Greifswald (dpa/mv) - Despite the impairments caused by sometimes stormy winds, the city of Greifswald drew a positive conclusion from its gaff rig fishing festival on Sunday. After two years of the compulsory Corona break, the largest maritime folk festival in Western Pomerania, with around 60,000 guests, once again met with a great response. "It was a particularly peaceful family celebration with a very good atmosphere. There was something for everyone at the events," stated Steffen Winckler, the head of the department responsible.
The highlight and namesake of the three-day fishing festival is the traditional gaff rigging parade. This year, however, this was more modest than usual. Because of the strong wind, only 15 boats took part in the parade on Saturday. In previous years there were about three times as many. Smaller boats had decided to stay in the museum harbor as a precaution, it said. Because of the strong wind, the regatta of the sailing cutters was shorter than usual.
About half of the 24 applicants survived the traditional Ryck hanging, in which the participants have to cross the eponymous river on a rope, without falling into the water. The fastest managed the approximately 35 meter long cable route across the river in 46.44 seconds.
As the organizers further announced, showmen and dealers were also satisfied with the festival. Sales reached the level of the record year 2019.
