ABOARD THE GORCH FOCK
The “White Swan” operation
On its way to the Canary Islands at the end of March, the Gorch Fock sail training ship became the scene of an extraordinary mission in the middle of the Atlantic. Under the leadership of frigate captain Bornkessel, the sail training ship carried out Operation WHITE SWAN - an endeavour that was to combine perfection, teamwork and the traditional art of seafaring.
The name behind the mission
“A dream in white”
"A Dream in White" - the name behind the mission Operation WHITE SWAN was named after the nickname of the Gorch Fock, the "White Swan of the Baltic Sea". "To be honest, I'm not a fan of the name," admitted Commander Bornkessel, "but in English it sounds mysterious. It fits our mission perfectly." The aim of the operation was ambitious: to create an iconic photograph that captures the elegance and dynamism of the sail training ship.
“These conditions are exactly what make these missions so special – we had to pull out all the stops.”
Frigate Captain Erkelenz, First Officer
© Bundeswehr / Marcel Kröncke
The conditions
“The sea was our challenger”
The conditions were ideal: 18 knots of wind, mild swell and sunny weather, as forecast by the on-board meteorologist. But the sea quickly showed its unpredictable side. "The increasing wind was a challenge," explained First Officer Frigate Captain Erkelenz. "But these conditions are exactly what make these missions so special - we had to pull out all the stops."
© Bundeswehr / Padberg
The mission not only demanded great skill from the crew, but was also reminiscent of tactics from the time of the great naval battles between the Royal Navy and the French Navy at the end of the 18th century. Just like back then, when ships manoeuvred their positions against each other, the Gorch Fock had to be carefully planned into the "windward position" in order to create the best conditions for the escort boat and the photographers.
The photographers Chief Petty Officer Theska and Chief Petty Officer Kröncke also had their challenges. "Taking photos in the dinghy while being rocked by three-metre-high waves is not for the faint-hearted," Kröncke remarked with a wink.
© Bundeswehr / Theska
“The barque seemed to come alive for a perfect moment. This moment will remain in my memory forever.”
Chief Petty Officer Theska
The perfect photo
“A moment for eternity”
The first attempt to capture the ship did not produce the desired result. But on the second attempt, the crew achieved a masterpiece: with full sails and a speed of 13 knots, the Gorch Fock majestically passed the dinghy. "The barque seemed to come alive for a perfect moment," enthused Theska. "This moment will remain in my memory forever."
Commander Bornkessel was also moved: "When I heard on the radio that the pictures were in the can, it took a load off my mind. We didn't just take these pictures for ourselves - above all, they should show the Gorch Fock as a square-rigged sailing ship in all its splendour, elegance and dynamism."
Teamwork on board
“Every challenge mastered”
With rising winds and increasingly rough seas, hauling in the dinghy became the last major test of the day. "That was real teamwork," emphasised frigate captain Erkelenz. "Everyone on board knew what to do and played their part in completing this mission safely."
A day to remember
“It was worth it”
For officer candidate (Finn) Krüger from Jever, the operation was an unforgettable experience: "We had learnt a lot over the last few weeks, but today we were able to put what we had learnt into practice to perfection. Being there was something very special. And yes – it was worth it."
Captain Elmar Bornkessel
Interview with the Commander of the Gorch Fock
© Bundeswehr / Theska
The White Swan of the Baltic Sea: The Gorch Fock on a majestic voyage - a maritime icon captured during Operation WHITE SWAN.
The commander's wish
“A poster for eternity”
Frigate Captain Bornkessel still has one special wish: "There was a poster of the Gorch Fock from the 1980s hanging in my childhood bedroom. It was beautiful and obviously left a lasting impression on me."
The commander hopes that one of the pictures will be used as a poster for the Bundeswehr to inspire young people for seafaring in the future.
© Bundeswehr / Kiel-Marketing GmbH
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