For years, the more than 100-year-old sailing yacht "Klaus Störtebeker III" lay forgotten at the Wiesbaden Bridge in Wilhelmshaven's Grand Harbour before the non-profit organisation Jadewind e.V., which was founded specifically for this purpose, bought the traditional sailing yacht and is now having it restored from the ground up at the H. Bültjer boatyard in Ditzum. Once it has been restored, the yacht will once again be available to young people from next summer to promote the sport of sailing, in particular for the training of regular crews for traditional sailing boats on German coasts.
Restoration almost complete
In the meantime, the restoration work at the boatyard, which specialises in traditional wooden boatbuilding, is already well advanced. On both the port and starboard sides, the upper two planks of the hull, all the joists, the coaming and the rubbing strake have been removed in order to replace the damaged frames and frame heads. Hein von Dollart, a former journeyman at Bültjer Bootswerft, then cut out the planks with a giant saw, steamed them for about 60 minutes and bolted them to the right places with hydraulic power while hot.
Sometimes the club's labour service was allowed to lend a hand with this work. In order to rebuild the timbers and the coaming according to the original plans, wooden templates had to be elaborately prefabricated. Only after they had been perfectly fitted were the timbers, coaming and rubbing strakes sawn out of precious woods and worked into the hull. Original construction drawings by the Hamburg designer Heinrich Rabba were submitted for this part of the restoration. The hull was then completely re-painted and primed by master boat builder Gerrit Bültjer.
Association members work with
In the autumn months of 2025, the Jadewind e.V. labour service dismantled and removed the cockpit hull and the ship's diesel engine. The engine was transported to the Jade Dienst GmbH engine workshop in spring 2026, whose technicians will overhaul the engine by July. At the end of July, the Jade Dienst engine workshop will reinstall the ship's diesel engine on site.
Until then, Hein von Dollart will replace the damaged parts of the cockpit's load-bearing beams and the soffit of the cockpit hull and overhaul the steering gear. Original plans also had to be obtained for this, as "Klaus Störtebeker III" will be converted back to tiller steering in accordance with the club's decision.
The bowsprit also needs to be replaced. In this context, the lateral, sail and centre of gravity will be re-measured by a specialist company in Bremen before the rig is refurbished and adjusted and the new sails are measured.
Genuine joint project
The Jadewind e.V. labour service removed the deep tanks so that all the iron cranes in the deep bilge were derusted and preserved in days of work. The electrics were also completely dismantled. In autumn 2026, the interior cabins, berths, navigation corner, galley and wet room will be renovated. For the club's labour service, this means: sanding, pre-painting, sanding, pre-painting, sanding.....
Of course, this major project can only be realised with active support. The long-established company H. Bültjer Bootswerft not only carries out boat-building work, but also competently instructs the association members in all of their own work, as numerous association members and volunteers make important contributions themselves. Generous donors ensure that the non-profit organisation can meet all its obligations without any debts. And last but not least, the Hamburg-Cranz boatyard supports the project, where the "Klaus Störtebeker III" was launched in 1922 as a gaff ketch under the name "Bille III".
Nevertheless, around 150,000 euros in donations still need to be generated before the traditional sailing ship is finally handed over to youth projects under the mentorship of Jadewind e.V..
The "Klaus Störtebeker III" is to be moved to Wilhelmshaven in spring 2027. Jade Yachting GmbH will install the latest safety electronics with advice from the DGzRS, and the sailmakers at MWB Motorenwerk Wilhelmshaven GmbH & Co. KG will produce a set of new sails in an antique look.
Jadewind - Association with a future
It is still a small group of nautical enthusiasts who have tackled the project and, with the help of numerous donors and supporters, will realise the complete refurbishment of the "Klaus Störtebeker III". But it will take many more members to maintain the sailing yacht at her new berth in Wilhelmshaven's Grand Harbour and sail her across the high seas to distant shores and international youth clubs.
On board, the trainees independently pick out an international classic of seafaring literature from the ship's library for their free watch, learn to peel and cook potatoes together for the whole crew and begin to deal with situations in which action or inaction has immediate consequences. More and more, personal development and broadening of horizons can be realised and understood through practical experience and self-enlightenment on "Klaus Störtebeker III", far away on the high seas.
Training for skippers, cruise masters and helmsmen
On 4 July 2026, Jadewind e.V. is organising its first training cruise to build up a core crew. The event will be sailed on traditional dinghy cruisers in the Jader region. The detailed announcement and participation requirements can be found here:
One aim is to acquire the official pleasure craft licence (SSS, SHSS) with which one can operate traditional sailing boats as a licensed captain and helmsman in accordance with the sailing instructions of Jadewind e.V.. However, the main aim is to train skippers and helmsmen who are familiar with the home area and the club ship, reliably implement the sailing instructions of the Jadewind e.V. Sailing Advisory Board and ensure the safety and ease of ship traffic. To this end, the ship's command familiarises the 10 trainees on board with their watch duties using clear instructions and pedagogical skills. S.T.A.G.'s youth ships are free of drugs and alcohol in accordance with the charter.
In agreement with the youth department of the S.T.A.G. (Sail Training Association Germany), a sailing fee of 80 euros per day is charged (for the berth, provisions, fuel and mooring fees), trainees and licensed skippers must be members of Jadewind e.V. for at least one year. Of course, once "Klaus Störtebeker III" has been put into service, regular crew training cruises will be organised by Jadewind e.V. as well.
Participation in the Tall Ship Race 2028
On 21 June 2028, "Klaus Störtebeker III" will set off from Kiel to take part in Tall Ship Race 28 to Turku. Tallinn, Marie Hamm, Szczecin and Greifswald will also be included in this international youth event. Jadewind e.V. will publish a detailed sailing schedule for "Klaus Störtebeker III" for the 2028 sailing season for the first time in autumn 2027.
On 2 July 2026, Jadewind e.V. is organising a one-day coach trip to Leer and Ditzum for club members, friends and guests. In Leer, there will be presentations on the concept and history of the museum harbour in Leer, and in Ditzum there will be a coffee break under the hull of the "Klaus Störtebeker III" together with the boatbuilders from the Bültjer shipyard. Announcement under:
The "Klaus Störtebeker III"
"Klaus Störtebeker III" is a two-masted gaff ketch
- Year of construction: 1921
- Shipyard: Schierhornwerft in Hamburg-Cranz
- Owner / Ship certificate: Jadewind e.V., Wilhelmshaven
- Ex-names: "Bille III", "Coat of arms of Bremen"
- Home port: Wilhelmshaven
- Flag: German
- Identification: TS G 379
- Club and ship are members of the S.T.A.G. (Sail Training Association Germany)
- "Klaus Störtebeker III" sails under the S.T.A.G. flag in accordance with the requirements of the World Cultural Heritage "Traditional Sailing".
- The non-profit Jadewind e.V. is a member of the LandesSportBund Niedersachsen e.V. and the StadtSportBund Wilhelmshaven e.V., as well as a co-operative member of the Förderkreis Schulsegeln e.V..
