Boat Club: An Hour of Relaxation on the Water, Followed by Seven Hours of Labour
Nestled in the heart of Germany, the Demmin Sailing Club has recently completed a comprehensive renovation of its waterway rest area. The project, funded by regional tourism boards, environmental organizations, and private sponsors, has transformed the club into a key destination for boaters and tourists along the region's waterways.
Scope of Renovations
The renovations have modernized the docking facilities, expanded the mooring capacity, and introduced new sanitary and shower facilities, all with an emphasis on accessibility. To better serve visitors, new picnic areas, shaded seating, a small café kiosk, and information boards highlighting local history and natural attractions have been added.
Infrastructure improvements include the installation of solar-powered lighting, sustainable waste disposal systems, and upgraded safety equipment, ensuring environmental friendliness and visitor safety.
Impact on Tourism
The renovations have led to a significant increase in visitor numbers, making the Demmin Sailing Club a key waypoint on popular sailing routes. This higher footfall has benefited local businesses, contributing to the community's economic vitality. Improved facilities have raised the comfort level for visitors, leading to higher satisfaction, longer stays, and more frequent repeat visits.
The club promotes an eco-conscious approach to waterway tourism, attracting environmentally minded travelers.
Future Plans
The club's future plans include extending the marina area to accommodate larger vessels and increase visitor capacity. The intention is also to host more sailing regattas, environmental workshops, and local cultural events to enrich the visitor experience.
Digital integration is another focus, with the introduction of a mobile app and enhanced website providing real-time docking availability, weather updates, and event notifications. Future investments aim to include rainwater harvesting, electric boat charging stations, and habitat restoration projects along the waterways.
Club Highlights and Traditions
The Demmin Sailing Club boasts a fleet of 26 sailing boats and 5 motorboats. Annual highlights for the sailors include the Whitsun meeting with a race on Kummerower See, attracting sailors from Malchin club and other neighboring clubs. The season ends with the craning of the boats every October.
The club's traditions extend beyond sailing, with winter club activities including a bowling night followed by a cozy get-together. A barbecue by the Easter fire is a tradition at the club during Easter.
The club has 46 members, including 10 women, and each member owns their boat. Some members built their boats during the DDR era, modernized, and rebuilt them.
Leadership and Community
The club is led by Norbert Giese, who emphasizes the club's ethos of "do it yourself," with every seven hours of work equating to one hour of sailing. The club members, on a voluntary basis, provide maintenance and services, with approximately 759 hours of harbor duty and 130 hours for lawn care annually.
Christiane Petzold, a proud member of the club, is particularly pleased with the increase in guest numbers, which have risen to 1635 per year since 1998. She emphasizes that no one is left alone at the club.
The Demmin Sailing Club's waterway rest area has undergone extensive renovations, including repairs to the mooring facilities, redesign of outdoor areas, and construction of a new social building. The renovation project took longer than expected, but the recent availability of toilets, showers, washroom, and tea kitchen has been warmly welcomed by members and guests alike.
Two members, Karin and Karl-Heinz Diers, are currently representing the club and the Hansa city on a world cruise. The club's oldest member, Johannes "Hanning" Roese, is 90 years old and takes pride in the club's clean and well-maintained grounds.
The club chairman, Norbert Giese, experienced a mishap in the Danish Korshavn Bay where a boat got stuck due to a change between ebb and flow, requiring waiting for the flood to continue. Despite this, the spirit of camaraderie and resilience within the club remains strong, as demonstrated by Silvia Giese, the wife of Norbert Giese, who learned sailing from her husband and follows orders during boat trips.
Roland Techow, a long-time member, fondly remembers his time on the traditional sailer Victoria. Christiane Petzold emphasizes that the club's success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its members.
The Demmin Sailing Club continues to thrive, offering a unique blend of tradition, community, and modern amenities to its members and visitors alike.
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