Record attempt: Stand-up man and pioneer Norbert Sedlacek Koch starts again
Morten Strauch
· 06.08.2023
The countdown is on: Today at 10.30 a.m., Norbert Sedlacek Koch wants to set sail from Les Sables-d'Olonne for the fifth time with his volcanic fibre Imoca derivative to finally conquer all oceans, including the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean, single-handed and non-stop. His four failed attempts, the coronavirus pandemic and a serious illness do not seem to be able to dissuade the Viennese extreme sailor from proving to himself and the world that his sustainably built racer, which is also 100 per cent recyclable, is up to any gruelling ride across the world's oceans.
Much has been written about the Austrian and his ambitious "Ant Arctic Lab" project in recent years. Some people smile at him because of his early cancellations and can hardly wait to see him fail again. People like to talk about the Viennese tram driver who once again failed to make it. But what is behind the man who stubbornly fights for his vision and to whom scorn and ridicule from the mostly German-speaking world roll off like water off a duck? Anyone who takes a look at Sedlacek Koch's sailing CV will immediately realise that he is not only a visionary, but also a sailor capable of suffering, who sailed around the world in a nutshell, circumnavigated the Antarctic in a boat he built himself and was the first German-speaker to successfully complete a Vendée Globe.
The latest failed record attempts:
We visited Norbert Sedlacek Koch in his adopted home of France, where he and his wife Marion have settled north of the offshore mecca of Les Sables-d'Olonne. The property is idyllically situated between the Atlantic coastal forest and the marshes of Marais d'Olonne. "We wanted to hear the ocean and at the same time be able to pursue our second great passion, the protection of flora and fauna," explains the 61-year-old, as the frogs croak from the garden pond.
In fact, the couple seem to have thought of all their animal neighbours: A large number of self-built bird boxes hang on the house, the flower beds are edged with pieces of wood for the sake of the insects, and even the façade paint has been chosen so that the lizards can find a foothold on it. "We have taken something away from nature by building our house, and we try to compensate for this as much as possible. Sustainability and environmental protection always start with yourself," says the Austrian as he walks into the house, "and by the way, let's be on first-name terms!" Although work began back in 2010, it still looks like a building site in places. As the Sedlacek Kochs do everything themselves, from the foundations to the roof trusses, it takes time, so they continue to build their dream home piece by piece whenever there are reserves. There are still more than 200 cacti in winter storage in the swimming pool - priorities hold!
Green is more than just a colour! It has become unbearably modern to misuse this colour with green statements"
His professional career begins with an apprenticeship as a waiter. This is followed by four years in a large carpentry workshop, where Norbert carpenters coffins on a piecework basis. His father finally persuades him to pursue a secure career as a civil servant, and so he becomes a tram driver in Vienna. However, he soon realises that this cannot be his future either, and he starts to think about how he could turn his hobbies and his growing thirst for adventure into money. Then he comes across a "pile of rubble" from a Swallow 26, which he buys from a widow and which her deceased husband had hopelessly worked his way through against her will. Between his tram shifts, he spent two years obsessively building his boat in a car park to take him out into the wide world. His plan: to sail once around the world in this nutshell and then write a book about it. He finds balance by sailing on Lake Neusiedl and practising taekwondo - a Korean martial art - with the Austrian national team.
With a circumnavigation of Antarctica towards a professional career
In 1996, Norbert resigned from Vienna's public transport company to realise his dream. The newspapers report on this minor sensation, and the city of Vienna awards him the Order of Merit without him even having set off. In fact, the budding extreme sailor set off from Grado in Italy that same year to become the first Austrian to circumnavigate the globe for two years along the barefoot route. He writes his first book "Im Grenzbereich des Möglichen" (At the limits of the possible) about his adventures and hardships.
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Sedlacek has tasted blood and is now aiming for a professional career as a skipper. In the same year, he initiated his next project, "Icelimit", and set the bar a good deal higher. Starting from Cape Town, he wants to circumnavigate Antarctica single-handed and non-stop. For the approximately 14,300 nautical miles through the Southern Ocean, he naturally needs a larger boat. So he designs and builds a 54-foot aluminium yacht in cooperation with Chantier Naval Garcia in Normandy. During the two-year construction period, Norbert lives behind the shipyard in a caravan and discovers his love for France.
Between November 2000 and February 2001, he finally circumnavigated the Antarctic continent in 93 days and once again earned the honour of being the first Austrian to achieve such a feat. "The whole thing was also a test run to find out whether I was fit to take the next step: the Vendée Globe 2004!" Once again, a new boat was needed, this time an Imoca 60. With a very small budget, he set out on a search and remembered an "abysmally ugly Zossen" that regularly stood around broken at Garcia. Although the ship was apparently not under a good star - it had never finished a race - Sedlacek bought his second construction site for little money.
Sedlacek qualifies for the Vendée Globe 2004- In 2008, he defeats them at the second attempt
After a year and a half of hard work, the skipper and boat finally qualified for the 2004 Vendée Globe via the Transat. There wasn't a press release that didn't mention the tram driver from the land without an ocean - he gladly accepted the role of underdog. Although he had to abandon the world's toughest single-handed regatta in Cape Town due to a broken canting keel, four years later the tenacious Austrian was back in the starting blocks and managed to successfully finish the race in eleventh place despite some damage. In contrast, 19 other starters, including well-known competitors such as Alex Thomson, Bernard Stamm and Loïck Peyron, had to retire.
"The most important thing at the Vendée is to get to the start, which is complicated enough. Then it's about finishing this crazy race, which is a huge achievement in itself, as any weakness in the equipment, however small, or an accident can mean the end immediately. As I wasn't expected to win, I was able to slow down accordingly. On the other hand, other yachts in the Southern Ocean retired in droves." While the French and the international trade press have paid tribute to the sailing exotic, the response in his home country has been surprisingly muted - is it because he finished last?
