Kurt Fischer is a phenomenon. Even if he doesn't see it that way himself. On the stormy northern route of all places, the 86-year-old from Hamburg is daring to take the plunge across the pond once again. The former surgeon is by far the oldest participant in the DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge 2003, which starts on Saturday (14 June) from Newport, Rhode Island/USA to Cuxhaven and on to Hamburg.
Kurt Fischer sails as navigator and weather expert on the almost 14 metre long regatta yacht
yacht "Varuna", a regatta yacht of the IMX-45 type.
of the Bundesliga footballers of the Hamburger Sportverein (HSV) has the greatest
Atlantic crossings, he has the greatest wealth of experience on board. "As he is a doctor himself
doctor himself, he knows best what he can expect. He has also
thoroughly checked by a colleague and is in top shape,"
says his son Jens Kellinghusen, skipper and owner of the "Varuna", which sails under the
under the banner of the regatta organiser Norddeutscher Regatta Verein
(NRV), the regatta organiser.
His grandchildren or even great-grandchildren, on the other hand, could be Lennard Leverkus and Johan
Schultz could be. They are embarking on the great journey across the North Atlantic at the age of
17 years old, they are the youngest participants in the DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic
Challenge. In fact, Lennard is outperforming Johann, who is exactly 13 days older.
Johann, who is exactly 13 days older. "The chick" from Hamburg sails on the Lütje
48 "Mamelie" owned by his father Jacob Hinrich Leverkus. Johan Schultz, who also lives in
Johan Schultz, who also lives in Hamburg, can be found on board the X-612 "World of TUI Hamburg"
which is entering the race for the Hamburgischer Verein Seefahrt (HVS)
whose 100th birthday the DCNAC is being organised this year.
is being organised this year.
The youngest crew also comes from the HVS, which since its foundation has
foundation, the organisation has been committed to promoting young people in
has been committed to promoting youth sailing. On the HVS club ship "Norddeutsche Vermögen
Hamburg", the "baby" crew has an average age of just 22.
of 22 years. At 30, skipper Gero Brugmann is "almost" a Methuselah on board.
a Methuselah on board.
However, he cannot claim the nimbus of the youngest skipper for himself.
for himself. That goes to Christoph Morgen with only 27 birthdays to his name.
on his account. He is in charge of the chartered Swan 48 "Brinkmann & Partner" from
Hamburg across the North Atlantic. And under the motto "Beauty in mature age", the yachts
age" are the yachts "Isola Bella", a Nissen 52 from Hans Schulz
from Balve, and the North Sea 82 "Vita Bella" owned by Horst and Klaus-Dieter
Petersen from Schülp are way out in front. Because the average age of 54
years on both yachts is unsurpassed by anyone else.
Only around 30 female sailors out of a total of over 570 participants on board the 63
yachts are taking part in the DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge. The
The largest proportion of the eleven-strong crew is the "Peter von Danzig"
of the Akademischer Segler-Verein Kiel with four women. After all, three
of the nine crew members on the "Brigantia" from the Lindau Community for Seafaring
from Lindau on Lake Constance are of the fairer sex, as is also the case on the
"Norddeutsche Vermögen Hamburg".
For safety reasons, the race organisers stipulated a minimum number
of six crew members was specified for safety reasons, although some, such as
Team 888" would have preferred to sail with two. No wonder, since
Ellen McArthur sailed around the world alone on the ship in the Vendee Globe.
around the world alone. But the DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge is not about single-handed honours.
Atlantic Challenge is not about single-handed honours. A total of 26 sailors, the largest number in the
number in the DCNAC, ensure that the 46-metre schooner "Windrose" has the perfect
optimal ride.
The DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge 2003 starts on 14 and 21 June 2003.
It will cover around 3,600 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean from Newport, Rhode Island/USA north around Great Britain to Cuxhaven and from there on to Hamburg, where there will be a maritime festival week on the Kehrwiederspitze from 4 to 12 July 2003.
The event is organised by the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) from Hamburg with the support of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC). In addition to title sponsor DaimlerChrysler, the other main sponsors of the regatta are Holsten-Brauerei, Deutsche Bank, SAP, World of TUI, hanseboot and Marinepool.
From now on, YACHT online will report daily on this largest North Atlantic regatta - with impressions from on board three yachts ("Uca", "Hansa", "Meltemi"), detailed analyses of the race status and all position data in the race tracker.
Jochen Rieker
Herausgeber YACHT
