“I currently only comes ... by YACHT into the house”, Wilfried Erdmann in April 2006 posted on its website. Damals war ich gerade in der Karibik unterwegs und ein Artikel darüber in der YACHT. Here is the LINK. But I'm feeling the same right now. Constantly I only write about sailing, make great things, But I'm not even going.
It is beautiful but, times when one of these blue-water sailors then knocks on the door and takes me for an hour on the road. So it's happened last Friday. “Knock, knock” - And suddenly Laura Dekker in the office. I had not previously met yet, but of course then read and written much about them, with as they 13 Years-handed around the world wanted. At that time I was even of many radio- called and TV, because the wanted to know, what I think. Finally, I was the youngest German, is at least sailed solo across the Atlantic. Challenging, to form an opinion. Not only because their journey was four times as long - but especially, because I did not know the girl. Sure, I wondered at the time, why they want to do that at such a young age. Because of record? Although I have also with 13 Burned years for the dream, sometime to sail single-handed around the world - but at the same time was also reasonable to, develop ambitions, implement such a journey planning. I knew, I have to wait a few more years. Back Thought of my own age 13 was probably better that way.
But the young girl grabbed it. In August 2010 it is the age of 14 (4/5) set sail from Gibraltar and has the circle in January 2012 on St. Maarten closed - at the age of 16 Years.
The “Zeilmeisje” of time has grown up on the trip, it shows. She speaks excellent German (her mother is from Germany ...) and one can quite outstanding with her about Blue Water Sailing, Maintain boat and equipment. “I grew up on a boat, I know nothing more than sailing” she always says in interviews. When you hear them talk, confirmed the. When it comes to Blue Water Sailing, do they, what she's talking.
Unlike, as Jessica Watson (I also met two years ago), burn it for the lifestyle, the “Exit under sail”. And that is not often found today. Is long cruising for a limited time “in”, Atlantikrallies the boom and who has the dream, to go over the pond, is guaranteed a berth, in which he can einchartern.
But people like Laura - and I - are different. For them it is not the same, to get on a plane, to fly around the world, to take on a new boat, so to enjoy a fantastic sailing holiday – and then simply leave again, to have concerns about care and maintenance in the charter base. Clear, that is to make a great and relaxing way to vacation. But I could not breastfeed my desire for the distance that. Because I have to earn my everything.
I have to get ready the ship only, make it suitable for long ride, learn to know and do to my home. And then sail on her own keel to the most beautiful places in the world. Something similar seems to go Laura. She wanted to sail, for the sake of sailing. Break any records, but discover the world with their home. When she tells them in my office, while no camera is pointed at them, I'll take her off completely.
Because after their arrival at St. Maarten is they sailed on soon. Now she lies in her adopted home of New Zealand, still lives on her boat and looks forward to their 18. Birthday middle of this month, ” makes so much easier.”
It was nice, again to breathe in the wide world, and to hear a few stories. I hope so intimately, that we comply with the schedule and also soon to come on here.
At the 26. September by the way you too have the chance, To hear Laura. Club of the HSC on the Alster in Hamburg I may question them on their journey to the stage. Admission is free, only you should take a quick sign up. Here is the LINK.
Back to our own travel plans.
“Maverick too” is finally primed ready. A Tough Job, because the gravitational force has always played against me. Now it goes to the tedious work of grinding. Everything by hand, so that the surface more abstractly. But I have bought a very expensive emery board. But I think on a whole body seen this purchase is well worth doing. The great thing is that is, that it adapts to the body. A brand new model, this is still relatively unknown in Germany. I will report, how it works. It is available at Nauticare in Mönchengladbach (www.nauticare.de). I learned too late, that there is also Spachelbretter there. Would certainly have saved some work 😉
Stupidly, I'm almost every weekend. Mostly business. There is not much time to work.
John