Fishing festival Gaff rig

Once a year the idyllic Fishing village of Wieck to the backdrop of one of the largest maritime folk festivals in the region - the gaff rig fishing festival.
After the traditional festival could only take place digitally for the last two years, Greifswald is again celebrating the largest maritime folk festival in Western Pomerania for three days and nights this year. The guests can look forward to highlights such as the gaff rig, the world championship in Ryckhangeln or the traditional finale "Ryck in Flammen".

The fisherman's festival got its name from the rigging of working sailing ships typical of the 17th century. The so-called "gaffel rig" is the highlight of the fishing festival when 40 traditional ships sail out onto the Bay of Greifswald. When crossing the Wiecker Bridge, the individual ships and their crews are introduced. It is also possible to ride aboard the traditional sailing ships as part of the gaff rig. Both the sailing training ship Greif and the museum ships take guests on board.

Program for the fisherman's festival

In addition to the festival mile, a series of maritime sports competitions are also traditionally on the program. So on Saturday cutters from all over Germany compete against each other in a cutter regatta. Anyone who dares to cross the Ryck on a 35 meter long rope should not miss the popular Ryckhangeln. At the end of the fishermen's festival on Sunday evening, the Ryck on fire submerged. A multimedia show with light, fireworks and music forms the spectacular finale of the event every year.

Header photo: Gaff rig fishing festival in the fishing village of Wieck © Wally Pruß