“In the box, ready, go,” will soon be the motto in Vegesack. Because on Saturday, May 11th, the cardboard boat regatta will take place in the harbor for the 11th time. Even apart from the boozy fun duel on the Weser, the eleventh edition of the cardboard boat regatta initiated and organized by Birgit Benke and Sabine Rosenbaum on behalf of the Maritime Traditional Association (MTV) “Nautilus” promises, as usual, all sorts of sights and participation opportunities for hundreds, if not thousands, of expected people Visitors.
It starts long before the official starting signal for the first race: from 2 p.m., not only the cardboard boats made by the participating teams themselves can be admired on the bank before they are launched. Some ships anchored in Museumhaven, such as the rescue cruiser “Bremen,” can also be viewed as part of an “open ship” until 3:30 p.m. However, access is only permitted with a corresponding token and when accompanied by at least one MTV club member.
During the same period, interested visitors will also be able to take “trial trips” for the first time this year in the run-up to the actual regatta – both on MTV cutters and on the motorboat of the DLRG, which is represented at the regatta for the first time with its own team. In addition, the Bremen-Eins-Bulli will be available on site from 2 p.m. to accept music requests from visitors. The sounds of singing guitarist Steve Reeves can be heard from the stage as part of the “Irish Folk Festival”, which also takes place on the harbor and is linked to the regatta. Various play stations are available for younger visitors.
Fast and creative winners
At 3:30 p.m. the official opening of the 11th cardboard boat regatta by Ansgar Langhorst will take place on the festival stage. The Radio Bremen presenter introduces all participating teams in detail. According to the current status, there are at least twelve teams that will compete in the “Speed” and “Creativity” categories with self-made water companions made of cardboard, paper and environmentally friendly varnishes and paints.
The majority of the teams seeded so far have already been tried and tested for participation over many years – for example, the users of the Friedehorst Foundation’s leisure club, who compete with different boats in both categories, as well as two teams each from the ranks of Edeka Damerow and the Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard.
Debutants from the greater Hanover area
In addition to a team from the DLRG, the previous field of participants with the “Vikings from Ilsede” also includes debutants from the greater Hanover area. This is a family project at the suggestion of the eleven-year-old daughter Karoline. As part of research for a school department, the girl visited the homepage bremen.de became aware of the cardboard boat regatta. Karoline said she was able to convince her parents to let her family take part in a preliminary discussion at the Nautilus House.
Possible spontaneous teams can register until Tuesday, May 7th, by email to pappboot@mtv-nautilus or by fax number 04 21 / 660 85 82. Even those interested who lack both willing colleagues and the craftsmanship to construct a cardboard boat suitable for the Weser have the opportunity to be on the water – as part of the team from the vocational school for metal and electrical engineering at the Vegesack school center.
Under department head Gabi Breuer, the department has once again designed a cardboard watercraft that can take part, but was unable to recruit enough paddlers for the regatta. “Accordingly, there are two participant places available, which will be drawn directly on site among interested visitors,” reports Birgit Benke of an unusual measure.
Party with Irish rock band
Interested visitors are asked to inform the MTV information point of their wishes. All visitors who arrive to the event by bicycle should also register there. You will be entered into a raffle for a surprise prize. Finally, the eleventh cardboard boat regatta has the theme “Movement” in keeping with the Bremen theme year “BicycleJa 2024”.
There is a lot of movement triggered by muscle power to be admired on the water of the museum harbor from 4.30 p.m. when the starting signal for the first race is given. “An event like this obviously requires high water and is therefore dependent on the tide,” says Benke, explaining the slightly later start time than usual.
The pedestrian bridge at Vegesacker Hafen will be raised for the entire duration of the event and will not be usable for event visitors. Guests are catered for as part of the “Irish Folk Festival”. There is also fresh flamed salmon. Following the award ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m., the Irish rock band “The Keltics” from the Celle district will create a party atmosphere.
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