The bar was set high right from the start, with 4 stars being the target. It was a long road to get there. Now it has been achieved: in November 2011, the Gelting-Mole marina was awarded 4 out of 5 blue stars by the German Tourism Association in the areas of "external presentation, safety, sanitary facilities, service, leisure, management and environmental protection".
The certificate was officially presented by Catrin Homp, Managing Director of the Schleswig-Holstein Tourism Association, at a small ceremony in the "Sonne und Meer" restaurant in Gelting-Mole on 23 February. In her speech, she reported on the tough conditions that the harbour company had to face during the inspection process by an independent expert. Water tourism in Schleswig-Holstein still has good opportunities for development in the future, provided that harbour operators - as in Gelting-Mole - are committed to constantly improving the quality of their facilities.
Beforehand, Managing Director and co-founder of the company, Johannes Petersen, briefly outlined the history of the marina in his welcoming speech. It all started with the idea of six sailors in the mid-1970s to build a sheltered harbour in Geltinger Bucht. Until then, the boats had been moored unprotected in a buoy field off Wackerballig. One time or another, the ships had broken loose during storms and drifted ashore.
The harbour was officially opened in 1979 and the area was further developed after the "Gelting-Faborg" ferry service was discontinued at the end of the 1990s. Today, the site is home to a restaurant, a kiosk, a physiotherapy practice, a sauna, a children's playground, a diesel petrol station, a jetty for tall ships and storage areas.
In order to remain competitive with other marinas, in 2010 the company took part in the state-wide project "Quality Initiative in Sailing Tourism", which is funded by the state of Schleswig-Holstein and aims to increase and ensure quality in marinas. In order to see where Gelting-Mole stands in comparison to other harbours, the company underwent the certification process.
There are already plans for the future in Gelting-Mole, so that sea and lake lovers alike can relax in a relaxed atmosphere. Extensive renovation work is currently being carried out on the jetty facilities. In the medium term, in addition to a caravan site and a hall for winter storage and boat repairs, the former ferry terminal is to be converted into a watch station and anchorage for the crew of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Association in order to provide the "volunteer helpers" with modern accommodation.
