Dear readers,
What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘volunteering’? I must admit, the first things that come to my mind are things like board elections, tedious club meetings and baking cakes for a good cause. Of course, all of that is necessary to keep things running. No question about it. But it doesn’t exactly sound like adventure, enthusiasm or a new beginning.
But I recently realised just how distorted and clichéd this image is whilst on board the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’.
The topsail schooner, just under 50 metres long, is a training ship. Young people come on board, sail, stand watch and take on responsibility. All this is only made possible by people who voluntarily contribute their skills and their free time. The permanent crew operate on a ‘hand for a berth’ basis. They are not paid, but lend a hand so that others on board can learn and enjoy the experience.
At first glance, that sounds like a good deal. In fact, it’s much more than that. For on board, you encounter traditional seamanship – a wealth of knowledge that is becoming increasingly rare in our digital, urbanised world. There, you climb metres high into the rigging, tinker with old engines that bang, hiss and rattle, or direct manoeuvres.
On board, for example, I met Hanna Stender, the engineer. When she spoke about the old engine, she radiated such enthusiasm that there was no doubt as to why she was there. And then there was Lukas Reinmund, a young teacher from Bavaria. He’s already involved in youth education through his day job. In his spare time, he simply carries on this work aboard the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’ – under different circumstances, but with the same conviction.
The enthusiasm that reigned on board was contagious. The longer I was there, the clearer it became to me: this ship is powered not only by wind and diesel, but above all by the enthusiasm of its many volunteers.
Rigging specialist Laura Lühnenschloss has even turned her passion for rigging into a career – and a successful one at that. Today, she works on the rigging of legendary tall ships such as the ‘Rickmer Rickmers’, Hamburg’s green landmark, and the ‘Peking’. One thing she said has particularly stuck in my mind:
“Nothing is stronger than a voluntary community working towards the same goal.”
It is precisely this sense of community that is needed to preserve a traditional ship like the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’. After all, this is no mere hobby. The hull must be maintained, the engine serviced and the rigging inspected. Sails, ropes and fittings wear out. Repairs are labour-intensive, materials are expensive, and at every turn we need people who know what they’re doing.
Volunteering doesn’t do all this for free. Even voluntary work cannot sew new sails or pay shipyard bills. But it creates something that money alone can hardly achieve: a community that doesn’t pass on responsibility, but takes it on. That is precisely where its strength lies – and, no doubt, the realisation of the vision that the project’s founder, Detlef Soitzek, had more than 40 years ago.
On the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’, it is not just an old ship that is being preserved. Knowledge is being safeguarded. People are introduced to traditional craftsmanship, complex manoeuvres and old techniques. They learn, gain confidence, take on responsibility – and later pass on their skills themselves. This creates a cycle from which, ultimately, everyone benefits.
The ‘Thor Heyerdahl’ is a prime example of just how much voluntary work can achieve – and how it underpins the entire sport of sailing. After all, without volunteers, many youth sections, regattas, training groups, clubhouses and traditional vessels would simply not exist. Their efforts often go largely unnoticed. But it is only when there is no one left to organise the crane booking, man the regatta office or take the young people out onto the water that everyone realises what is missing.
Wishing you a lovely weekend,
Fabian Boerger
YACHT editor
See also:
Editor’s reading recommendations
Interview
Fabian Boerger and Ole Puls on their bitter exit from the Vegvisir Race
For six months, YACHT editors Ole Puls and Fabian Boerger prepared their 54-year-old Erria 25 for the Vegvisir Race. But even on the way to the start, the boat began taking on water. In this interview, the pair talk about the nerve-wracking hunt for the leak, the decision to pull out of the storm race – and why they’ll definitely be back on the starting line next year.
New podcast episode
Janek Struchholz on youth sailing and competitive sailing
At the age of nine, Janek Strucholz watched children sailing Optis across the IJsselmeer from his family’s sailing boat and wanted to do exactly the same. In the 91st episode of YACHT – the sailing podcast, YACHT trainee Janek talks to host Timm Kruse about what children’s and youth sailing means in the world of regatta racing: what it demands of families, what it gives young people, and what remains of a competitive sporting career when you consciously decide to bring it to an end.
Series of thefts
Harbour master at Wieltsee speaks out
Following several break-ins and engine thefts at Wieltsee, the marina is now taking action. Its new operations manager has announced additional security measures
Yacht collision
BSU issues a warning – safety vessels must not themselves become a hazard
Following the collision between the “VB Rönnebeck” and the “Schöner Wohnen” off the coast of Rügen, the BSU has summarised the lessons learnt: traffic control vessels must maintain a safe distance and communicate at an early stage, even without radio contact.
Laura Lühnenschloß
What makes the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’s’ rigging so special
Sailor Laura Lühnenschloß explains why the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’s’ rigging is ideal for sailing training and why maintaining it remains such a labour-intensive task.
LA 28 review
A wooden beauty with a built-in accelerator pedal
The LA 28 combines moulded mahogany with a carbon rig and a large gennaker. The test shows how this unusual daysailer sails and what compromises it demands below deck.
Silverruder 2026
Records, rescues and passion
The Silverruder 2026 put the solo sailors to the test with strong winds, short waves and a dramatic night of rescue operations. Three records were broken, and 275 out of 332 starters crossed the finish line.
Croatia
Autonomous boat to monitor the coastline
The Croatian autonomous patrol vessel Faust V is designed to detect speeding, illegal anchoring, litter and environmental changes.
“Gorch Fock”
A grand welcome in Kiel
The Gorch Fock has returned from America after a long training voyage. She was seen sailing under full sail on the Kiel Fjord. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen that.
Défi Azimut
Sam Goodchild dominates the field
The main race of the Defi Azimut has finished. Sam Goodchild celebrates his second victory in the regatta with a dominant start-to-finish win
Newsletter: YACHT-Woche
Der Yacht Newsletter fasst die wichtigsten Themen der Woche zusammen, alle Top-Themen kompakt und direkt in deiner Mail-Box. Einfach anmelden: