Sail Szczecin 2026: Ernestine

Launched in 1899 in Wolin as Seequatze, the vessel was registered in Szczecin two years later under the name Hildegard. She served as a live fish carrier on the Baltic Sea and had no auxiliary engine. She was a typical example of a so-called Quatze – a vessel with a specially designed hull that allowed a constant flow of seawater, keeping the fish alive and fresh throughout the voyage.

After the Second World War, she sailed under the name WOG 100. However, with the development of refrigerated transport, vessels of this type gradually became obsolete. Eventually, she was taken out of service and fell into disrepair.

In the 1970s, the vessel was rebuilt and, in 1977, relaunched as Ernestine, having been converted into a sailing ship. Since 2006, she has once again been sailing the Baltic Sea with guests on board, continuing the tradition of her original design.

In 2011, Ernestine won the Hanse Sail Regatta as the fastest single-masted vessel. Today, her home port is Lauterbach on the island of Rügen.