Wilfried Erdmann: Personal words of farewell from his friends, companions and admirers

People liked him, his quiet way of asserting himself in a loud world, a trait that was not staged, but part of his personality. Throughout his life, Wilfried Erdmann shared his experiences and thoughts and commented on world events. As a sailor, he retained what had proved successful during his years of training. And he was always happy to talk about it.

Many people will remember the exceptional sailor above all for this - in addition to his many top sailing achievements, the like of which no one will ever be able to repeat. Farewell thoughts:

Bobby Schenk

"Dear great Wilfried, you have gone down in the history of the high seas as one of a kind. I will always admire you. We have all lost a great, wonderful sailing mate. I wish you an eternal aft wind on your most important voyage."

Burghard Pieske

"Dear Wilfried, with you a sailing mate and friend has gone on his last journey. The foundation of our friendship was our love of the sea and blue water sailing. You shaped an era of circumnavigators, you were my role model and guiding light, which is no longer burning. But through your books it shines again, offering help and guidance for successors and me: memories of great years under sail."

Boris Herrmann

"I read Wilfried Erdmann's book about his most difficult circumnavigation non-stop against the wind as a schoolboy and listened to his talk. I was 16 at the time and it gave me goose bumps. I also met Wilfried Erdmann in person several times. He was there for the victory celebration of our first victorious circumnavigation in Kiel in 2009, where we met in person for the first time and later on other occasions. A great sailor is leaving, but he will always remain a big part of German and international sailing history with his stories and pioneering spirit. Sometimes, when I'm travelling at sea at 30 knots, I have to think that Wilfried Erdmann spent around 330 days on his Kathena Nui at an average of 4.5 knots. It's a contrast that I can hardly imagine, a completely different kind of sailing, but an incredible mental feat of endurance that can hardly be compared with other challenges."

Gerd Engel

"I was shocked by the news, because I have great admiration for Wilfried Ermann and his life's work; I take my hat off to a man who was always friendly and modest and with whom I was able to have good conversations. Sincere condolences and sympathy to his bereaved family. May he have a good last journey."

Heide Wilts

"Unfortunately, we only got to know Wilfried Erdmann briefly in person. For us, he was a great sailor, an honest author and a freedom-loving person. I wish his wife much strength for the time ahead."

Arved Fuchs

"Wilfried belonged to the avant-garde of the international sailing scene at a time when only a few intrepid people sailed around the world in small and spartanly equipped boats. Without a great deal of press coverage, but quite privately on his own. His later spectacular circumnavigations with 'Kathena nui' were milestones in ocean sailing. Wilfried always remained modest and reserved. In the winter of 1991/92, he spent several weeks in extreme sub-zero temperatures on board my 'Dagmar Aaen', which was frozen in the middle of Siberia on the Yenisei. I had entrusted him with the ship because I couldn't be there in person. Even though the Arctic cold was not Wilfried's world, I knew that I couldn't have found a better man for the job. My sympathies go out to his wife Astrid and Kym."

Tim Kröger

"Wilfried was an outstanding person and sailor in many respects. He gave a great deal to the sport of sailing as a whole. With his actions and his books, he encouraged and motivated people to find the decisive impulse to cast off the lines and set sail. You were a great man in German sailing, Wilfried! Sail on!"

Mona Küppers, German Sailing Association

"Wilfried Erdmann did what most sailors only dream of doing their whole lives: he simply sailed off. Alone, non-stop around the world. With a small boat without any comforts. Those of us who questioned the achievements of this great sailor were proved wrong. With his voyages and cruise reports, Wilfried Erdmann has left his mark on the German sailing scene like no other. We pay tribute to this quiet, strong man."

Markus Warnke, Trans Ocean Association

"It seems as if the wind has stopped blowing, and where there were waves a moment ago, the water is suddenly very still - Wilfried Erdmann is dead. Since his first arrival on Heligoland in 1968, he was closely associated with the founders and Trans-Ocean e. V. and remained so throughout his life. Without his example and his art of making the fascination of the long voyage understandable, it would be hard to imagine today's lively blue water scene. He showed us what really matters: a functional, simple boat, excellent seamanship and the will and dedication to get through difficult situations. We are deeply grateful to him for everything he has given to the sailing world. For all of us who carry the sea in our hearts, he lives on in every boat and every voyage inspired by his travels, books and lectures."

