Back to normality - the GORCH FOCK is back!

The German Navy's sail training ship ends its 171st training voyage abroad today. After an absence of more than four months, the berth at the naval base in Kiel is once again occupied. The first long training voyage after a long time in the shipyard.

Sailing training and training voyage

The training voyage took the three-masted barque to the Canary Islands at the end of 2021. Due to the pandemic, the sailing training did not begin as planned from Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In the harbour of Malaga, 70 cadets from the Mürwik Naval School were then able to begin the planned sailing training on the training ship. The officer candidates also included cadets from friendly foreign nations such as France, Colombia, Senegal and Thailand.

Meeting with SAGRES

The crew had a particularly memorable encounter with the Portuguese sail training ship SAGRES. During the arrival in Lisbon, our "ambassador in white" was accompanied along the Tagus by her sister ship. In addition to the harbours in Portugal, the Canary Islands and the Spanish mainland, the ship also called at Brest in France.

Passex with the SCHLESWIH-HOLSTEIN

There was a special moment for the commander. The sail training ship met the frigate SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN at sea, on which Captain Brandt was also in command between 2009 and 2011. A very moving moment, according to the 55-year-old naval officer.

Last voyage for the commander

The 171st training voyage was the commander's last as skipper. After eight years in command, Captain Nils Brandt will hand over command of the GORCH FOCK to his successor in a few days' time. The commander of the Mürwik Naval School, Flotilla Admiral Nemeyer, accompanied the experienced naval officer for the last few nautical miles on board the tall ship.

Marineforum wishes the crew a relaxing holiday and the outgoing commander all the best for his future career.