Welcome to the

Hanse Sail Verein e.V.  

The Hanse Sail Rostock is an important testament to the traditions and significance of sailing ships for the Hanseatic and university city of Rostock. 635 years after the first and 322 years after the last historical Hanseatic Day on May 29, 1669, in Lübeck, the first Hanse Sail Rostock took place in 1991. By the mid-1990s, the name Hanse Sail had become firmly established and is now more than just a maritime tourism brand.

The name was and remains a stroke of luck. It's not just an empty phrase, but has a productive impact throughout the year, extending far beyond the four days of the event. And here you could see and hear (almost) everything that floats. The Hanse Sail fulfills essential maritime-touristic, economic, political, cultural, and social functions in Rostock, in our state, and in the Baltic Sea region.

Key concepts here are cosmopolitanism, tolerance, networking, ingenuity, and a pioneering spirit. Without the Hanseatic League and Hanse Sail, Rostock, Northeast Germany, and the Baltic region would be poorer, despite all the contradictions. While the Hanseatic ships (cog, hulk, caravel) were the symbol and the means of transport (workhorses), the traditional sailing ships of Hanse Sail are the unifying medium and the catalysts for many developments.


The Baltic Sea is the sea of traditional sailing ships. The Hanse Sail is a wonderful maritime spectacle, a "maritime world's fair" on the Warnow River and off Warnemünde.

Eine Gruppe Segelboote liegt in einem Hafen vor Anker.
Drei Segelboote schwimmen auf einer großen Wassermasse.
Eine Gruppe Segelboote segelt im Ozean.
Ein Segelboot liegt in einem Hafen und die Sonne scheint durch die Segel.
Ein großes Schiff mit einem Steuerrad auf dem Deck
Eine Reihe Segelboote liegt in einem Hafen vor Anker.
Eine Gruppe Segelboote liegt in einem Hafen vor Anker.
Blick auf die Masten eines Großseglers vor einem blauen Himmel
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About Us

The Union

The association was founded on June 3, 1994. It is registered under number 1213 at the Rostock District Court. The association pursues exclusively charitable objectives based on statutes adopted by the general assembly of members.

The association's aims include, among other things, the

  • Promotion, care and preservation of maritime cultural values and the customs of sailing ships with a historical character
  • Support for children's and youth work with an orientation towards culture, education and maritime vocational training
  • Initiation and promotion of educational projects with a maritime focus for children and young people – primarily in cooperation with schools and educational institutions
  • Creating opportunities for encounters and participation in events and care activities for traditional and museum ships in an international context.
  • Creation of subsidized sailing opportunities on traditional ships for young people and senior citizens

A key aspect of the association's work is the collaborative support of the Hanse Sail office in the preparation and execution of the annual Hanse Sail Rostock in the following areas:

  • Providing a support system for the crews of the participating ships and seaplanes, for artists, shanty choirs and for the security of concerts as well as in the backstage area of the Hanse Sail stage.
  • Design of exhibitions and tourist-maritime encounters
  • Publication of own publications to increase awareness of the Hanse Sail Rostock
  • Participation in trade fairs, advertising and information events and in the distribution of Hanse Sail information materials and souvenirs