Start-up Khulula launches sustainable Optis on the market: Green Opti: "Flaxxi" celebrates its premiere in Hamburg

Amazement and interest were equally high at this Hamburg premiere: At the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) at the weekend, actor and passionate sailor Simon Licht and his sailing friend and business partner Holger Ambroselli presented the first model in their new Opti series: "Flaxxi" is a junior dinghy that is similar in appearance, dimensions, weight and look to the classic Optimist children's dinghy. However, this sustainable little boat is made from flax, basalt and recycled carbon. According to the company, its carbon footprint is 85 per cent smaller than that of the standard Optis currently produced in China. The green Opti is 95 per cent recyclable. Only the gelcoat is still of a conventional nature. Also on board the eco-Opti is the cordage manufacturer Robline with lines from the Sirius 500 Green series made from 100 per cent recycled polyester. "We want to finally bring the existing awareness of sustainability to the streets," explains Licht, who is known to cinema and TV viewers in Germany from "Der Baader Meinhof Komplex", "Inga Lindström: Geliebter Feind" and guest roles in "Tatort" and will be appearing in the third season of "Das Boot" on Sky from mid-April.

"We have a great responsibility for our playground"

Alongside his acting commitments, the 55-year-old is also involved in the start-up Khulula, which he founded together with Holger Ambroselli to promote sustainable boat building. The duo's first ambitious project is an Opti series that aims to show children and young people the environmentally friendly way to sail into the future. Because the two of them wanted to launch a sustainable regatta campaign a year ago, but the market was unable to offer them a suitable boat, friends Licht and Ambroselli came up with the idea of becoming active themselves. "We quickly realised that we couldn't sail sustainably at all. That there was no transparent credibility, neither at this product level nor for clothing. We only have plastic, chemicals, resins and adhesives, but we actually have a great responsibility for our playground. So we wanted to make a change and start with the youngest children," says Licht, explaining the change.

One year later, the idea has become a reality: The first Eco-Opti from the joint venture between Khulula and Northern Light Composites in Trieste was on display as an Eco-Optimist on 2 April as part of the inauguration of the new youth and inclusion harbour of the North German Regatta Association. Those who didn't know any better saw a completely normal new Opti. Its hidden eco-talents, the mix of natural fibres and recycled composite materials, delighted the inauguration guests in the NRV harbour on Hamburg's Outer Alster Lake. A short tour of Germany with "Flaxxi" visits to sailing clubs and sailing schools is now to follow. Talks will also be held with national sailing associations and the World Sailing Association. The exciting question is whether the green Optis will be able to qualify for official national and international regattas in the future, in addition to the enthusiasm of young sailors, parents, clubs and sailing schools.