After a voyage of around 5,000 nautical miles in the Caribbean, the 3-masted barque "Alexander von Humboldt II" has been back at the Labrador pier in Bremerhaven's fishing harbour since last Friday. For six months, the 65-metre-long sailing ship travelled internationally as a floating classroom for Canada's West Island College. On its journey home, the "Alex II" had to fight its way through a fierce Atlantic storm. "The ship ran into heavy weather between Bermuda and the Azores," reports Jürgen Hinrichs, spokesman for the board of the German Sail Training Foundation, the operator of the "Alex 2". For the 16 to 19-year-old trainees on board, it was an adventurous test, but for the volunteer crew it was everyday sailing life.
Repairs and preparations for the summer season
Now things can take it easy for a while: Minor damage to the Labradorpier in Bremerhaven's fishing harbour is being repaired. Some repairs, such as a torn sail, have already been carried out during the voyage. After a week in the fishing harbour, the "Alex II" will move to its original berth in the New Harbour for a few days. From there, several day trips for up to 135 guests will start over the Easter holidays before the "Alex 2" sets sail with up to 52 guests on larger trips on the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
Flagship of Sail 2025 in Bremerhaven
The sailing events of the tall ships are also firmly integrated into the sailing schedule of the "Green Lady": on 11 May, the 65-metre ship will lead the departure parade at the Hamburg Harbour Birthday, in June her 24 green sails will be on display at the Kieler Woche, in July at the Tall Ship Race in the English Channel and on the North Sea.
A highlight of the summer season will be the Sail 2025 in Bremerhaven, which will take place from 13 to 17 August after a ten-year break. The "Alexander von Humboldt II" has been named the flagship of the Windjammer Festival and will lead the entry parade of the five-day event on 13 August. With an impressive fleet of over 250 ships from all over the world, it promises to be one of the maritime highlights of the year for sight-seers: Among others, the "Gorch Fock", Latin America's largest sail training ship, the "Unión" from Peru, and the Mexican "Cuauhtémoc", considered one of the most beautiful sailing ships in the world, have confirmed their participation. The ships invite visitors to sail on board and take part in daily "open ship" programmes, aOn the stages perform shanty choirs and artists such as Ronan Keating and Johannes Oerding.
On your own keel to the event
Accompanying the entry parade on your own keel or simply getting to the party mile from on board in just a few steps - sounds tempting? Then let's go! The Landesverband Motorbootsport Niedersachsen e.V. organises a Sail convoy from Wilhelmshaven, Oldenburg and Bremen-Vegesack. The boats sail to the event together and accompany the arrival parade of the large ships before mooring together in the fishing harbour.
Even those who make their own way to the big party for sight-seers don't have to worry about finding a berth. The marinas in Bremerhaven do not accept reservations for the event, "but so far we have been able to accommodate everyone, whether in a packet or on the quay wall," says Jasmin Schuster from the LLoyd Marina with 180 berths. This is also confirmed by Klaas Kuhlmann from the North Sea Marina in the fishing harbour. "Especially when the weather is good, many boats from the neighbourhood come over spontaneously. Then it can get crowded. But in addition to the marinas, we also have the clubs, which are also happy to welcome guests."
The Sail Bremerhaven
Traditional ships from all over the world have been meeting on the quayside at the mouth of the Weser every five years since 1986 - this year for the tenth time after Sail 2020 had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. After the long forced break, around one million visitors are expected. The event reflects the city and region's close connection to sailing shipping. Bremerhaven can look back on a long tradition of shipbuilding: between 1840 and 1926, over 250 large deep-water sailing ships were built here. Some of these historic ships, such as the "Kruzenshtern" (formerly "Padua") or the "Statsraad Lehmkuhl" (formerly "Grossherzog Friedrich August"), are still sailing the world's oceans today. The "Alexander von Humboldt II" has been a floating ambassador for Bremerhaven in the international windjammer community since 2011.
The 250 traditional ships and their enthusiasts meet from the 13 to 17 August at Sail 2025.
