The parade line-up, which will set off at 11 am on Saturday 27 June on Kiel’s inner fjord, is quite a sight: a total of 53 traditional vessels have been registered. For the Windjammer Parade They are divided into five divisions, with each sailor assigned a specific position within the fleet. The leading vessel holds the top position in the first division.
New flagship “Thor Heyerdahl”
This year, it is the German three-masted topsail schooner “Thor Heyerdahl”. Traditionally, this role is played by the Kiel-based training ship “Gorch Fock”, but this year the German Navy’s white barque is elsewhere – on 4 July, it will be taking part in the celebrations in New York to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
Starts at 11 am on the inner fjord
Before the windjammer parade sets off in Kiel, the participating ships will gather off the eastern bank and take up their parade positions from these vantage points. If the wind is favourable, the sails will be hoisted at this point. The forecast currently predicts a light south-westerly wind – a good direction for square-rigged ships heading north-east.
Finally, the starting signal will be given between 10.50 am and 11.00 am by the lead vessel, the “Thor Heyerdahl”, firstly via VHF channel 11 (which will also serve as the official traffic channel for instructions and announcements until the end of the parade), and on the other hand via a traditional flag signal: the hoisting of flag H (“Hotel”).
The route of the Windjammer Parade
The Windjammer Parade route runs for just under five nautical miles from the imaginary starting line – roughly level with the two marinas at Wik and Mönkeberg – through the Friedrichsorter Enge to the pair of buoys “5”/“6”, roughly abeam the Naval Memorial in Laboe. For safety reasons, however, the convoy will not disperse until it reaches the vicinity of buoy “4”.
Participating sailing yachts
As well as the traditional sailing vessels, the formation also includes a number of sailing yachts. These are positioned at the end of each section. Spectator boats may also accompany the windjammer parade, but must not obstruct the participants, particularly whilst they are taking up their positions or at any time thereafter. We have compiled an overview of the various types of tall ships compiled here.
Christian Tiedt
Editor Travel
