Micro sailor: Sven Yrvind returns to Sweden after travelling to the Azores

Another adventure for micro-sailor Sven Yrvind is over. According to Swedish media reports, the 82-year-old sailed from the Azores to Baltimore in Ireland a week ago in his 5.80 metre long, canoe-like "Exlex" and has now returned to Sweden.

The single-handed sailor had started, who has often made headlines for his voyages in tiny, self-built ships at the end of June 2020 in Ålesund, Norway. From there, he sailed 3571 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean in 78 days. On 13 September, it moored in the port of Horta in the Azores, where the "Exlex" spent the winter.

In spring 2021, Yrvind then took a trip to the island of Madeira. He then returned to the Azores before starting his journey back to Europe in mid-July 2021. "I'm happy to be back home in my workshop, although I also enjoyed my time on the water," says the Swede in his latest video on YouTube.

As usual for the Swedish extreme sailor, Yrvind also chose a special vehicle for this trip.With a length of around 5.80 metres and a width of just over one metre, the "Exlex" is narrower than an Optimist and just over twice as long. Due to the small sail area of a maximum of four square metres, the average speed is only around two knots.

On his website the Swede reports on his journey at irregular intervals. Among other things, he described his experiences with whales, which accompanied him at times, and the storms he encountered off the coast of Ireland. Heavy seas and storms should not be a problem for the ship. It is built in such a way that it can capsize and, according to Yrvind, is unsinkable.

Back in Sweden, the 82-year-old, who still holds the record for the Cape Horn rounding in the smallest sailing boat, will now continue his work on a new boat project - the so-called "Exlex the Canoe Yawl". The experience gained from the voyage will be incorporated into the new boat.

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