Gigantic windjammer parade in Bremerhaven: A celebration for 1.2 million!

Gigantic windjammer parade in Bremerhaven: A celebration for 1.2 million!

On August 13, 2025, Bremerhaven will become the setting for the fascinating world of windjammers when the major festival “SAiL Bremerhaven 2025” officially opens. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives the event a celebratory start with his opening speech. In the coming days, the city is expecting a huge wave of onlookers and sea fans, as around 1.2 million visitors will flock to the maritime event by Sunday.

The festival has the motto “Capital of Tall Ships” and brings together over 250 ships from 16 different nations. Everything is represented, from windjammers to traditional sailing vessels to steamships. The entry parade, a highlight of the festival, takes place on the first day between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The parade is led by the renowned tall ship “Alexander von Humboldt II” and the naval sailor “Gorch Fock” reports the Tagesschau.

Traffic chaos and preparations

However, the journey to Bremerhaven quickly becomes a nightmare. While the A27 motorway is undisturbed from the north, a kilometer-long backlog from the south is causing problems. Visitors are urged to use the park-and-ride area in the fishing port as there is a lack of parking spaces in the city center. Those who parked illegally attracted the attention of law enforcement and were towed away.

Although the train journey was largely trouble-free, passengers reported delays. Fortunately, Bremerhaven Bus runs special trips from the train station to the Havenwelten in order to cope with the rush of guests. On site, visitors can enjoy a colorful accompanying program: live music, regional specialties and numerous entertainment options create a unique maritime flair.

A fire in the storm

However, an incident occurred during the spectacular entry parade: a fire broke out in the engine room of the historic Elbe freight sailer “Mathilde” during the parade. Firefighters on scene were able to quickly extinguish the fire, but two crew members had to be treated on board and later brought ashore. The “Mathilde” was then no longer able to drive and had to be towed away.

The total number of ships that can be viewed during the festival is impressive. In addition to marveling at the ships, visitors are cordially invited to take part in day trips or enjoy the various concerts. A special highlight will be the big fireworks display on Saturday evening.

With the Sail, a windjammer meeting is taking place in Bremerhaven again after five years. The last event was canceled in 2020 due to the corona pandemic. The organizers and the city are all the more pleased about the successful revival of the festival. Anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the maritime atmosphere and cultural experiences is warmly invited to explore the haven worlds over the next few days! The city of Bremerhaven offers further information, while Cruise wave shares exciting impressions of the event itself.