News and Trips
A piece of Hamburg VII history
During the wither we wrote to the original owners of Hamburg VII and received pictures and a book about the history of Hamburgischer Verein Seefahrt.Short history of the beginnings of Hamburg VII
On Hamburgischer Verein Seefahrt web pages there is a short history of all the boats for the association. Here is a translation of what it says about Hamburg VII.
"The next Hamburg owed its creation to the 100th anniversary of the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein in 1968. As befits a major sailing club, the great occasion was to be celebrated with a transatlantic regatta. And of course, there had to be a boat of its own — though it was outfitted and sailed by the HVS, or the Störtebeker sailing group. Built from the finest materials and designed as a crew vessel with eleven fixed berths, the seventh Hamburg proved in principle to be a good seagoing boat. However, during trials it tended to roll uncontrollably in certain sea conditions. It quickly earned the nickname “Rolling Duck.”
This shortcoming was corrected. Winning first place in its class in the 1968 transatlantic race remained for many years the best transoceanic result achieved by a yacht sailing under the NRV burgee. "
We have not noticed excessive rolling even in bad conditions. It would be interested to hear how this problem was fixed.
Summer 2013, from England to Finland
Read from the beginning or read the latest article in the series.
Sailing Hamburg VII to Finland
The beginning of the adventure. Purchasing a large wooden boat is a decision that will change one's every day life. We have thought and planned getting our own wooden boat the last 15 years. This is...
Home
Finland
Docked at Andö
Helsinki and a few boats
We sailed all the way from Hanko to Helsinki. The wind was supposed to be strong on Saturday but right after leaving Hanko it died for two hou...
Old boats are more comfortable
People at the WB Sails have noticed the same as we, old boats are more comfortable to sail. "Because of the latest handicap rules (mostly IMS-rule) boats have become faster but the sailing comfort has suffered. "
Hamburg VII is an excellent example of an older, deeper hulled, longer keel blue ocean boat. Because of her high sides and wider hull than what a traditional Baltic boats have, she is also dryer and is sailed more upright. She gives a pleasant and still a speedy sailing experience.
Translation of Katrin Hilbert's 2018 article in Hamburgischer Verein Seefahrt web site
Original article with pictures
24.07.2018 2018 Katrin Hilbert
https://www.hvs-hamburg.de/fileadmin/_processed_/6/a/csm_20180724-2307_1255_588649_IMG_3818_4da0ad0ad3.jpg50 years after winning the transatlantic regatta in 1968, the “Hamburg VII” returned to Travemünde, which was the finish port at the time.
Its current owners are taking part in a leg of the NRV’s “Baltic Anniversary Regatta,” celebrating the club’s 150th anniversary.
The boat was built in 1967 for the NRV’s 100th anniversary and was then sailed by the Störtebeker sailing group until 1974. Klaus Stick, a crew member in 1968, had the opportunity today to visit the boat. Fritz Lorenz, who was skipper in the 1970s, also spoke with Klaus and the owners about what has remained in original condition and what has likely been newly installed. Their eyes were shining.
Many young members of the sailing group feel a connection to “their” boat, whether it is the “Störtebeker,” the “Hamburg X,” or one of the many other boats that HVS continues to make available to young people. Former skippers Reinhard Wiegers and Henning Rocholl also discussed this on the LYC pier.
Next Friday, both young and young-at-heart will gather in Sandtorhafen to reflect on the past decades of sailing on HVS boats. Members of the 1968 transatlantic regatta crew will meet today’s crews and have the opportunity for in-depth exchange.
Hamburg VII 2026