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Judging by the types and number of sailing ships, steamships, and motor vessels, SAiL 2025 in Bremerhaven was my event of the year. When friends and fellow enthusiasts excitedly asked me as early as January, "When will you be there?", "Which ship will you be on?", "What will become your focus and highlights?", I started researching and quickly found information about which ships had already registered. I was looking forward to seeing familiar once again, as well as meeting some new sailing ships, and my expectations grew. Luckily, the dates worked out perfectly: no clashes with important commitments or other sailing events. In principle, I could have boarded a ship in Rostock and sailed via Bremerhaven all the way to Sail Amsterdam. Unfortunately, I don't have that much time. I made concrete plans: accommodation, travel, perhaps a press boat, contacts with people on site, and then I could look forward to the event with great anticipation.

Unfortunately, in May we, as a worldwide community of friends of traditional sailing ships, received the very sad news of the tragic accident of the "Cuauhtémoc" in New York. Unbelievable! My shock and deep sympathy for the injured and deceased are still immense. This crowd favorite at every Sail event was therefore unable to participate in Sail Bremerhaven.

Highlight Sail-In: Parade of sailing ships on the Weser

The first highlight of SAiL 2025 was the parade of tall ships entering the river Weser, which I watched from a RIB belonging to the press office. I had arrived in Bremerhaven the night before. The fleet of mostly Dutch charter ships, which I had also greeted in Rostock, was already moored at the pontoon in front of the locks. The inner harbour was largely empty. In the distance one could see "Capitán Miranda", the training ship from Uruguay and, via AIS, one could observe a little of how a the fleet on the outer Weser and further out at sea was preparing to enter Bremerhaven together along the Stromkaje.

One of the flagships of this SAiL 2025 was of course the "Alexander von Humboldt II". Her green sails always make her stand out, even in a parade or a harbour full of ships. But it wasn't just the green of the sails; the crew's seamanship was also evident during the parade. As one of the few ships which actually hoist a full set of sails, the "Alex" remains a fond memory. The German Navy's sail training ship, the "Gorch Fock II" made a good impression too. Because the head of state, Federal President Steinmeier, was on board, police escorts circled the ship, ensuring distancing and preventing good filming. I would also like to emphasize the "Shabab Oman II", training ship of the Royal Navy of Oman, with the crew in the rigging and the BAP "Unión", the training ship of the Peruvian Navy, with show sails and, above all, an impressively large national flag at the stern. During the parade, I also saw for the first time in so many years "Sagres II" from Portugal. The "Großherzogin Elisabeth" from the Training Ship Association in Elsfleth made an excellent impression.

Unfortunately, not a major highlight: replicas of the explorer ships

I wanted to be in Bremerhaven because I'm interested in the replicas of ships from the age of geographical discoveries and voyages of exploration by European seafarers. A real eye-catcher in the parade was definitely the caravel "Vera Cruz" from Portugal with its set triangular sails displaying the red cross, the symbol of the Christian mission of the seafarers during the Age of Discovery. The appearance of the Nao "Victoria" and the galleon "El Galeón" from Spain was disappointing. As often as I have seen these ships, they have never even had a show sail set, which leads me to believe that these ships do not have a seafaring crew, but rather primarily "theatre people" on board. The French "Belem", star of the Hanse-Sail in Rostock, and several smaller ships at the end of the parade also failed to take their chance to attract the attention of spectators.

Highlight New Harbour: atmosphere of the SAiL 2025 Bremerhaven

The parade ended against the backdrop of Bremerhaven's skyline. I hurried ashore and went to the hotel's panoramic deck to watch the ships entering the harbour and docking from a bird's-eye view. Because the lock passage for the large vessels took so long, I later had time to watch their arrival at the New Harbour. The organisers' tugboats masterfully created a harmonious scene with a view of the sailing ships that surely delighted every visitor to SAiL 2025. The illumination of some of the ships in the evening was particularly impressive.

I really enjoy strolling through the harbour early in the morning without the crowds of visitors. The national anthem is often played on the naval training ships, the crews assemble on deck, and the crew of many ships gathers for their usually relaxed morning exercise.

One of my personal highlights was a visit to the BAP "Unión", the Peruvian Navy's sail training ship. The tour led by Commander Captain Juan José Roncagliolo Gómez, accompanied by Consul General Sandra Pinto and Ambassador Augusto Arzubiaga, offered an excellent opportunity to learn more about Peru and its navy, and above all, to see the truly impressive sailing ship in detail.

Anyone visiting Bremerhaven with some time to spare should definitely visit one of its excellent museums. The Climate House, the Emigration Museum, and the German Maritime Museum all feature outstanding exhibitions. This time, I chose the Maritime Museum to see the over 600-year-old Hanseatic cog, which was discovered in the Weser mudflats in 1962, preserved, and put on display here. There are now three replicas modeled after this 14th-century merchant ship, the "Hanse-Kogge" from Kiel, the "Roland von Bremen" and the "Ubena von Bremen". Unfortunately, none of them were present at SAiL 2025.

A unique and impressive sound installation, located at the rivermouth of the Geeste into the Weser, was a highlight for me. The artist Jens Carstensen brought the forgotten sounds of a port city back to life. For decades, ship horns have lent a distinctive atmosphere to the soundscape of a maritime city. The sound artist recorded and archived the sounds of approximately 150 ship horns. These recordings were then played back through a giant loudspeaker, featuring ships including legendary vessels such as the "Queen Elizabeth II".

Since Bremerhaven is known for its extensive maritime exhibitions, I moved around by bicycle and made it all the way to the fishing harbour. Several sailing ships were moored there overnight, and a number of excursions with sailing passengers were departing. However, these trips also had to go through the lock, which was quite lengthy, to reach the river Weser. I also briefly visited the "Großherzogin Elisabeth", which was waiting for visitors. A shuttle bus service was set up to take them from the main festival grounds to the fishing harbour.

I was also at the crew parade through the city of Bremerhaven. In my opinion, the most striking parts of this colourful parade were the crew of BAP "Unión" and "Shabab Oman II". The crews appeared in their uniforms, but also in magnificent national costumes. Together with the music, this created a lively, festive atmosphere, which delighted many residents of Bremerhaven.

Is this what future maritime event highlights will look like?

In Bremerhaven, cruise ships were a particular highlight. This went so far that for the closing event, which featured a drone-generated "fireworks" display, there were no sailboats on the water, but instead three brightly illuminated cruise giants. Is this what maritime event highlights will look like in the future? Thousands of people on the Weser dike, myself included, certainly wanted to witness it. Did anyone consider the environmental impact of this seemingly unrestrained gigantomania? In any case, this superlative show received enthusiastic applause!

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the organisers of SAiL 2025, and especially to the press team. Their welcoming and uncomplicated cooperation resulted in a truly memorable experience and left a very professional impression. I'm already looking forward to the next SAiL!