Gorch Fock triumphant in Kiel: Hundreds celebrate the return of the traditional ship!

Gorch Fock triumphant in Kiel: Hundreds celebrate the return of the traditional ship!

On Thursday, June 26, 2025, the “Gorch Fock”, the German Navy’s traditional sailing training ship, returned to its home port of Kiel-Wik after 137 days full of challenges. Hundreds of relatives greeted the crew on the quay when the ship finally docked. The return took place as part of Kiel Week, an event that the city celebrates with enthusiasm every year and which the “Gorch Fock” will lead on Saturday June 28th as she proudly opens the windjammer parade. Some of the cadets will be on board again on Saturday before the regular crew goes on their well-deserved vacation and the cadets travel back to the Mürwik Naval School in Flensburg.

The “Gorch Fock” has been on its 182nd foreign training trip since February 10, 2025 and has covered a total of an impressive 9,272 nautical miles, of which 8,374 nautical miles were under sail. The route took the crew through numerous stops in picturesque ports, including Vigo and Portimao in Spain, Funchal, Horta and Ponta Delgada in Portugal, as well as Lerwick in the UK and Warnemünde. This trip was not only an adventure, but also an important part of the training of around 240 cadets, who took part in the trip in three trips and were able to gain valuable experience.

Challenges on the high seas

The trip proved to be particularly demanding as the crew had to contend with hurricane-force storms, particularly off the Azores, with winds reaching force eleven. Commander Elmar Bornkessel proudly reported that the crew was well prepared due to their previous sailing training and that all training objectives were successfully implemented. The high sail cut that the “Gorch Fock” was able to achieve during this voyage is a testament to the skills and commitment of the crew.

The “Gorch Fock”, which has been considered the oldest ship in service in the German Navy since it was commissioned in December 1958 and launched at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg, has already imparted valuable seafaring knowledge to around 16,000 officer and non-commissioned officer candidates in its long history. With more than 400 ports visited in 60 countries and over 780,000 nautical miles traveled, which corresponds to around 35 trips around the world, the “Gorch Fock” is a true landmark of maritime tradition.

A look at the future

A trip to the USA is planned for next year. The commander said that the crew is also well prepared for the challenging North Atlantic storms. The return to Kiel and participation in the Kiel Week show how important such training trips are for the seamanship and team spirit of the cadets. On June 27, 2025, the “Gorch Fock” also opened its doors to visitors and offered those interested the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes and learn more about the legendary ship from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The people of Cologne are eagerly awaiting the windjammer parade, where the “Gorch Fock” will once again be at the center of the action and will show why it is such an important symbol for the German navy and maritime training. The return to the home port was not only a moving moment for the crew, but also for the numerous waiting families and friends who celebrated the return of their loved ones with great anticipation.