Preparations got underway as early as June 19, 2026: We got the boat ready to go and packed our safety gear—life jackets, bailers, and tools. We rounded out the evening with a barbecue at the KR Allemania Rowing Club, enjoying a peaceful atmosphere—one that would prove to be in short supply the following day.

On June 20, we set off early: out on the water at 5:00 a.m., joining a large fleet of other boats on the Rhine. We rotated the helmsman or helmswoman every 30 minutes, which proved to be a sensible schedule. The first serious challenge wasn’t long in coming: Shortly after our first short break, a wave from a cargo ship hit us with full force, forcing us to bail and pump vigorously afterward. The Rhine makes it clear right from the start who’s really in charge here. Aside from that incident, there were no other major events.

Shortly before Mannheim, we took a lunch break—we ate heartily, stretched, and recharged our batteries. The sun was really beating down that day, with temperatures reaching 34°C. Starting at noon, we therefore stopped briefly every 15 minutes to wet our clothes, which kept the heat quite bearable. Interestingly, it wasn’t the temperature that ended up being the biggest challenge, but our buttocks and the sheer physical exertion over this distance.

At 8:20 p.m., we finally reached Mainz—after a total of 12 hours and 20 minutes on the water and 147.5 kilometers rowed. There, the boat was taken apart before a rather chaotic train situation finally brought us home late at night—the only part of the day’s schedule that didn’t go according to plan. All the rowers arrived home safe and sound, though very exhausted! No matter how exhausting and eventful the day was, we had an incredible amount of fun and spent a wonderful time on the Rhine.