Jörn Pietschke, Cuxhaven Sailing Association

"The SVC mourns the loss of its honorary member Wilfried Erdmann. Standing on the spreader, Germany's record-breaking circumnavigator sailed into the SVC marina on the 'Kathena nui' in 2001. 'The reception was one of the best moments of my life,' Erdmann later recalled. After 343 days, he reached Cuxhaven, his home harbour, after his non-stop circumnavigation against the prevailing winds. Even during his first circumnavigation with his wooden boat 'Kathena' in 1968, SVC was his first port of call from the sea. Since then, Cuxhaven has been his home port on the stern of the yachts he has sailed around the world."

Birgit and Andreas Albert, Fährhaus Missunde

"A wonderful person and a great personality has passed away! Wilfried Erdmann and his wife Astrid spent many years moored in our Fährhaus Missunde marina with their 'Kenthena Nui'. We look back on him with fondness. We will always remember him fondly as a valued, cheerful and fun-loving person."

Ranga Yogeshwar

"It was with the greatest regret that I heard of Wilfried's death. He achieved incredible things with his circumnavigations, especially at that time. For me - and it was probably the same for most people who knew him - he was always a kind of projection screen for my own dreams of freedom and faraway places. I got to know him through my work as a journalist. Among other things, he was a guest on my programme 'Quarks'. A friendship developed from this encounter, including with his wife and son. We even travelled across the Atlantic together - albeit on a cruise ship on which we gave lectures. What I always appreciated about Wilfried was that in everything he did, he never allowed himself to be swayed by others, but always did his own thing. He was an individual anarchist in a positive sense."

Torsten Conradi, German Boat and Shipbuilders' Association

"Wilfried Erdmann was a visionary and a pioneer. His extraordinary sailing trips and his books about them have fascinated generations of sailors. In this way, he did a great deal for sailing in Germany and awakened the desire in many to learn to sail themselves. Wilfried Erdmann was committed to environmental protection, he loved being at one with nature and he was a good observer, which in turn makes his books so worth reading. By choosing a yacht from Dübbel & Jesse, he made a conscious decision in favour of German boatbuilding. With his death, a legend leaves the sailing stage."

Petros Michelidakis, Messe boot Düsseldorf

"Thank you for the many years that you have inspired us at boot with your presentations, reports and numerous conversations about sailing. You have been a role model for many young people for decades and have given generations of young sailors the courage to pursue their sport. Our deepest sympathy goes out to your family and friends."

Michael "Schmiddel" Schmidt

"I met Wilfried Erdmann for the first time when he completed his first circumnavigation. As a dinghy sailor, I couldn't understand that. This long period of loneliness and being alone - I didn't understand how you can stand it. In the course of our lives, we met several times, had different ideas about sailing, but always agreed on our humility at sea and also that a simple ship is the best. It makes me sad that Wilfried is no longer here. For me, he was exceptional in everything and above all in his modesty. There are less than a handful of people from my sailing life to whom I would pay the same respect."

Harald Schwarzlose, former editor-in-chief of YACHT

"I, too, am sad that Wilfried has embarked on his last voyage. After his return from his first circumnavigation, I was the first journalist ever to interview him in 1968 in the tiny cabin of the 'Kathena' in Hamburg's Wedel marina as a newly qualified YACHT editor. This developed into a long-standing friendship. I remember a typical incident for Wilfried: after his third single-handed circumnavigation, which he completed against the prevailing wind direction in 343 days, I sailed out to meet him on our YACHT editorial boat when he arrived in the Baltic Sea. We met about 10 nautical miles from his harbour of arrival in Kiel. The 'Kathena nui' was steering its own course while Wilfried stood on the foredeck and waved enthusiastically. I pulled up close and called out to him: 'Wilfried, I've got a hard-boiled egg left over from my breakfast. Shall I throw it over to you? 'Nah, don't bother,' he shouted back, 'later they'll say I was already in contact with land before the harbour! That's how he was - correct to the tips of his toes! With Wilfried's death, we have lost a great - if not the greatest - German cruising sailor."

Konrad Delius, Delius Klasing Publishing House

"With Wilfried Erdmann, I have one of the most intensive relationships between one of our authors and myself during my entire publishing career. One of my highlights was the annual talks at boot in Düsseldorf, which were characterised by great mutual sympathy and appreciation. I have already missed this exchange this year - and I will miss it all the more in the future."

On the death of Wilfried Erdmann:

• Germany's exceptional sailor is dead
• "... and they didn't believe a single word" - the first circumnavigation with the "Kathena"
• His last interview with YACHT
• Wilfried Erdmann's last book - extracts
• "Kathena nui": the sailing boat that took Wilfried Erdmann around the world
• Wilfried Erdmann, the book author