Many want to set sail now or in a few weeks' time. For the great journey, the adventure of a lifetime - but are not allowed to now. Others have been travelling the world for a long time and now don't know how to continue their journey. For many, time is of the essence; after all, the hurricane season dictates the schedule of circumnavigators. All those who are now travelling are therefore faced with big questions.
Travel plans fall through
The coronavirus crisis is not only affecting the start of the season in Europe, but above all the plans of the many long-distance sailors around the world - and here in Germany.
The deep-sea sailing club Trans-Ocean has cancelled all preparatory seminars for the great voyage, including the annual Lossegler meeting. Big plans are suddenly put on ice and dreams of departure are suddenly shattered.
Dynamic situation around the world
It is almost impossible to depict the current situation in every country and at every anchorage, as it is currently changing rapidly all over the world.
However, two examples of German long-distance crews from the Caribbean and the Pacific show the current consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for circumnavigators and how they are experiencing the crisis.
Last stop the Caribbean? Interview with the "sailing boys"
It was actually supposed to be the restart of Vincent Goymann and Tim Hund's big trip. Together with two other friends, the high school graduates from Bavaria in autumn 2018 set off to circumnavigate the globe and sailed to the Caribbean.
However, when the engine of her aged steel boat kept causing problems and she was attacked by a spectator on her Youtube channel were offered an aluminium yacht at a friendship price in France, they travelled back to Europe without further ado, to start the journey there with a new ship.
Following the refit of their new "Arrya", they set sail from the Canary Islands at the beginning of February to cross the Atlantic, albeit with a different crew constellation, and reached Barbados a good two and a half weeks later. "Corona had just started," says Vincent Goymann, "and we were already speculating about what it would be like when we arrived."
In an interview with YACHT online, he talks about the situation at anchor on Curaçao and how the coronavirus crisis is currently changing the lives of long-distance sailors.
YACHT: What is the current situation on Curaçao?
Vincent Goymann: It's actually quite okay. Curaçao is a Dutch island, the infrastructure is good, we are in a hurricane-protected bay. Sailors on other islands that aren't, but who can't get away, are worse off. But it all feels very surreal.
Is the spread of the coronavirus also the dominant topic among sailors and on the island?
Yes, it's the number one topic. You walk through the streets and everyone is talking about corona. The whole world knows about it. But it hasn't really arrived here yet. Until two days ago, all the bars were still open. But now I'm sitting in a completely empty café with a coffee from the vending machine. Most shops are still open, but further measures have already been announced. You can already tell that fewer people are travelling. They are scared and tourists are travelling away. All of this has changed completely in the space of a few days.
What are the effects of the changed situation?
These are small things, but the situation is still relatively relaxed. This is perhaps also due to the pleasant climate here. You now have to sanitise your hands in the supermarket. As an educational measure, signs have been put up telling people to wash their hands. And in the supermarket, people should keep a distance of 1.5 metres from each other.
What is the atmosphere like at the anchorage and among the sailors?
Quite well, most people are happy to be here. We can also go ashore and move around freely without any problems.
You set sail for the Canary Islands at the beginning of February. When and how did you learn about the spread of the virus?
We arrived in Barbados after crossing the Atlantic. The situation in Europe had already worsened by then. We then sailed across various islands to get here, which meant that we sometimes didn't read the news for three days in a row and therefore noticed the situation developing in spurts. That's when you really realise how extreme everything is becoming.
Were there any problems clearing in?
No, it wasn't an issue then. We were thoroughly checked and it was ensured that we hadn't been to Europe in the last two weeks. But otherwise it went without a hitch.
A dream come true: the "sailing boys" set off on their Atlantic crossing before the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis
How is the journey changing now?
We had planned to travel through the Panama Canal at the beginning of May and travel to Colombia beforehand. That's not possible at the moment. We're stuck here and can't go any further as nobody else will let us in. Most of the borders are closed. But it's not a bad place to be stuck. There's a reef right next door and we pass the time diving or kitesurfing.
Is there a plan B?
We are currently going through our options. It depends on whether the situation calms down and we can enter somewhere again. As we want to go to the Pacific, we've already considered travelling around Cape Horn somehow... But of course that's not a solution either. You can't plan anything at the moment, you don't know anything. In a week's time, everything could be completely different again.
Have you considered cancelling the trip?
No, definitely not. Having a boat isn't so bad right now. It feels like a relatively secure base.
"Trapped in paradise" - at anchor in the Gambier Islands
Sabine and Joachim Willner have been sailing their Hanseat 42 around the world for years. They have reported on their journey in YACHT 7/2017 and 12/2019, as well as regularly and extensively on their blog atanga.de.
In their latest blog post Sabine Willner outlines the development in French Polynesia, where they are currently anchored on the island of Mangareva.
"The government of French Polynesia has been issuing new instructions on an hourly basis for days. Schools are closed from today, initially until Easter - even on the small, remote islands like ours in Gambier. Today, the children who go to school in Tahiti will be flown in here. Will it be the last aeroplane here? That remains to be seen. There are discussions about cancelling air traffic between the islands. The planes bring urgent items from Tahiti, such as medicines and post. Food, diesel, gas for cooking and petrol are delivered by supply ships. No restrictions are being discussed here."
Air traffic to Europe has also been completely cancelled. It is a strange feeling to be virtually trapped abroad and no longer able to return home at any time, reports Sabine Willner. Originally, there were no quarantine regulations for the yachts currently travelling in large numbers due to the time of year, as they had been crossing the Pacific for several weeks and were therefore isolated on board. But this too is now probably a thing of the past.
"Foreigners are now banned from entering the country. It has also been decided that traffic between the islands is prohibited for sailing boats. Does this mean that we are no longer allowed to change islands in Gambier? We don't know. Today is the first time we've seen the gendarmerie with a boat passing through the anchorage."
The experienced long-distance sailor also addresses the topic of the supply situation.
"Will the supply remain the same? The Polynesians do not tend to hoard. Planning far into the future is alien to them. (...) On the Cape Verde Islands at the latest, you learn as a circumnavigator: you have to buy things when you see them, not when you need them. The next day, the item may have disappeared from the shops for months. We have made this rule our own in recent years. We've also often stocked up for months because we know that prices are significantly higher in the new country. When you leave Tahiti, full cupboards are part of the planning. There are many things available in Gambier, but you simply can't get oatmeal, nuts or wholemeal flour. We always have four weeks' worth of food on board because you never know on a boat whether you'll have to stay on board for several days or have to leave a place quickly."
There is currently considerable concern and uncertainty among sailors. The great voyage is no longer carefree, as Willner describes:
"How long we'll be trapped here - we don't know. I would call it a large-scale quarantine. Trapped in paradise is also accurate. And all of a sudden, paradise takes on a flavour. (...) Stay healthy in your quarantine."
Information on the coronavirus for long-distance sailors:
Trans Ocean e.V.
(continuous updating of entry regulations based on the base reports)
World Cruising Club
(Information for participants of ARC events)
