The wings of the bascule bridge that connects the Angelner and Schwansen shores in Kappeln slowly rise. It takes exactly two minutes for the bridge halves with the four lanes to stand upright. Then the double signalling lights switch to white-green-green. The signal that 20 Grand Banks crews have been waiting for - for three years, you could say. Because after a two-year coronavirus break, their annual "family reunion" is finally taking place again this Whitsun weekend. The gathering of the "Grand Bankers", as they call themselves, has been a tradition for over 30 years. They are united by their love of the solid, sturdy trawlers, which for many have become synonymous with romantic and luxurious long-distance cruises.
The white formation glides through the open bridge, past the museum harbour in Kappeln towards the south. This year, the squadron cruise is taking place on the Schlei. And the 42-kilometre-long arm of the Baltic Sea presents itself from its best side under an almost cloudless sky. The members' joy at the reunion is clear to see. Everywhere you look, you see waving crew members standing on the flybridges.
Monika Gehrlein is at the helm on board the "Chi". The name means positive energy. And you can feel it on board the Gehrleins. Monika routinely manoeuvres "Chi" to the head of the squadron and enjoys the view of the Schlei glistening in the sunlight while her husband Markus serves her coffee. The two have known each other since their youth and are a well-rehearsed team.
Unlike her husband, who grew up with boats, she was not born with a passion for boating. "It started little by little. When our children were small, we had a small boat that we took on holiday to Lake Como and the Côte d'Azur. Over time, the desire for a larger boat grew so that we could go on longer trips." Every year at the boat show in Düsseldorf, the Gehrleins stood in front of the trawler yachts, which with their wide hulls and high deckhouses with steep windscreens are reminiscent of the traditional fishing cutters of the North American Atlantic coast. The symbiosis of classic lines, seaworthiness and timeless elegance has always appealed to Markus Gehrlein in particular. "Even though they have been repeatedly adapted to the latest technology over the years, their character has basically remained the same. The design is unmistakable," he enthuses. The time came 23 years ago and they realised their dream with the Grand Banks 42 Europa. They have remained true to it to this day. In their early forties, they were rather the exception in the Grand Banks community at the time: "Many people only buy a boat like this to enjoy their retirement on it. Of course, this is noticeable in the club. So I'm all the more pleased that we also have young families with us this year," says Markus Gehrlein.
Since he took early retirement ten years ago, the couple have spent every summer on board "Chi". They spend months at a time travelling the waters of northern Europe, from England to the Baltic, across the Arctic Circle and up to the Lofoten Islands. "We also love it when it gets dark and you need the heating. That's exactly what these ships are made for. It's just like a cosy home, no matter where you are and what the weather is like," he says. His wife agrees: "I'm seaworthy, but I don't really like it cold. That's when the advantages of a Grand Banks come into play. And when the weather is nice, we can sit at the helm in the sun. Personally, though, I prefer to steer down below, where I have a better overview."
The 13-year-old dog Aick is always on board. The wide side decks and spacious interior design are ideal for a senior like him. On a Grand Banks, nobody has to squeeze past or tuck their head in. The Labrador with the greying lips lies in his usual spot on the threshold to the large aft deck and seems rather unimpressed by the spectacle that presents itself to him as he looks over the stern: The twenty boats are lined up one behind the other like white pearls on a string against an azure blue sky. They follow each other at a leisurely seven knots on the calm waters of the Schlei. Just like the boats and their owners, the four-legged friend is used to rougher waters. The Newfoundland Bank, to which the Grand Banks ships owe their name, is a group of underwater plateaus to the south-east of Newfoundland. The area is known for its rough seas. This is where the cold Labrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream meet. These conditions ensure that the area is one of the richest fishing grounds in the world, but also that fog frequently occurs here. In addition, there are icebergs and the traffic of the transatlantic shipping routes. Not an easy sailing area. This is where American Marine's sea-going trawlers originated. In the beginning, the hulls were still built in solid wood, completely by hand from high-quality mahogany, and the deck was covered with teak.
One of these woodies, as the Grand Bankers call these archetypes, is Tom and Bea Nagel's fifty-year-old "My Deer". For Tom, it is also the two most frequently mentioned features that make up the special character of a Grand Bank: the lines and the robustness. "We took the boat back to the original design according to old plans and removed the bells and whistles that had been added over the years, such as a figurehead. But what was really impressive was that when the hull was sanded down, the American oak saw light again for the first time in 50 years and there was nothing wrong with it - as if it had just been launched."
