A central figure in the Hamburg rowing scene has passed away.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, Gerhard Meyboden passed away a few days ago. The news of his death has deeply affected not only the Hamburg rowing family but also his large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the entire rowing world. We mourn with his family for a good friend and comrade.

Rowing, alongside his passion for worldwide cruises, especially to the Arctic and Antarctic, was a significant part of Gerhard’s life. Here he found his fulfillment. Many visits to classical concerts in his hometown Hamburg provided a balance.

Gerhard began his rowing career as a student rower before finding his sporting home at RG Hansa. After brief competitive sports activities, he transitioned to coaching and official roles, initially holding various positions in his club as a coach and board member. In addition, he acquired the necessary licenses for a national and international referee career.

For decades, he was a prominent referee at national and international regattas. In addition to many appointments as an international referee at World Cups, World, and European Championships, his participation as a DRV referee at the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 were the highlights of his international career.

Furthermore, his involvement, which began in the 1970s and continued throughout the last century, in the
Allgemeiner Alster-Club/Norddeutscher Ruderer-Bund was a very essential part of his life.

He was involved in our State Rowing Association in many areas and in many capacities.

He started with tasks on the board of the Hamburg Youth Rowing Association before joining the AAC/NRB board. Here, among other things, he was also actively involved as the head of education, overseeing the training and further education of Hamburg coaches and instructors.

He achieved his greatest recognition as the “Man of the Regatta”. The regatta facility in Hamburg-Allermöhe and the regattas held there were his “baby”. Gerhard was involved from the beginning of the facility’s construction right up to its current form. He could contribute his knowledge to every detail and often determined the further development in constructively critical discussions with the city and his fellow board members. His detailed knowledge and understanding of structural specifics often helped prevent missteps.