On 22 and 23 August 2026, we joined the 43rd Peter Gast Shipping Regatta on board the Princess of Tides – sailing from Hamburg to the Danish island of Ærø and back.
An institution in the maritime calendar
The Peter Gast Shipping Regatta needs no introduction in the maritime world. For over four decades, it has brought shipping professionals together for a sailing weekend that combines sport, tradition, and genuine community. The route takes crews from Hamburg out to Ærøskøbing – a small, beautifully preserved harbour town on the island of Ærø that makes for a memorable overnight stop – before returning the following day.
This is not a race for professional sailors. What has kept the regatta alive for more than 40 years is something simpler: time on the water, with the right people, away from the usual routines of the industry.
On board the Princess of Tides
Conditions over the weekend were close to ideal. Good wind, clear skies, and a crew that made the most of both. The crossing to Ærøskøbing gave everyone on board time to settle into the rhythm of the journey, and the overnight stop in the harbour did the rest.
What stood out, as it does every year, was the atmosphere in Ærøskøbing. Yachts moored side by side, crews from different companies sharing a meal or a drink along the quay – the kind of informal meeting that simply does not happen at a trade fair or a conference. For an industry built on long-term relationships and trust, these moments have real value.
Why we keep coming back
FAIRPLAY has been part of the Peter Gast Shipping Regatta for years. The regatta is one way those relationships stay alive – not through formal meetings, but through shared experience on the water.
The sailing itself is part of it. But so is the walk through Ærøskøbing in the evening, or the conversation over breakfast before the return leg. These are the moments that form the texture of a long professional relationship.
We returned to Hamburg grateful for another great edition, and already looking forward to the 44th. A big thank you to the team at Peter Gast Shipping for keeping this tradition going – and to our crew on board the Princess of Tides.