Over the years, the manufacturer has gone down more modern paths in the production of the hulls, but has never abandoned the classic design of a robust workboat. As different as the models are in the details of their equipment, they are all the same in their basic characteristics: durable construction, high-quality interior and timeless design. Son Nick agrees. For him, the annual Whitsun gatherings with the Grand Banks community are a family tradition. To the delight of the long-established Grand Bankers, the 24-year-old and his girlfriend Eva are not the only ones to bring the average age down significantly this weekend. Ute and Christian Patzer from the "Strandhusen" have also travelled here with their daughter Lykka. For the 20-year-old and her parents, the Classic Grand Banks is a family hobby. Christian even describes her as a member of the family. The emotional connection to the boat is also reflected in the name. His grandparents lived in a lighthouse in Strandhusen. Ever since Christian saw "Jaws" at the end of the 1970s, he has always wanted a boat like the "Orca" in Steven Spielberg's famous film classic. A good forty years later, he is fulfilling this dream with the purchase of a Grand Banks 36 Classic from his grandparents' inheritance. "We spend every spare minute on the Strandhusen. When you buy a Grand Banks, it's clear that you won't go on any other holidays. Who needs a holiday home or hotel when you can go anywhere and always have everything with you? That was a very conscious, joint family decision. And even in winter, we share a common hobby, because there's always enough to do on a boat like this."
Markus Gehrlein can tell you a thing or two about that. During the winter months, he looks after and cherishes every inch of his lovingly hand-repaired boat. The characteristic wooden applications, especially at the stern, make it a real eye-catcher. "You notice it when we pull into a harbour. We often get compliments." Naturally, this makes the proud owner's heart beat faster.
To starboard, they leave the Arnis peninsula behind them - the smallest town in Germany with just under 300 inhabitants and an area of around sixty football pitches. And the home harbour of the "Chi". "Our boat is part of the townscape here," laughs Markus. This year, the Gehrleins hosted the meeting, which is why it is being held in their home waters. Since the founding of the owners' association, the Grand Bankers have met at many different locations. "The past two years, when the meeting could not take place due to coronavirus, we have been canvassing all over the harbours of Northern Europe. As soon as we saw a Grand Bank that we didn't know, we exchanged contact details and advertised our "club". As a result, a good half of the twenty boats have joined for the first time. It's just great to see how the community is growing and is networked worldwide. We keep each other up to date on who is where and sometimes we organise our itinerary to meet others. That's what 'family' is all about. Somehow you're just from the same mould."
The route continues past unspoilt bays and bird islands. The calm waters of the Schlei provide breeding and resting places for numerous bird species. The leisurely pace allows you to enjoy nature in peace. "If you're travelling on a Grand Banks, it's not about getting to your destination quickly," explains Gehrlein. "That would also be anything but economical. However, with over 1000 litres of fresh water and almost 2300 litres of diesel, the tanks have enough storage capacity to easily last us a week."
After an hour, the squadron gathers in front of the Lindaunis bridge. The almost hundred-year-old steel truss bridge crosses the Schlei at one of its narrowest points. Due to repeated failures of the bascule bridge, it was decided to dismantle the old bridge piece by piece and build a new one to the east of it. During the construction work, the bridge will only be open four times a day. An additional challenge for the organisation team of this year's Rendezvous. But the timing is perfect. Less than ten minutes later, the journey continues. At Missunde, the Schlei is as narrow as a river before it opens up shortly afterwards to the "Große Breite", where it lies like a lake in front of you. The shoreline is lined with extensive noors, as the lagoons and beach lakes are called in the region, and dotted here and there with small houses hidden behind reeds. Shortly after the Stexwiger Enge, Schleswig Cathedral comes into view on the western shore. Almost 900 years old, St Peter's Cathedral is one of the most important buildings in North German church history. At the sight of it, the Grand Bankers realise almost wistfully that the trip is already drawing to a close. One boat after another arrives in Schleswig's city harbour. A brief confusion ensues. After all, twenty motor yachts need to be sorted.
After a confident mooring manoeuvre, Monika has also found her place on the 100-metre-long pier with the "Chi". While Markus moors and picks up the lines, she greets old friends and welcomes new acquaintances. The Grand Bankers have made themselves comfortable in three-packs and soon attract attention. Onlookers pull out their cameras. Over the next two days, they have plenty of opportunity to take a close look at the boats. Meanwhile, a cultural programme awaits the crews. The programme includes a visit to the Viking village of Haithabu and a tour of Schleswig's old town. And in between there will be plenty of time to chat and talk shop. After the final Captain's Dinner, so many cruise appointments and route tips have been exchanged that many of them will not be saying goodbye until next year.
You will find the report "Family reunion on the Schlei" in BOOTE issue 08/2022 from 13 July 2022 at newsstands, online directly in the Delius Klasing Shop - and already now on www.boote-magazin.de.
