Racing: How young crews and DIY sailors get started in low-budget racing
Regatta sailing as a community project
What began as a hobby on the River Elbe has developed into a successful sailing project with its own community. Hannes Cord, now 28, first filmed his adventures on a dinghy ten years ago – initially just for himself, using a GoPro and with no specific plans. Those personal recordings later led to something more: Cord set up his own business as a filmmaker with his own agency and founded ‘Sailing Generation’.
Together with three friends, he now runs the ‘Helium’, a Matcher 37, which serves as a floating studio for video content. The four of them share all the costs – from the equipment and mooring fees to safety gear and the ORC certificate. Through their tremendous dedication, the crew demonstrate that competitive sailing is possible even with limited resources.
You might also find this interesting:
Inspired by offshore sailors such as Lennart Burke, Melwin Fink or newcomers Jannes Llull In their own way, they show what is possible. They document everything: work on the boat, life on board, cruising trips – and, more recently, their first regattas, where they are learning what it means to race rather than just sail. “It’s not about perfection, but about young people running a boat together,” says Cord in an interview with YACHT. The learning curve is steep, but that’s precisely what makes the concept so special: setbacks, improvisation, emotions – all captured on video, in a charming, likeable and entertaining way.
And it’s proving popular. According to the channel’s own figures, the channel of the same name racked up over 150,000 views last year, and the community is growing. Next on the agenda are the Ærø Rund and the 24-hour sailing race in Kiel Bay. It would be nice to win, says Cord. But community and good content are the real goals.
DIY racing instead of an expensive off-the-shelf yacht
Following his father’s death in 2014, Runar Åsly was faced with the decision of whether to take over the family’s Dufour 425 or to go his own way. He decided against the boat and the high running costs. Instead, he chose an older, Danish 30-footer and refitted it to his own specifications.
What initially seemed like a compromise turned into a project in its own right: maximum performance on a tight budget. The name ‘Terra Pi’ says it all – a combination of ‘Terra’ for Earth and ‘Pi’ for the Raspberry Pi, which Åsly used to build his own navigation solution using OpenPlotter.
Compared to the Dufour, the boat initially looked plain and worn, says Åsly. But after just a few weeks, his view changed completely: the boat was manoeuvrable and offered exactly what he was looking for. He replaced the sails, fitted a new rudder, refurbished the interior and modernised the electronics. “It’s not exactly cheap anymore,” he says, “but compared to the modern yachts I compete against in regattas, I’m still spending a fraction of the cost.” He shares his experiences on Instagram.
The biggest challenge, however, was a major hull repair. A previous owner had tried in vain to alter the underwater shape. With the help of friends, he managed to carry out the repair: “Most of it I’d never done before. It’s all about the learning process.” Åsly’s advice: “Buy a boat in good condition, not one with a good coat of paint.” Getting used to carrying out the work yourself from an early stage is crucial. You also have to accept that a project like this is never really finished. “That’s the whole point of it.”
Two different paths, the same core
Neither of these examples is about perfect equipment or fully-formed concepts. They’re about people who start out with limited resources, take responsibility and develop their project step by step. That is precisely what makes this low-budget racing so appealing: it’s not about the glitz, but about getting things done.
Is regatta sailing really just a question of money these days, or do commitment, a willingness to learn and team spirit ultimately count for more? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Fabian Boerger
Editor News & Panorama
