For the past nine years, the event has been held on the first weekend in September in Kappeln and Maasholm. The event was better attended than ever before. Favoured by the perfect late summer weather, many owners of GRP classics - they must be older than 25 years - decided to take part. Days before the event, the first Yachts on Friday afternoon, the pool of the Yacht centre Kappeln was already full, and the first specialist lecture on the subject of repairing gelcoat damage was offered. The balmy evening on the banks of the Schlei with goulash and free beer was a long one for some crews.
On Saturday, after breakfast together, two more workshops were on the programme. Reinhard Schmidt from Kiesow boat engines carried out a trouble shooting on a "living object" in his workshop, and Ulli Dohrmann, Seldén specialist from Ancker-Yachting , was on hand to answer questions about the rig.
On the water
After the participating yachts had set sail, the rescue cruiser led them in a squadron to Maasholm, where the Musto Open Race started. Philipp Einfeldt's International 806 "Sophie" was the first ship home in this fun regatta, which is organised without any calculations. Thomas Leptihn's self-built mini cutter "Lütt Bries" was the last to cross the line to set off on the Open Rally course. This nautical skill exercise consists of three stations. This year, the task was to rescue a doll from the water, take over a gift and perform a manoeuvre - towing under sail.
On land, the participants finally had to solve a puzzle on the subject of GRP classics.
On the test bench
While all the owners were busy with this, the jury members set about scrutinising all the yachts. The aim was to find out who deserved the title of "Baltic Sea Pearl" the most. The jury was made up of all kinds of experts. Blue water sailor Bobby Schenk had travelled a long way from his home in Bavaria to look round all the boats that reminded him of his early days on the water. One of them was a Fähnrich 34, a sister ship to the "Thalassa", which Schenk and his wife Karla sailed around the world on for four years from 1968.
Michael "Mike" Naujok, another member of the jury, also took part in the assessment. The long-standing head of testing at YACHT had put many of the yachts through their paces at the time of their market launch. Many an owner received valuable tips from the expert. In addition, Kalle Dehler, an industry insider who had experienced and helped shape early GRP yacht construction at close quarters since his childhood, was also on hand.
Finally, Martin Horstbrink, Chairman of the association GFK-Klassiker e.V.the founders of the event. Horstbrink organised the first meeting in Maasholm nine years ago together with Dirk Kroll, and the two of them came up with the concept that is still used today.
On the podium
The awards ceremony took place in the evening - after suckling pig and under the barrage of torrential rain on the roof of the Fetzelt. The "Pearl of the Baltic", a perpetual travelling prize, went to Michael Kraske's Lady Helmsman "Kairos". He had taken over the ship in complete disrepair and transformed it into a piece of jewellery in eight months of work.
Because there were so many contenders for the "Baltic Sea Pearl" this year, a further five yachts were awarded, which were shortlisted and almost equal on points with the winner:
"Undine", a Nymphe 2, owned by Thomas Jaborsky.
"Kolibri", an Avance 24, owner Mario Möller.
"Sunrise", an S&S 34, owner Winfried Klaws.
"Hol die Ran", a dolphin, owner Peter Hellwig.
"Aurora", a Bandholm 33, owner Jan Knecht.
Participant Beate Keil from the Contest 25 "My Own" had to climb onto the stage three times that evening. The fact that she and Gesine Strohmeier from the Bianca 27 "Louise Janani" helped tow free a participant yacht that had got stuck during the regatta was worth a special prize for good seamanship to the jury. Beate Keil also took third place in the nautical skills rally and won the "Snow White" - the prize for the GRP classic with the greatest potential to become a piece of jewellery. The first winner in terms of skill was Eike Thissen with "Toy Box" ahead of Karsten Dreyer with "Kaipuu".
You will find a detailed review of the event in YACHT 22, which will be published on 22 October. The list with the overall results of the race can be found on the homepage of the Organiser.
