Boat builder Jens Christen faces ruin. On Thursday, 17 October 2024, a fire breaks out and destroys his life's work and his home. All that remains for the owner of the traditional shipyard on the Binnenmüritz is the clothes he was wearing that day.
The fire brigade is quickly on the scene and fights the flames with a large contingent. Unfortunately in vain. A firefighter is seriously injured when part of a building collapses. The cause of the disastrous fire is not yet known.
Fire: complete destruction of the Christen boatyard
Trainee Ole Görrissen tells YACHT that the shipyard was a hive of activity when the fire broke out. He himself was at vocational school in Lübeck at the time when the news reached him. "I immediately drove to Waren in my car to help in any way I could." However, the fire spread so quickly that almost nothing could be saved despite joining forces. Apart from two newly built dinghy cruisers and the master's certificate, everything was lost.
In addition to the shipyard buildings, all the machinery, tools and several of the classic wooden boats fall victim to the fire. The moulded dinghy cruisers built here enjoy a very good reputation on the regatta scene. Also YACHT has already presented a racing 30 from Christen. Classic sailing and motor boats are also restored here.
Jens Christen's flat and the rented sailmaking workshop were also completely destroyed. "The most important thing, however, was that all the employees were able to get outside quickly," says Görrissen, speaking on behalf of his boss. Despite their own suffering, the team finds time to visit the injured firefighter in hospital and provide moral support. "It's always bad when a helper becomes a victim themselves. But fortunately he is on the road to recovery!"
Fundraising campaign for the reconstruction
The great sympathy and willingness to help shown by friends, colleagues, neighbours and everyone else who is affected by the disaster gives us hope. An alternative hall was offered so that work could be resumed as quickly as possible, as was the free use of work machinery for a period of years. All ten employees are already working on the restart, which is due to take place this year.
For this purpose, a Fundraising campaign to make the reconstruction possible. Within a few days, the amount raised rose to over 80,000 euros. More than 850 people have already donated, with amounts ranging from 5 euros to 3000 euros. Every euro is needed to secure the existence of the boatyard.
