Classic Boats Overdose
This time I’m not going to write that much. Instead, I will fill this post with photos of some pretty amazing boats we had the pleasure to see up close. I have always loved classic, wooden boats, and I don’t think there could be anything more beautiful than a long, slender 12 mR yacht in all her splendour and elegance of good old days… except perhaps a J class boat, that’s even longer and more splendid and elegant – but I have not yet seen one with my own eyes!
When we first heard there was going to be a big regatta for classic boats in our “home marina” – well, we’ve stayed here the whole summer, and feel very much at home, so I might as well call it our home marina – we got so excited we could hardly sleep at night. I did, anyway. Come to think of it, I did sleep just fine. I don’t think anything could really affect my ability to sleep. But I was excited!
The regatta was called German Classics 2018, and it was held at the marina in Laboe, near Kiel, on the weekend of August 16th to 19th.
On the preceding Wednesday we saw a great, dark blue boat in the Laboe harbour as we dinghied into town for our grocery shopping. And she was flying a Finnish flag! We knew it was Blue Marlin, a 12 mR yacht that can often be seen sailing in the waters of Helsinki – we spotted her a couple of times ourselves while sailing there on our little boat.
The next day the town basin began to fill with more boats. There were other 12 mR yachts – ten of them altogether – but many others as well, big and small. Many smaller ones sailed in as they had no engines, and it was interesting to watch the skill and experience of their skippers and crew as they maneuvered their way in through such tight spaces.
Here are some of the 12 mR yachts that participated in the race. Click the thumbnails to see bigger pictures and read more about the yachts!
The races began on Friday. It was rainy, so we didn’t see much of what was going on. But in the evening the skies had cleared and it was warm again as we walked into town to enjoy the lively atmosphere. The harbour basin was absolutely packed with boats, and what a colourful sight it was with all the wet clothing and bright spinnaker sails hanging out to dry!
Saturday was the second and final day of the races, and the weather looked much better. We parked our dinghy just inside the town harbour’s breakwater, where we could see all the yachts heading out towards the sea.
As soon as the big 12 mR yachts were out, we set out to pursue them, but alas! – they were all so much faster than our little dinghy! The starting line was somewhere further off, and with the choppy waves that kept breaking over our bow and sending spray over us and our cameras, we decided not to follow the great fleet of boats any further. Still, it was wonderful to see all these wooden beauties out there sailing in such great numbers.
Back in the Laboe town quay there were big festivities again in the evening, and for a classic boat enthusiast it afforded a great chance to have a good look at the wonderful boats, so gorgeous down to the smallest detail.
Aren’t they beautiful? Click the thumbnails to see their details up close!
- Turning that wheel across the Southern Baltic
- See You Later Åland – Hello, Archipelago Sea!
- Not Too Fast, Not Too Slow
July 24, 2018
November 2, 2017
July 30, 2017
2 thoughts on “Classic Boats Overdose”
Such beautiful boats! I’m impressed with your photography skills – you’ve got some amazing shots. I especially like the close-up ones that show the details.
Thank you! I felt like a real reporter, with all my camera gear and my personal dinghy schauffeur, circling around the big boats at sea 😉
– Inka