Review of the year 2024: November
End for the "ghost ship" from Norderney
In 2023, a spooky-looking self-built ship wrecked off Norderney and caused quite a stir. Shortly after Halloween, the "ghost ship" made headlines again a year later: It was scrapped.
Lighthouse refurbishment continues
Experts draw up a plan for the renovation of the Kiel lighthouse, which has been in emergency operation for a year. It was so badly damaged by the Baltic storm surge in 2023 that it has been closed as a pilot station ever since.
Burghard Pieske honoured
At the meeting of the German blue water association Trans Ocean, Burghard Pieske receives an award for his life's work. The former captain and teacher sailed around the world on the self-built catamaran "Shangri-La" from 1977 to 1987. This was followed by spectacular sailing adventures and a wide range of social commitments.
Start of the 10th Vendée Globe
With forty participants, including six women, the tenth edition of the single-handed non-stop race around the world is the largest solo race in Imoca history and promises to be exciting for other reasons too. There have never been more new builds at the start, never more boats with foils, never more favourites. Among them is Boris Herrmann, who is competing for the second time and is also counted among the top five in the French offshore scene with his "Malizia-Seaexplorer". On the day of the start, hundreds of thousands of cheering people line the banks of the canal at Les Sables- d'Olonne.
Starting the second season with a win
The German SailGP team led by helmsman Erik Heil secured the first race win of the young racing team's second season. Thomas Riedel and Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel's team finished eighth in the field of twelve foiling catamarans in the season opener off Dubai. The high-speed league will also be making a guest appearance in Germany for the first time in 2025. It will be sailed off Sassnitz on the island of Rügen.
Review of the year 2024: December
Fatal accident before winter regatta
Two participants in the "Regatta of the Iron" had a fatal accident on the way there. The two men, aged 38 and 39, were travelling in their 15-person dinghy cruiser when the boat capsized for reasons that are still unclear. The large-scale search operation came too late; the two experienced sailors could only be rescued dead from the cold Lake Constance.
Self-service ban
At the end of the year, owners are concerned about their anti-fouling protection for the coming season. This is because the purchase of antifouling containing biocides is becoming more complicated due to new regulations. These will be announced as early as August 2021 in the "Regulation on the reorganisation of national sub-legislative provisions for biocidal products" and include a whole package of measures that will make the sale of biocide-containing products more difficult. This will lead to hoarding purchases before the turn of the year.
120 years of YACHT
YACHT is coming to the end of its 120th year of existence, and we commemorated the anniversary online and with a two-part review of the eventful history of our magazine in issues 16 and 17.
Lippe harbour silted up
Renewed wrangling with the authorities over the assumption of costs for essential dredging work at Lippe harbour in Hohwacht Bay. If the entrance continues to silt up, the DGzRS lifeboat stationed on site could even be prevented from travelling in the event of an emergency at sea.
Damp
In order to be allowed to reopen the marina in Damp, which was completely destroyed by the Baltic Sea storm surge, the soil that has been contaminated for years would have to be disposed of as part of a clean-up programme. The leaseholder and the municipality are in dispute over the millions of euros of funding required for this. The harbour will remain closed to guests and the 350 or so permanent berth holders this season. The way has now been cleared for the redevelopment and the harbour will be returned to the municipality on 1 January 2025.
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
