
Baltic Sea Protection Action Plan
Following the political cancellation of the Baltic Sea National Park last year, the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of the Environment presents its Baltic Sea Protection Action Plan. Water sports enthusiasts fear that restrictions are now to be expected even without a corresponding state law. However, year-round bans on boating are not planned for the time being.
Honours
Boris Herrmann is awarded the Federal Cross of Merit for his sporting achievements and services to marine conservation. Kirsten Neuschäfer, winner of the Golden Globe Race 2022-2023, becomes Seamaster of the Year 2024 and the band Santiano official ambassador of the DGzRS
Review of the year 2024: April
Dramatic accident
At the beginning of the month, the Swedish-flagged Arcona 460 "IdaLina" was travelling in the Pacific when its rudder shaft suddenly broke. A large hole in the hull meant that the ship had to be abandoned after a futile struggle and sank. The owners manage to save themselves and report in the Exclusive interview with YACHT about the loss of their beloved ship.
Humpback whale sighted
A humpback whale is spotted in the Glücksburg marina on the Flensburg Fjord. A mobile phone video of the impressive event, in which the surfacing back of the approximately twelve-metre-long animal can also be seen, goes viral. Just a few days later, the same whale is presumably seen and filmed in the Mönkeberg marina near Kiel.
"HVO100" authorised for public sale
The public sale of synthetic "HVO100" diesel has been authorised since this spring. This consists of waste such as cooking oil or residues from the cellulose industry. As this fuel does not absorb water, the dreaded "diesel plague" is no longer an issue. Synthetic diesel can also be stored for up to ten years. The only downside is that it is significantly more expensive than conventional diesel.
Fastnet race crew honoured
The German Offshore Award 2023 for Germany's best offshore yacht goes to Dirk Clasen's "Ginkgo" from the Kiel Yacht Club. In the stormy 50th anniversary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, only 201 of the 358 registered yachts made it to the finish line. "Ginkgo", a Humphreys 39, was one of them, finishing fifth in IRC 1 and winning its IRC 1A division. The prestigious award ceremony took place in front of a large audience at Hamburg City Hall.
Criminal trial for "Gorch Fock"
The criminal trial concerning the cost explosion of the refurbishment of the training sailing ship "Gorch Fock" opens in Oldenburg. The defendants are accused of corruption, fraud and bribery, among other things. The shipyard stay of the "Gorch Fock" lasted five years instead of the planned four months and in the end the taxpayer had to fork out a whopping 135 million euros instead of 9.6 million.
Renaissance of the cargo ship
Back to the future: The first modern cargo ship of an entire fleet planned by the French company TOWT is rigged in Concarneau. The fleet planned under the brand name "Anemos" will transport general cargo on the usual transatlantic routes with low CO2 emissions. The ships will be able to transport up to 1,100 tonnes, significantly outperforming all previous cargo ships. Three ships are planned to be in service by 2026.
Ocean Globe Race
The women's crew of the "Maiden" wins the 2023/24 Whitbread Revival and makes regatta history. First Ship Home is "Pen Duick VI" under Marie Tabarly, whose father Eric sailed the ship in the first Whitbread race 50 years ago.
Aftermath of the storm surge
In numerous harbours on the German and Danish Baltic Sea coast, hard work was carried out over the winter in order to be able to reopen for the season. In a report, YACHT reports from Großenbrode, where the members of the yacht club rebuilt their destroyed harbour themselves. The Olympic harbour in Schilksee was able to resume operations on time despite severe devastation. Other harbours, such as the one in Hesnaes, Denmark, remain closed. Most of the privately operated marinas here and there are struggling with massive funding problems.
Review of the year: That was the super sailing year 2024
- 2024: The most eventful sailing year ever?
- Exciting start - January and February
- Dramatic sinking and consequences of the storm surge - March and April
- Hullabaloo in early summer - May and June
- Eventful super sailing summer - July and August
- Autumn highlights - September and October
- Vendée Globe and Co. - November and December
