The multi-month voyage begins on 7 April with stops in France and the Canary Islands before crossing the Atlantic to Hamilton in Bermuda. From there, the course leads along the US East Coast to the first highlight of the voyage: participation in the "Sail 250" in New York from 4 to 8 July.
Traditional ships from other countries are also expected there, including the "Amerigo Vespucci" from Italy, the "Oosterschelde" from the Netherlands and the "Dar Mlodziezy" from Poland.
Historic meeting of the sister ships
Wherever the "Gorch Fock" appears, it makes a good picture. In this case, the impressions will be particularly strong. Not only is the arrival at the Statue of Liberty eagerly awaited, because the voyage will be a real highlight in the ship's history, and not just because of the celebrations for American Independence Day.
In New York, the "Gorch Fock" will meet its three sister ships that are still active. The "USCGC Eagle" from the USA, the "Sagres" from Portugal and the "Mircea" from Romania will also be taking part in the event. A race between the sister ships is even planned from 8 to 10 July.
In addition to the historic meeting, this regatta has another very special significance: in 1976, the "Gorch Fock" won the so-called "Five Sisters Trophy". It was the first and so far only time that the - at that time still five - sister ships competed against each other. The trophy has been on board the German sailing training ship ever since.
The challenges of crossing the Atlantic
An Atlantic crossing poses special logistical challenges - including for the crew of the sail training ship. The crossing can take more than 20 days, and even on a tall ship you have to take into account that you will run out of provisions. Careful planning of the catering is therefore a central point of preparation to ensure that no problems arise during the long crossing.
There will be more than 200 people on board during the entire voyage, with the regular crew remaining on board throughout, while the participants in the officers' courses will change at regular intervals. Crossing the Atlantic will be a formative experience for all crew members, which is no different on a tall ship than on a sailing yacht.
Training under sail
The "Gorch Fock" primarily fulfils its training mission for the German Navy. Every year, officer candidates complete a six to eight-week training period on board the three-master. Together with the regular crew, there are more than 200 people on the ship.
The work on board is physically demanding and requires a high degree of team spirit: setting the sails, recovering, jibing and tacking are all done by hand, with dozens of people often pulling on each rope at the same time. This intensive teamwork is the basic prerequisite for mastering the ship. Training on the sail training ship not only teaches prospective naval officers nautical skills, but also important leadership competences and a deep understanding of the elements that they will later be confronted with on modern warships.
Return after a long journey
The "Gorch Fock's" mission is not yet over after the race with its sister ships. The sail training ship will continue its journey via Boston, Halifax and Reykjavik before finally returning to Kiel. It is scheduled to return to its home port on 19 September.
This means that the entire voyage will last more than five months - one of the longest training voyages in recent years. The route across the North Atlantic ensures that the crew will experience and master a wide range of weather and sea conditions. For many of the young officer cadets, this voyage will be a formative experience in their maritime training and at the same time an important contribution to representing Germany at the United States' 250th Independence Day celebrations.
