100 years ago: An adventurous summer – sailing to the Travemünde regatta on the ‘Ingeborg 3’

The report in which the “Schiffer Sala” (with the proud suffixes M.Y.C.v.D.-C.M.Y.-St.Y.C.-Kr.-Abt. d. D.S. Vb.) An article recounting the adventures of the “Ingeborg 3” in the summer of 1926 appeared in our sister magazine, YACHT, that very same year. We are reprinting it here in its original form, retaining the original spelling. A glance into the archives reveals that some things were different 100 years ago – but in many ways, they weren’t. In the sixth instalment, the party gets in full swing at the sailing regatta in Travemünde.

​Text: Schiffer Sala – M.Y.C.v.D.-C.M.Y.-St.Y.C.-Kr. Branch of the D.S. Vb.

• Part 1 of the journey can be found here.
• ​Part 2 of the journey can be found here.
• Part 3 of the journey can be found here.
• ​Part 4 of the journey can be found here.
• You can find Part 5 of the journey here.

On to Travemünde

We did not stop at Swinemünde. We set sail at nine o’clock in the morning, after having topped up our supplies of drinking water and fuel. After a brisk sail with a light easterly breeze and a gentle swell, we sailed round Rügen and reached Warnemünde in 13 hours, where we spent the following morning first of all resting and enjoying a spot of swimming.

Overnight, the wind had picked up to a stiff north-easterly with a swell, so that, not wishing to miss out on this delightful experience, we set sail at about two o’clock in the afternoon and, with a cloudless sky above us and the wind and swell at our backs, made our way to Travemünde in 5½ hours. On this voyage, we had our first opportunity to experience the boat’s handling in following seas, which proved extremely satisfactory.

A boozy squadron outing

In Travemünde, we found a huge sporting event and everything that goes with it. A pleasant and interesting evening at the Kurhaus rounded off the lovely day, whilst the next day, with a stiff north-easterly wind, treated us to a boozy squadron cruise to Neustadt.

As we set sail from the piers at Travemünde at 9.30 am, there was initially a worrying clatter in the galley; then, in the cook’s cabin, the breakfast that had been laid out – including coffee and soft-boiled eggs – went overboard.

A victim of seasickness

There it all lay in a mess / I didn’t dare look / A jumble criss-crossing everywhere / Nothing was left on the table / Tinned sardines, sugar cubes / Eggs, flounder, smoked herring fillets / And all sorts of other things besides / Cakes, coffee, butter dishes / Rolls, shards, jam / It was a merry sight – but what a shame!

The competitors who had set off earlier had almost vanished over the horizon; today, the ‘Ingeborg III’ was able to prove her worth. We were travelling at full speed, broadside to starboard in heavy seas, and had already caught up with the ‘so-called’ sea cruisers, which were rolling heavily and struggling against the wind and swell at half speed. We overtook them after just half an hour, sailed past them and showed them the correct course to Neustadt, which they had failed to follow, whether intentionally or by mistake. Everyone arrived there safely, one after the other. After visiting the Hanseatic Yacht School, we made an equally lively return journey to Travemünde.

Oh, there’s a lack of nerve

On the eve of the regatta, everyone with a taste for the sea gathered at the Kurhaus, where the owners’ meeting for the vessels taking part in the regatta was also held. Unfortunately, it was decided on this occasion to shorten the race course – which, at 60 nautical miles, was already on the short side – to 40 nautical miles due to today’s rough seas, much to the disappointment of the owners of the truly seaworthy vessels and, in particular, the Swedish participants. Without wishing to be critical, a little more backbone would have been called for.

At least in the top ten

The following day brought the long-awaited offshore regatta, which, due to the weather having become completely calm, resembled an inland regatta more than an offshore one. Under these conditions, our fabulously fast boat was unfortunately unable to make up the time needed to beat the handicap, so that we ultimately had to settle for eighth place, as even any Spree barge could sail at full throttle on the almost mirror-smooth lake.

As the owner had to go to Berlin for a few days on business, and the crew preferred to enjoy a spot of swimming in Warnemünde, we made the most of the next day – with the wind and swell picking up again – to sail back there!

• ​Part 1 of the journey can be found here.
• ​Part 2 of the journey can be found here.
• Part 3 of the journey can be found here.
• ​Part 4 of the journey can be found here.
• ​You can find Part 5 of the journey here.

Part seven is coming soon!