E very December, a familiar giant looms over the Rhine at river-kilometer 748.2: the legendary ship-crane known as “Big Willi.” Named after Willi Weyer – former Minister of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia and President of the German Sports Federation – the crane has spent 45 years hoisting yachts from river to exhibition hall ahead of boot Düsseldorf.
Standing 12.7 metres tall, 11.4 metres wide, and weighing 84 tons, the steel colossus has already “warmed up” over the past days — and on 16 December, it performs its first official workout for boot 2026, lifting four yachts out of the Rhine and onto dry land.
The morning begins at 08:30 with the Princess V50, a 16-metre express cruiser designed for four passengers and known for its handling, seaworthiness, and Volvo Penta’s integrated docking-assistance system — a stabilising ally when strong winds and tricky marina manoeuvres demand precision. (Princess Yachts, Hall 6/B21)
At 10:00, Willi embraces the Elling E4, built from robust Kevlar and engineered to CE Category A (Ocean) standards — meaning it is capable of Atlantic crossings and year-round operation. The E4’s insulation and engineering make it one of the quietest yachts in its class: at 18 knots, it is quieter inside the deck-saloon than a luxury car at 100 km/h. (Elling, Hall 1/B18)
Next comes the heavyweight: the Princess F65, lifted at 12:00 sharp.
At 20.3 metres and 40 tons, it is Willi’s most demanding load of the day — a yacht made for exclusive family cruising, featuring four sun-filled cabins, a split-level main-deck with dining and saloon, wrap-around glazing for panoramic visibility, and a flybridge built for open-air entertaining. (Princess Yachts, Hall 6/B21)
The final act arrives at 14:00: the Pearl 63.
Compact luxury at 19 metres, offering an optional tender/jet-toy garage, expansive outdoor areas for social cruising, and propulsion that can be configured as hybrid or diesel, pushing speeds up to 24 knots. (Pearl, Hall 6/A22)
With these first lifts complete, Big Willi has officially launched the countdown to boot Düsseldorf 2026, where 1,500+ exhibitors from more than 60 countries and 200,000 visitors will converge in January.
And Willi – the show’s strongest employee – will keep working the riverbank until every yacht is safely ashore.
