The current YACHT

Dear Readers,

half a year has passed since the last report. Six months, where it seglerisch me nothing major was reported to. I traveled a lot by car, 90.000 km in the past 2 Years. Most of lecture to lecture, hours of highway driving, so a friend of mine has counseled, I should rather write for the magazine or the ADAC car image, instead of the YACHT…

In the present YACHT is an interesting interview with Wilfried Erdmann read, with whom I have made this summer a little sailing trip on the Kiel Fjord, thereby "…to discuss the history of water ". Wilfried is 1966 with 26 Years sailing around the world as the first German, I almost 40 Years later, alone with the Maverick across the Atlantic. An interesting comparison of our motivation, Both an inspiration and fascination, to venture such trips! To read now in issue 22, "The hour of the soloists'.

Together with another solo sailors, Uwe Röttgering, the boat with his Fanfan! of 2001-2003 has sailed on a rather unusual and interesting route around the world, I've experienced this summer, an impressive storm off complaints. Actually we wanted to sail nonstop around only for a short time complaints, as is already three hours after the expiry of the sky suddenly drew upon.

Fanfan! complaints against

Still to small eight-meter boat as my "Maverick" used, I was a little surprised, Uwe caught as all the sails – but ten minutes later quite grateful, as a storm with the top up 61 Knoten Wind (Wind almost 12!) over us and chased the Fanfan! Top with front and tackle over 30 Degrees of heel and 7,5 Knoten gene Osten schob. The worst "storm", which I had experienced so far in the Atlantic, should the name "Storm" with 8 Bft. actually still do not earn. But for me, was already on the small boat in the world under such winds.

Not to compare but with the weather, we now Fanfan! experienced. We both stood wide-eyed at the two perspex goggle eyes and watched with growing fascination with the spectacle out of, as the lightning flashed from the sky. With such a boat on the Baltic Sea, this storm was so bad. I would not know, how it looks in the Southern Ocean, days when wind strength reversing the problem with this is, has experienced such as Wilfried Erdmann on his non-stop circumnavigation. Respect.

No sooner was the storm was over and we had set sail again, We sighted a capsized bow before our beach catamaran with two bags of luggage tied to the network. No trace of the sailors. After we had circled the boat several times, We sat on the radio a distress bailout in motion: No quarter of an hour later it was the first helicopter about us, Shortly afterwards, a second follow and soon were two sea rescue boats on site and a ship to Mitsuchen abkommandiertes authorities. We had already put the cat in tow, and got the order to drag him to Sassnitz. A sinking feeling, Kat den Haken am, the luggage is still tightly bound to – and the thoughts, that its owners do just igendwo in the water and fight for their lives, while the day is slow and the wind is blowing gene Sweden.

Finally, finally – Shortly before sunset, the all-clear: The two boys are capsized close to shore and were saved by swimming ashore. A sea rescue boats came alongside, sat down with the boat two daughter Seenotretter about us, which we now erect the cat took over and with evident pleasure to Sassnitz convicted, while we followed in their wake. Well, that everything went so well.

Otherwise, it is out of my sails summer is not much exciting to report particularly. Except maybe in May: Since I have with my friends George and Irene (known from the book) and George's father transferred their newly purchased 42-foot yacht "ZigZag" from Eastbourne to Krefeld – in only 5 Meet! That was really a good time with a great crew rehearsed. As it was for Ryanair 16 Euro (three of!) to England, with the rental car to the coast, where we took the boat in the afternoon and the next morning expired. After a 200-mile-hour period and crossing the Straits of Dover at night we arrived the next morning, Holland, comfortably chugged up the channels, stored for one day the mast (before since the construction of the boat 5 Years, have never set…) motorten and further into the Rhine, when we finally reached Krefeld. There, the two now live on their boat.

On board the ZigZag at breakfast at sea

George and Irene on board their new home

Dusk in the “Strait of Dover”

Even here in Kiel this year I had the opportunity, my family on the boat, one 8,22 m amethyst called "Pathfinder" is a bit to come to the water. Our trip brought us the broadest but only once the loop up to Missunde. Too bad, because the boat would actually be perfect, to circumnavigate the world in order, But this year we have used far too little. Therefore, it has found a new owner last week, hopefully more of it than we sail.

As for my new plans, after which I always get asked by email, I would like not to be as concrete. Of course, I would like to, as I have said time and again, as soon as possible to go back and go sailing around the world – however, is first of all have, as I have promised my parents off the Atlantic trip, the study of. In addition, the next trip to be no ordinary trade route circumnavigation, but it is the extreme areas in the far north and far south, appeal to me. Similarly, places, Where else is sailing down a little. Of course you need for such an adventure the right boat and money, and yet it haperts allemale. I also want what the announcement in advance rather concerns small baked rolls.

Until then, I tell you, however, like to continue from my last trip. So far I have 82 Lectures and currently planning the lecture tour for this winter. So if you are interested, me in your sailing club, invite your company or other events, send me an email.

Last Sunday, just a nice portrait appeared in the "Welt am Sonntag", to read what is, that I was "more like a smart Harvard students, as a young fur seals "the same. About the comparison, I smiled very, I'll look at my work seebärigen!

How in the world reported on Sunday, I'll be back next week on the boat Hanseatic in Hamburg and there every day telling in different places:

On Sunday, the 26. October., I'm in as a speaker Blue Water Seminar Bobby Schenk and tell of in my Atlantic crossing. Every day I am also from the 27. October. to 2. Nov. in each case by 12 Clock at the State of the YACHT tell them in Hall B2, how to approach a long journey with little resources, where you can save, what on board superfluous and what is necessary: "With a small boat on a long trip" is the lecture.
Also, I'm from Monday to Friday from 14.40 to 15.00 Clock on the Hanseboot-Arena be: On Monday alone, nor, on Tuesday and Wednesday together with Wilfried Erdmann and on Thursday and Friday along with Uwe Röttgering.

I'm really looking forward to the show and many interesting discussions!

With regards and,

John