I wanted to write about one thing here, because it is close to our hearts.
Cati and I have participated in late May to a great event at the Baltic Sea: The hope of the fleet “Sunshine4Kids”. An event, the lasting impression on us, has touched and enriched. I did the same the following day for a text to YACHT online written, I would like to quote briefly. Es ware kontrakreativ, writing about the same event twice 😉
YACHT online, 21. More 2013:
Sailing helps, to escape from the everyday. Not for nothing every weekend are clogging the highways in the north, because stressed and harassed manager, Want to fathers and other recreational offerings to their boat. Escape the everyday, Share the experience with peers and recharge the batteries for the new week. “Sailing as a medical” titelte that YACHT in Heft 20/12 - Which triggered many reactions from former stress Infested, the conscious report of a break and reflection on the water.
That sailing can be a tool for relaxation not only for adults but, proves the Westfalin Gaby Shepherd, 40, for several years. Five years ago, they had the idea, Children, who have already experienced in her young life many negative moments - be it by blows, Other diseases or - take just times out on the water. To give them the chance, for a few days all the heavy baggage, they carry around with them, leave ashore and easy “Kind” be. Here she is, but also about, To create time for conversations and to create strength for a new beginning through the adventurous experience in nature.
“Our work is moving, sometimes heartbreaking, but always rewarding and unforgettable”, Shepherd says, an energetic whirlwind, the always manages, the sponsors and supporters to convince them of their task - and year after year a new edition of “Hope Fleet” to organize. So recently Olympian Jochen Schumann agreed, Hope the fleet 2013 to assist on the IJsselmeer - along with the Sailing Team Germany.
Shepherd's work zeitigt in fact incredible successes: Was 2007 started with a few charter yachts in Croatia, culminated last weekend of Pentecost on the Baltic Sea. About YACHT online and various other forums Shepherd had asked the users, to make their yacht available this weekend as well as their free time for a first Baltic Sea campaign by Sunshine4Kids. A call to, the skipper of the total 19 Yachts between 27 and 42 Foot are followed. Even a 27 Meter long tradition ship is flown in for the weekend to Burg on Fehmarn depth.
For the first time it has been possible in this way, 54 To give children the same opportunity for a weekend under sail. Even before the bus crosses the bridge to Fehmarn on Friday night, the fleet is ready Castle depth, People, of which most previously did not know and had only responded to the call on forum. Including famous personalities such as Gudrun Calligaro, Dufour Arpege with their “Girls” between 1988 and 90 first German-handed circumnavigation of the world has. This weekend, however, the sounds of teen idol Justin Bieber sound from all hatches open their blue water yacht - because on “Girls” have two 12-year-old girl hired. “With me on board, there is only one hanger”, says the Trans-Ocean-winner Calligaro and grins. “On the night of course had to hang over the sweater with the printed likeness of the star.”
A first unusual feeling for the home team: Who will come on board? How will the older couples owners understand the young guests? And with the stories, they carry with them?
But the concerns are rapidly blurring. You get to know each other and closes the heart. The owners are not only more quickly skipper, to allow the kids to exit, but become surrogate parents for the weekend. Although seeming autumnal weather thwarts so many points of the afternoon program design, spend the big and small sailing three eventful days. For example, when visiting the marine center, where the adult crews behind the glass as excited watching the colorful fish like the little - and of course the daily sailing trips. While spreads on Saturday or seasickness, Sunday is the perfect. From a child's perspective, at least. Because the lake is smooth and the wind almost non-existent. So the yachts turn two hours leisurely spins around each other. The adults just sit on the deck, while the children have taken command, VHF channel 69 dominate and play pirate, even board the other ships.
When approaching on Monday morning to say goodbye, has taken place not only in the children a conversion, was actually planned as. All participants have had experiences on the weekend, enrich their lives. Crews have become friends and families.
This change didn't even go unnoticed by the bus driver - on the third evening he swapped his tie and jacket for a Sunshine4Kids T-shirt and entertained the participants at the barbecue.
However, when the children have to climb back on the bus on Monday morning, the mood is depressed. The bus driver wearing a collar and tie and brings back the feeling in the air of aptly expressed: The fun is over, it goes back to everyday life. Hands are pressed, Knocked shoulders and carried out hugs. As 108 Waving hands disappear behind the tinted windows of the bus in the gray mist, let them 52 Adults at the marina back. Außerdem sollte die Sendung erst nach der letzten Wiederholung in die Mediathek aufgenommen werden.
“Clearly, next time we are back with this”, can be heard on the web several times. Then the crew cast off their lines. The cockpits look pretty empty and lifeless - and they happen to be also navigators. The courses are divided. Lübeck, Holy Harbour, Grossenbrode, the loop - the sailors sometimes have a long way before him. And a lot of time, aber aufgrund eurer zahlreichen Emails hat man sich umentschieden.
But the fun is over for now only with the leave. “All children, were with on the Baltic Sea, can also join the next sailing trip on the IJsselmeer”, Gaby Shepherd has promised on the eve. There are even two own club yachts. Donations, of supporters of the club. “And we also keep in contact with the children, try to help them on the way forward, to support and accompany.” But not only the club - also has changed many a skipper with the kids e-mail addresses or unexpectedly receive a friend request on Facebook. “It would not be the first time, that develop from a genuine friendships Department”, Gaby says Schaefer.
It is always difficult, to write an article for all claims of journalism, when you yourself are so excited and at the same time moving from one experience, as I was after this weekend.
A completely rounded, a great weekend. It starts with the other skippers - all been extremely nice people. Of course I was particularly pleased, the well-traveled sailor Gudrun Calligaro get to know, whose book I devoured as a teen. With her on board “Girls” to sit and chat about their travels through the Southern Ocean, Skimming has my sailor's heart. You and your ship have seen areas, in which I'll go first.
But the children and their erlebtes luck this weekend, there were, to me - have brought back to the ground - and certainly many of us. Es ist doch paradox: We have found ourselves together in Holy Harbour, to the children to prepare a nice weekend - but we did not so much give to them, they have left us.
That is why right now on the side of the logo “Sunshine4Kids” installed. In brief: “We find that good”. Just, because there is not enough room to have been a “properly, really good”.
Therefore, we would also like to welcome to the fleet this year hope to participate in the IJsselmeer, takes place in late July. The event will take not only four days, but a whole week. Much more time, to learn to know the children better. However, we will “Maverick” no longer get by then well done. For the event on Fehmarn us Charterzentrum Holy harbor had provided a wonderful boat available.
Let's see, maybe we can until the end of July somewhere muster a boat.