Five young men gathered in Hamburg in 1854. They dreamt of “Marie-Louise” a rowing boat. This wasn’t just any boat. It was the start of something big. It was the birth of the Ruder-Club Favorite Hammonia. The “Fari” as its members affectionately call it.
The Ruder-Club Favorite Hammonia isn’t just a rowing club. It’s a piece of Hamburg’s history. It’s one of Germany’s oldest and largest rowing clubs. Founded in 1854 it boasts almost 800 members. Its impressive clubhouse stands proudly on the western shore of the Außenalster. This beautiful building replaced an earlier one destroyed during World War II. That first clubhouse stood near the present-day Kennedy Bridge.
The club’s early years were full of challenges and triumphs. They acquired their own boats and established rules. They found a boathouse near Ferdinandstor. Then they established a club room. “La Favorit” as it was originally called quickly found success in regattas. They even merged with other Alster clubs in 1886. The club then officially became the “Favorite Hammonia”.
Successes continued throughout the decades. Emil Döring became German champion in 1889 and again in 1893. In 1904 the club celebrated its golden jubilee with Hamburg’s mayor Mönckeberg as a guest speaker. A new clubhouse was inaugurated. The club experienced incredible highs and devastating lows. World War I claimed the lives of 75 members. World War II destroyed the beloved boathouse.
Despite the hardships the Fari persevered. In 1946 they started rowing again in humble conditions. The club regained its land in 1948 only to lose it again for the Kennedy Bridge construction. They found a new location and built their current clubhouse. In 1954 they celebrated their 100th anniversary in this new building.
The Ruder-Club Favorite Hammonia’s legacy is not only about rowing. It had a chess club. That club competed in the first Bundesliga. It achieved second place in 1980. In 1975 Holger Hocke won a World Championship bronze medal. Michael Steinbach won Olympic gold in 1992. Torben Johannesen added multiple European and World Championship titles in the Deutschland-Achter.
The club provides opportunities for school children and corporate groups. It also hosts the FARI-Cup. This is a popular long-distance regatta. They also host a yearly race for the Martinsgans. The winning eight enjoy a delicious goose dinner. In 2023 the club received the Werner-Otto-Preis. This award recognizes its commitment to inclusive rowing.
The Ruder-Club Favorite Hammonia stands as a testament to endurance resilience and sporting excellence. It’s more than just a club. It’s a living piece of Hamburg’s vibrant history. So take a moment to appreciate this remarkable institution. It’s a club rich with stories. It’s a club with a future as bright as its past.