Review of the year 2024: May
Accident in the shipping lanes
Following the accident involving a British sailing yacht between the East Frisian islands of Juist and Norderney, the DGzRS sea rescuers have issued an urgent warning to anyone unfamiliar with the area not to sail in the Schluchter caldera. The crew from Great Britain was rescued unharmed, but their ship is badly damaged. The sea channels are generally considered to be very challenging and highly changeable.
Legendary J-Class back
"Shamrock V" celebrates her comeback. The challenger for the America's Cup in 1930 has been returned to her element after a two-year refit. The "Queen of the J-Class" is now sailing again in her illustrious class. First owner Sir Thomas Lipton once had her built in order to finally win the America's Cup in a fifth and final attempt. But again in vain. Later, the only J-Class ever built from wood was to win regatta silver many more times.
Old grinding wheel back unintentionally
A return of a different kind: the grinding ferry "Missunde II", which was decommissioned due to a new safety regulation, is put back into operation. Its successor, a 3.9 million euro electric ferry, failed the practical test. An initiative is calling for the "Missunde II" to be rebuilt at a cost of just 1.7 million euros so that it once again complies with the regulations.
Hanseyachts no longer on the stock exchange
Withdrawal from the stock market: Hanseyachts ends its 17-year odyssey on the trading floor. The Greifswald boatbuilders want to free themselves from a high financial burden for reporting obligations and end their special status as the only German shipyard on the stock market.
Fam anniversary
The Fam class association meets for its 50th Whitsun cruise on the Frisian canals and lakes. To this day, the cuddly back deckers with centreboards and small cabins continue to inspire a loyal and stable fan base. YACHT took the opportunity to accompany the anniversary flotilla for a reportage.
"Tally Ho"
After seven years of restoration work, Englishman Leo Sampson Goolden rescued the legendary Fastnet winner of 1927 in the north-west of the USA. What's special: Through professional videos in which the likeable boat builder regularly showed his progress, Goolden had been able to inspire a fan community of half a million followers on YouTube for classic wooden boat building and financing.
Controversial "Maritime Safety Days"
As part of the "Maritime Safety Days", officers from the water police are targeting sailors. The aim of the inspections is to raise awareness of safety on the water. Fines are levied if there are no up-to-date paper charts on board. The unclear legal situation is the subject of public debate.
Successful Ancora Yacht Festival
More visitors at the Ancora Yacht Festival. Over 17,000 visitors, nine per cent more than last year, are drawn to Germany's largest in-water boat show in Neustadt on the Bay of Lübeck. 160 boats can be admired by the public there.
Review of the year 2024: June
Anniversary of the Kiel 24-hour regatta
The Kiel 24-hour regatta is taking place for the 50th time. To this day, this iconic race is not about the fastest time, but about making miles. One of the special features: An additional four nautical miles are credited for each harbour that is called at, which are not counted according to yardstick.
Special wreck find
Off Newfoundland, scientists find the wreck of the "Quest", which sank in 1962 and in which the famous polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton had made his last voyage 40 years earlier, at the bottom of the Labrador Sea. Shackleton had died on board in South Georgia in 1922.
Jubilee of the sailing youth
The DSV Sailing Youth also celebrates its 50th anniversary. At the anniversary celebration in Kiel-Schilksee, officials and representatives from the world of politics will celebrate and discuss how youth can be better supported and how voluntary work in clubs can be simplified.
Classic Week
For the fifth time, around 200 traditional boats will sail together for a week along the Danish and German Baltic coasts at the invitation of the Circle of Friends of Classic Yachts. The Classic Week becomes a real sailing festival with regattas and a programme of events at various locations.
130th Kiel Week
The 130th Kiel Week once again attracts around 3,000 participants to the start of 285 races. The weather proves to be as varied as the world's largest sailing event itself. Only the absence of many international athletes spoils the event somewhat. They are already preparing for the Olympic Games in Marseille.
Midsummer Sail
The ninth edition of the Midsummer Sail, which runs from the southernmost to the northernmost point of the Baltic Sea, started stormily but ended gently. Exactly 80 boats set off on the longest Baltic Sea regatta at 900 nautical miles. The line honours go to the Swedish crew of the X-55 "Luft". Second place went to the Class 40 "CheekyTatoo", skippered by the Next Generation Sailing team. Around 30 boats pay tribute to the sometimes stormy conditions and give up.
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