Vendée Globe conqueror. Click through the milestones in Sedlacek's career:
Sustainability has always been important to Norbert Sedlacek Koch
The waste of materials and resources in the offshore racing circuit is a thorn in the side of the Viennese, and his long-standing main sponsor Kapsch would also prefer to invest in sustainable, future-orientated materials. Rather by chance, the volcanic fibre fell under his feet and he spent the next few years on intensive research, material tests and recycling options. In 2012, the first prototype, "Fipofix", was created in Altlengbach, Lower Austria, using vulcanised fibre, balsa sandwich and a biological epoxy resin.
After two failed marriages, Norbert met his Marion 20 years ago on a sailing course for Viennese high school students on the Markermeer in Holland. The then 16-year-old was way ahead of the other students mentally and impressed the sailing instructor with her analytical thinking and interest in technology, among other things. Despite the 25-year age difference, they were on the same wavelength and wanted to build something together. Today, Marion is a naval architect and technical director of Innovation Yachts. Together they form a congenial couple, specialising in the development of sustainable boats with their small shipyard.
Record attempt "Ant Arctic Lab": Four attempts have already failed
The next prototype made from volcanic fibre, the Imoca, will be launched in 2018 (see also "The special boat", YACHT 16/2018). Under the project name "Ant Arctic Lab", not only will new design concepts and technical equipment be tested, but a new offshore sailing record will also provide the final proof of the boat's seaworthiness under extreme conditions. In the same year, the starting signal is given: Sedlacek sets off from the Vendée Globe jetty in Les Sables-d'Olonne with the aim of reaching the Pacific via the Northwest Passage, rounding Cape Horn twice and Antarctica once before returning to the starting harbour via the Atlantic. After just a few days, the attempt south of Ireland had to be abandoned due to technical problems.
I haven't failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work" (Thomas Alva Edison)
After a year of licking wounds and further development, the record-breaking race south-west of Ireland has to be cancelled again in 2019. After an unsuccessful manoeuvre in a squall, the forestay, furling system and J1 sail were destroyed. The following year, the ambitious project had to be cancelled even before the start, as the coronavirus pandemic put a spanner in the works and Norbert also had to undergo cancer surgery. The third attempt in 2021, this time the power supply gives up shortly before crossing the Arctic Circle. Contrite, he turns back again, but he doesn't let it get him down. In 2022, he set off again, but a collision with an unknown object, which caused the rudder attachment to break, ended this attempt prematurely too.
Now, on his fifth attempt, it is finally going to work, and Sedlacek approaches the starting line in a good mood and without any nervous flutter. He explains his calmness as follows: "The project is called 'Ant Arctic Lab' for a reason. In addition to the development of materials and the construction concept, we also had prototypes of the latest electronic components on board. It makes no sense to continue on a 35,000 to 40,000-mile project if the power supply fails after a very short time. Then I just have to turn round, take the experience with me and make the necessary improvements. After all, my aim is not to sink the box somewhere with great drama, but to prove that the concept works perfectly. From a budgetary point of view, every additional year costs a lot of money, of course, but at the end of the day you just have to wait until everything fits."
"ocean tribute" Award 2023 for Sedlacek and Innovation Yachts
Many fans don't have this stamina and turn away disappointed. For Sedlacek, this is a problem in today's world, where only victories and quick successes count. If the project is successfully completed, then it will be the last adventure cruise for the busy swashbuckler. Age and health are now playing a role. However, if the fifth attempt fails again, there could well be another one, provided the financing is sorted out and his body is still fit enough for the exertions. "But the stars are aligned this year, and the technical problems should all be sorted out by now," he smiles.
In addition to the protracted "Ant Arctic Lab" project, which they hope will give Innovation Yachts a major boost, the Sedlacek Kochs have other irons in the fire. Together, they have built the first fully sustainable and recyclable catamaran at the customer's request and presented it for the first time in 2021. The mint-coloured cat with the cryptic name IY LBV35 is designed as a fun boat and bay cruiser for Ibiza, but can also be used to collect rubbish thanks to its lowerable trapeze. The boat is also energy self-sufficient, as it can generate water and solar energy for the two electric motors and all other equipment. The visionary Austrians won the "ocean tribute" award 2023 at boot Düsseldorf for this holistically sustainable concept. A new shipyard site has already been acquired for further large-scale projects. 120-foot-long monohulls and 60 to 70-foot-long catamarans are to be built there.
In spring, Norbert gives a presentation on volcanic fibres and the sustainable circular economy at the German Superyacht Conference in Hamburg. With his authentic and humorous manner, he quickly wins the sympathy of the assembled superyacht industry. The man wants to make the boating industry greener with all his might, and without the greenwashing he abhors. He has the will, perseverance and know-how - the only thing missing is the final proof that his volcanic fibre Open 60 is not only environmentally friendly, but also capable of tackling the oceans at high speed.
Follow Norbert Sedlacek's adventures in the live tracker
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About vulcanised fibre
The fibre is made from different types of volcanic rock, depending on the desired properties. The stones are mixed, ground and melted to produce thin threads, which are further processed as scrims or fabrics. Unlike glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP), the natural material can be easily shredded again for recycling. Another major advantage of vulcanised fibre is that it is hydrophobic, i.e. it does not absorb moisture, whereas carbon, for example, has to be regularly dehumidified. At up to 850 degrees Celsius, vulcanised fibre is also far more heat-resistant and UV-resistant. The fibre also scores highly in terms of safety, as it absorbs shocks very well and behaves more like steel or aluminium in the event of a collision. Not all layers break, preventing water ingress.
