Young German Solo Transatlantic sailor visits WSC

Published 16:51 on 4 Oct 2017

Like a tired swallow alighting on a telephone wire during migration, ÄòShalomÄô, a battered-looking Hurley 22, came to rest yesterday on the pontoon in front of ÄòAliyaÄô. The owner, Kristof, is making his way back to Hamburg, seeking help from fellow sailors as he goes, as he is now short of funds Äì no great surprise, having just done a 10,000 mile Atlantic circuit, celebrating his 19th birthday on the way!Fortunately WSC Trustee and long-distance sailor Jeremy Parkinson found him there, and he was able to spend the night there, though this morning he had been Äòmoved onÄô to the Cove by the time I met up with him - but if youÄôve hit a sperm whale in the Atlantic, such minor setbacks are easily forgotten.If youÄôre around tomorrow, do go and say ÄòhiÄô to Kristof, who has a deceptively casual manner when talking about his experiences; for instance he explained that his windvane rudder broke on the way from Hamburg to Heligoland, where it was repaired using an Optimist rudder, but that then broke in Biscay, meaning he had to helm half the way to the Canaries; luckily KristofÄôs persuasive letter to the maker of Wind Pilot vanes resulted in him being sent a new windvane free of charge which has worked fine ever since.Such is the mutual support real sailors provide for each other, which we have all experienced and hopefully been able to offer when occasion required Äì without which the wide blue world of sailing, and Äòseizing the dayÄô, turns into the grey monotony of rules and bills and premature old age, which is what we go to sea to avoid, even if one day we wonÄôt be able to...IÄôm happy to say that Kristof admired the clubhouse, liked the look of the Squibs, enjoyed meeting some of our members, and we may well be able to set up a link with his club in Germany. On Friday Kristof sets off for Hamburg - we wish him Äògute ReiseÄô and a safe homecoming after an admirable voyage. He is an example to us all.Steve Fraser

Last updated 15:13 on 28 July 2025