Happy Sailor
A sea storm ride with sailing ships and a fountain
Operator: Verena Krug & Dirk Högerle · since 2024
Happy Sailor by Verena Krug – A sea storm ride with sailing ships and a fountain.
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What to expect
- Backwards ride
- Family-friendly
Highlights & records
Twenty small sailing ships travel around a wavy circular track. Travelling forwards and backwards changes how the gentle hills and valleys feel. The fountain in the middle and the nautical decorations give the ride its own character. Access: Children under 8 years old must ride with an adult.
A sea storm ride with sailing ships and a fountain
The ride experience on Happy Sailor
Twenty small sailing ships travel around a wavy circular track. Travelling forwards and backwards changes how the gentle hills and valleys feel. The fountain in the middle and the nautical decorations give the ride its own character.
You sit in one of the small ships and experience the ups and downs at close range. Unlike a real water ride, the vehicles stay on the circular structure. The maritime feel comes from the shape of the gondolas, the wave motion and the surrounding design. The fountain is part of the setting.
General
- Manufacturer
- Mack
- Year built
- 1979
- Premiere
- 1979
Vehicles & capacity
- Gondolas
- 20
- Riders per gondola
- 2
Set-up & transport
- Footprint
- 19 × 19 m
- Power rating
- 130 kW
Technology and data
Mack from Waldkirch built the sea storm ride in 1979. The ride has 20 gondolas, each seating two people. This means 40 guests can ride at the same time. According to Ride-Index, the electrical connection rating is 130 kilowatts. The octagonal circular structure has a diameter of 19 metres; the Crange organisers list an area of 19 × 19 metres.
The number of seats per ride must not be confused with hourly capacity. The actual number of passengers per hour would also depend on the ride duration and boarding times. A verified hourly figure is therefore not provided in the profile.
History of Happy Sailor
It premiered in June 1979 at the Domweih in Verden. From 1979 to 2023, the sea storm ride travelled with Manfred Howey from Bremen. In March 2024, Verena Krug took over the ride and continues to operate it with Dirk Högerle. This handover is documented in detail in the Kulturgut Volksfest historical archive.
The name remained the same when the operator changed. Older reports referring to Howey therefore describe the same ride. For current information, however, Verena Krug and Dirk Högerle are the right people to contact. This explains why older and newer sources list different operators.
Timeline
Premiered in June 1979 at the Domweih in Verden. Run by Verena Krug with Dirk Högerle since March 2024. Previously operated by Manfred Howey from 1979 to 2023.
- Operator
- Verena Krug & Dirk Högerle
- With operator since
- 2024
- Type of operation
- Travelling
- Status
- Active / in operation
- Last known season
- 2026
Previous operators
Manfred Howey, Bremen (1979–2023)
Operator
Verena Krug is listed as the operator in the official line-up of rides for Cranger Kirmes 2026.
Tips for your visit
Children under 8 years old must ride with an adult. You can find out about the binding admission rules and current fare at the ride.
Find out more about Cranger Kirmes 2026 and other attractions in our attractions guide.
Sources: Ride-Index, Kulturgut Volksfest – change of operator, Herne city marketing – rides, line-up of rides 2026 (6 August). Checked on 24 October 2026.
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