November 28, 2016

After Hamburg, Geneva and Turku, the 5.5's have now, as in previous years, been presented at the BOOT & FUN boatshow in Berlin. Two boats have been on exhibition, 5.5 GER 84 "Ali Baba" near the stand of VSaW, the host for the 5.5m Regatta there in early July.

GER 84 - Setting things up for the show (c) Joerg Sonntag

Then, on the stand of FKY, 5.5 GER 11 "Charybdis", one of the 1964 Olympic contenders has been on display. The boatshow had been started with a cheerful opening gala, last Wednesday evening.

Charming Welcome (c) Jojakim Balzer

The Berlin 5.5m sailors have spent their free time these days on the stands to answer questions about boats & regattas. The abundance of lakes in the Berlin area is making this part of the country a watersport dorado. Local regattas - "Willi Lehmann Preis", "Havel Classic" and "Kaiser Pokal" to name just a few - are well attended.

Berlin has been host to two "German Open" regattas in the past and VSaW, who has in 2016 also been arranging a fabulous "Enoshimy Trophy" on Wannsee, is offering a summer regatta again in 2017, the "Berlin Open 5.5m", on the weekend of 8th-9th July. The VSaW is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2017 and has in this context kindly invited the 5.5's, to be part of their festive programme.

More pictures (c) Jojakim Balzer