Windjammer weekend in Bremerhaven: Festival attracts 1.2 million!

Windjammer weekend in Bremerhaven: Festival attracts 1.2 million!

The maritime world is coming to Bremerhaven: the eagerly awaited tall ship meeting “Sail” will take place from August 11th to 15th, 2025. This exciting festival brings together sailors from all over the world to take part in one of the largest events of its kind. The first ships are expected in the harbor on Monday, while the famous sailing training ships “Alexander von Humboldt II” and “Gorch Fock” will dock on Tuesday. Around 250 ships will be on display during the five-day festivities in Bremerhaven, including historic expedition ships, windjammers and modern cruise ships, reports the Borkener Zeitung.

A highlight will be the big inlet parade on Wednesday, in which around 100 ships will sail along the mouth of the Weser. This impressive ship show is led by the “Alexander von Humboldt II”, while numerous pleasure boats accompany the parade. Particularly worth mentioning is the visit of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will ceremoniously open the “Sail” on board the “Gorch Fock”.

International ship diversity

The event will feature ships from 16 different nations. These include the largest and fastest sailing training ship in South America, the “Unión” from Peru, the “Shabab Oman II” – a Royal Navy barque from Oman – and the three-masted schooner “Capitán Miranda” from Uruguay. The “Sagres II” from Portugal is also returning from the shipyard and the historic Norwegian sailing ship “Anna af Sand”, which is an impressive 171 years old, will also be part of the spectacle.

However, the “Veracruz”, an impressive training ship from Veracruz, had to cancel its participation. The ship had a serious accident with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York in May this year, tragically claiming the lives of two crew members. Visitors can still view many other fascinating ships, including replicas of historic ships such as the Nao Santa Maria, which replicates Columbus' ship.

A feast for the senses

The “Sail” promises not only maritime highlights, but also a colorful entertainment program. There will be concerts by well-known artists such as Johannes Oerding, Ronan Keating and the No Angels on seven stages. Visitors can also expect a variety of street food stands that offer culinary delights. On the opening evening there will be a spectacular light and laser show with fireworks, which is an absolute must in Cologne's waters.

Organizers expect an impressive number of visitors of around 1.2 million by Sunday, which holds enormous economic potential for the region. The cost of the “Sail” is around 3 million euros, with the country covering 1.1 million euros. This should also help to improve the image of the seaside town of Bremerhaven and stimulate the local economy. The event is considered one of the largest windjammer meetings in the world and has been organized repeatedly since 1986, although the last “Sail” in 2020 had to be canceled due to the pandemic.

For those who would like to find out more about the program, further information can be found on the official Bremerhaven website. The entire festival will be accompanied by a variety of security measures, including the fire department, the technical relief agency, the police, concrete bollards as well as video cameras and awareness teams to ensure the safety of all visitors.