Single-handed on a long voyage: Interview with Philipp Hympendahl - "Everything on one card"
Kristina Müller
· 19.01.2024
In the end, the plan was too ambitious. Single-handed sailor Philipp Hympendahl had to end his "non-stop circumnavigation" project prematurely. He wanted to be the only German to take part in the Global Solo Challenge in autumn 2023. To this end, he had bought an aged Comfortina 38, which was to be made fit for the tough tour as part of an extensive refit. Last March, however, he contritely cancelled the project. Serious previous damage to the boat had become apparent. It was unrealistic to repair them before the start of the regatta.
But Philipp Hympendahl, son of the circumnavigator Klaus Hympendahl, who died in 2016, is not one to bury his head in the sand for long. He sold the Comfortina and spontaneously sailed his old boat to the northern end of the Baltic Sea and back on the Midsummersail in the summer. In autumn, he then set off south via the English Channel and Bay of Biscay.
We asked him where his new journey is taking him, what it has to do with his dream of sailing non-stop around the world and what fascinates him about single-handed sailing.
YACHT: Philipp, you sailed your sporty half-tonner, the "African Queen", across the rough Bay of Biscay in mid-November - why?
I definitely wanted to extend the season, but I also knew that I wouldn't get away until late. The Midsummersail had previously dominated my summer. After that, I still had to refit my boat for the new trip.
As we speak, you're on your way to the Canary Islands. Where is the new trip taking you, what are your plans?
I'm planning an Atlantic round trip: to the Caribbean and then sailing back again as quickly as possible. It's a test for me and my boat. By taking part in the Global Solo Challenge straight away, I would have actually skipped a few stages of preparation - now I'm making up for that, so to speak.
So you haven't completely discarded the idea yet. Were the 900 nautical miles solo non-stop on the Midsummersail also training for this?
After the end of my campaign, I fell into quite a hole. I was so in the tunnel and had this big goal. Then to pull the plug and be left with nothing - that was tough. I'd heard about the Midsummersail, but I didn't know the area or the race. Fortunately, I hadn't managed to sell my old boat, the "African Queen". I was able to take part with her. I thought: better to sail with a small boat than not at all. It was a kind of liberation. The 900 nautical miles were also my longest single-handed trip to date.
The trip around the world would be a good 25 times as long. Did the 900 nautical miles solo encourage you or discourage you?
I've really tasted blood with the Midsummersail! I'm not a very experienced regatta sailor, but I'm a tough guy and have the stamina needed for a long-distance race. I also used to do long-distance bike races. At the Midsummersail, I parked up in a lull for days - lots of people overtook me. But I learnt from that, that's sailing.
What else did you learn on your first solo long-distance regatta?
For example, I realised that I am actually a competitive type. And that it's completely different in your head whether you're sailing in a regatta or out there on your own. Regatta sailing is a bit like sailing in a family or a community. You feel more at ease, you're not quite so alone with your decisions. Ultimately, that also encouraged me to want to take part in a solo non-stop regatta around the world. That's a great goal - even if it's definitely not always a fun endeavour. But if something is on my bucket list, then I really want to do it.
So how does your project continue?
My goal is to do everything I can to make it possible after all. I've had the dream boat in my head for a long time. First of all, I'm now sailing this Atlantic tour to publicise my YouTube channel and gain more support for the project. I have built up a great network and would like to thank the many volunteers once again for their support! But in the end we had a lot of bad luck. In addition, the financial resources were simply not enough. On the other hand, we also have to wait and see how the Global Solo Challenge, which is currently taking place for the first time, develops and whether it will even take place again in four years' time.
I don't have too much regatta experience. But I'm a tough guy who has the stamina for long distances"
During the regatta, the participants set off from A Coruña at different times. You even said goodbye to a latecomer in person on your journey. What was that like?
A Coruña was on my route south anyway, so it wasn't a big deal to sail past there. I would have liked to have seen more skippers start, but I was stuck in Brest harbour in the storm for too long.
How do you currently reconcile travelling and working?
I'm a photographer, take on photo jobs on the road and work for photo agencies. Slowly, some income is also coming in via YouTube and Patreon. I'm trying to build everything up so that I can make a living from sailing. I'm putting all my eggs in one basket at the moment. But you have to work hard for that and, above all, make sure that you don't end up on the same hamster wheel as in your life on land. My main motivation is the fun of sailing, this simple life where you meet great people.
You often sail in tough weather when others stay in the harbour. What instils respect or even fear in you?
I have humility before nature! It is always stronger than man. I don't see myself as a superman who is braver than others. I've just decided not to let my concerns or fears dominate me. You only grow as a sailor through experience. I once got into a storm with 50 knots of wind with my father. We surfed down huge waves and thought that was it! So I always have a lot of respect in the run-up to my trips.
Do you plan them meticulously?
No, I've always been bad at that. A friend likes to send me routings, but in my experience they are rarely right. Instead, I'm good at improvising and making the best of a situation.
Do you have an example?
On the return passage from the Midsummersail, I got caught in a storm with a short Baltic Sea wave that broke quickly. My boat was tossed back and forth. The autopilot and windvane were broken and I was overtired. I turned it over, but it was so loud that I couldn't sleep and I asked myself what I was doing if I couldn't get any rest? I lay down anyway, managed to calm down and slept soundly for a few hours. Everything was fine again the next day. I was able to sail to Rauma in Finland and carry out repairs there.
But you often sail past harbours and prefer a really long beat instead. What appeals to you?
My father once said that harbours are not good for people. They just make you more anxious about sailing again and you hang around a lot. I'm all about sailing, otherwise I could stay at home. I think sailing alone is great. You're really at one with your surroundings and aren't torn away by others. However, as soon as you're in the harbour, you feel more alone than on the water. It's nicer with friends or family.
Sailing a long distance single-handed takes strength. How do you keep fit while travelling?
I used to drive myself crazy thinking that I might not manage to sleep. Now I just start early to get into a rhythm of being active and recovering. So I set a timer the day after I run and rest again and again! Put simply, single-handed sailing doesn't mean much other than sleeping, eating and sailing. The priority is always to feel good.
But how do you manage that, especially when conditions at sea are rough or things go wrong?
The most important thing is the mindset: you shouldn't take the present too seriously. There will always be bad situations. I've internalised the image that everything will be fine in the end and I'll sail into the harbour in the sunshine. When you get anxious, you should think about what you can do for yourself: Am I hungry or fancy a cup of tea? When cooking on my small boat becomes too dangerous, bagged food is worth its weight in gold. I like to warm up macaroni and cheese, for example, when the sea is rough. Also important: don't always look at the breakers. My personal ultimate tip is: go down, lie down and read Moitessier.
About the person: Philipp Hympendahl
Düsseldorf photographer Philipp Hympendahl, 55, has been sailing his 9.20 metre half-ton "African Queen" from the IJsselmeer for years, preferring single-handed trips on the North and Baltic Seas. Among other things, he has circumnavigated Denmark in winter and sailed a round the North Sea. His big goal, however, was and still is to take part in a non-stop regatta around the world.
