The Schwörer family and the "Pachamama": On a long voyage for climate protection

Kristina Müller

· 08.01.2024

The Schwörer family and the "Pachamama": on a long voyage for climate protection

Photo: YACHT/K.Müller

Living on board all year round: Schwörers on their "Pachamama" in Norway

Dario and Sabine Schwörer have been sailing around the world on their aluminium yacht "Pachamama" for 23 years to raise awareness of climate change. Along their route, they visit schools - there are now hundreds of them - and hold workshops to sensitise children to the issue. They themselves are the parents of six children who were born during the voyage. Dario Schwörer on the mix of sailing, research and education

YACHT: Dario, you once planned to travel without a plane, i.e. to visit home in Switzerland by train if possible or even by bike within Europe. Can you really keep this up?

Dario Schwörer:That is still the goal. But without flying, it is admittedly difficult to keep the family together now that the two eldest children go to school on land and can only come on board during the holidays. It's a real headache for us. Our approach has always been that everyone should do the best they can at what they do. But sometimes that's just not possible.

In addition to educational work in schools, you also support research projects. What do you mean by this?

We cooperate with various institutions, such as universities, and make our boat available for collecting data, for example. We collect environmental DNA, or eDNA for short, for ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. To do this, we pump up water, filter it and leave behind residues such as fish scales, walrus or polar bear hair. The analysis is then carried out by laboratories in Zurich. We also use a manta net to fish microplastics from the sea that are floating on the surface.

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That sounds very exciting!

It's the same time and time again. For example, we are carrying out a project with the university in Tromsø in which we use underwater drones to see what rubbish is lying on the bottom. Together with scuba divers, we then cleaned up the area. We also take students with us who can realise their research projects on board. And last year we had a scientist from the USA as a guest. He was able to use his instruments to conduct research into mercury pollution at greater depths.

What is your role in these projects? Do you lend a hand, or do you just provide the boat and crew?

We are fully involved on board. Above all, however, we see ourselves as bridge builders between the schools we visit and science. In order to be able to show the pupils positive examples of how we can protect nature, we need to know the problems and be able to define them. Through the scientific projects we have on board, we are on the ball and can tell the pupils first-hand what is going on at the top level of science.

What insights do you take away from these projects, and what has surprised or shocked you recently?

In 2020, we sailed to 83 degrees north and around Spitsbergen. We detected microplastics there and even on the Beerenberg during a trip to Jan Mayen. In addition, we are very concerned about biodiversity as a result of climate change. The climate is changing rapidly. Out at sea, we are realising that something is happening.

We should be out in nature again to protect it. You only feel it when the spray splashes."

So what do you think can be done?

Fundamentally, we all need to get out and about in nature more. That's why we're promoting outdoor sports everywhere we go - from mountaineering and football to sailing. That's so important. You have to have a direct relationship with nature. When the spray hits your face, you can feel it.

Have you noticed that the topics of sustainability, environmental protection and climate change are becoming increasingly important among sailors?

I do believe that it is particularly important to sailors. You have to take care and realise that the sea is finite. That has certainly been recognised. The sailors see this on the beach, but you also notice it in conversations. We also like to try and draw them out of their shells.

What can every sailor do?

For a long time now, we have been trying to persuade long-distance sailors to pick up a little rubbish when they go for a walk on the beach. We are seeing this happening more and more often and are very pleased about it.

I believe that the diesel engine will be obsolete on sailing ships in the future"

What do you do yourself?

For us, clean-ups are like brushing our teeth - an integral part of life. It's very satisfying when you've tackled and cleaned a certain stretch of beach. I can see the results straight away and sleep better afterwards. It also gives me much more back than a normal sailing trip. We've already met some people who are committed to the environment and are very happy as a result. Travelling also takes on a whole new meaning when you can make the world a better place in a small way.

And beyond that, are there any other options?

I think the electrification that is taking place everywhere is great. We also want to implement this on board our ship. We would like to show that we can also be electrically self-sufficient when travelling in the Arctic. That would be a great goal and a small revolution. I believe that the diesel engine will become obsolete on sailing ships in the future. After all, it fits in much better with the philosophy of sailing to be quiet and environmentally friendly when travelling.

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