Blue water: How long-distance travellers can get back on the water after a trip

Every arrival is different - and often completely different from what you expected. Especially after travelling around the world, when you have been away from your home waters for a long time. One example of this is the return home of German sailing pioneer Wilfried Erdmann. After 421 days and a total of 29,380 nautical miles in his wake, Erdmann returned in 1969 as the first German to have sailed solo around the entire globe.

The closer he got to the island of Heligoland, the greater his anticipation became. On the 127th day after setting off from Cape Town, he noted in his logbook: "It's about time I came ashore, I'm realising more and more that I'm at the end of my tether. Thoughts sometimes revolve around tasty food for hours. I fantasise about my first trip ashore: (...). I'm going to enjoy it like never before."

Also interesting:

• Blue water: German couple back home after 10 years of sailing around the world
• Sailing around the world: Around the world with the E-cat - the blue water family takes stock
• Blue water: What it feels like to cross the Pacific for four weeks
• The Schwörer family and the "Pachamama": on a long voyage for climate protection

But instead of the fame and honour bestowed on British circumnavigators after such an achievement, the days following his arrival were anything but glorious: no parade awaited him, no reception. Instead, he was accused of being a fraud. Reporters initially questioned his performance. He was accused of having invented the voyage. Erdmann wrote in his book about the voyage, which became a classic of sailing literature a few years later, that he was called a "lying baron at sea".

It was not until some time later, when his performance could be proven beyond doubt on the basis of the meticulously kept logbooks, that the voices of the critics fell silent. In their place came those of the enthusiastic fans who emulated him, admired the pioneer for his achievements - and still honour him today as a legendary sailor.

This example from the history of sailing is certainly a special case, not least in view of its significance. But it shows impressively how individual and sometimes surprising a homecoming can be.

"Life is different afterwards"

Marcus Warnke agrees that they differ from case to case. He is the chairman of Trans-Ocean, Germany's largest network for blue water and cruising sailors. "People who set off often have the same questions: which ship, which route, what do you need to consider?"

Those who return from a round-the-world trip face completely different challenges, says Warnke. They are faced with new questions: Does the path lead back to old structures? How and where do you want to live? And with the growing number of families travelling the world, what will happen to the children? In addition, life at sea changes people. According to Warnke, this is particularly the case with longer voyages. The experiences they gain, the experiences that shape them, their view of the world as a whole. All of these impressions are no longer available in everyday life. "Life is different afterwards."

At the same time, life at home does not come to a standstill. Instead, two parallel lives emerge: one at home and one at sea. They can hardly be linked together. Perhaps this is the reason why some return to sea immediately after their arrival.

Others find a new home far away. They are particularly important for Trans-Ocean, says Warnke, because they set up and manage bases all over the world.

What all returnees have in common, however, are the experiences and stories they bring home from their blue water journeys. They lay the foundations for others to set off again. There are few journeys that epitomise this more than Wilfried Erdmann's first circumnavigation. Written down in his book "Mein Schicksal heißt 'Kathena'" (My destiny is called 'Kathena'), his experiences became an inspiration and an incentive for numerous German sailors who followed in his footsteps.

"Gegenwind" crew: Back home - but not quite there yet

• Crew: Asha Reich & Helge Aßmann
• The boat: Hanseat 70 "Headwind", a GRP classic from 1973
• Duration: 10 years
• Start: July 2014, Kiel
• End: September 2024, Kiel
• Read more: www.sy-gegenwind.de

Asha Reich and Helge Aßmann originally wanted to be on the road for three to five years. That turned into ten. They sailed around the world on their "Gegenwind", a classic GRP Hanseat 70. They travelled a total of 30,000 nautical miles and experienced numerous adventures: they crossed oceans for several weeks at a time, weathered storms and sought shelter from cyclones and hurricanes. During the coronavirus pandemic, their ship was also put to the test: They ran aground on a reef off the west coast of Thailand. The keel suffered severe damage; a final layer of GRP prevented the loss of the boat. They have been back in Kiel since the end of September 2024, and the next big challenge awaits them - arriving back home.

YACHT: What is more difficult, clearing in on a Pacific island or updating papers in Germany?

Helge: Definitely the latter in Germany.

What is the problem?

Asha: At the residents' registration office, we were asked where we were last registered. We were last registered ten years ago. An anchorage doesn't count - that was definitely a problem.

After ten years travelling the world: Do you take such bureaucratic hurdles more calmly?

Helge: No, you want to flee first. Even in Australia or Thailand, there's official paperwork to deal with. But now something long-term was on the agenda: We had to update all our documents. But in Germany, everyone requires a registration address: the bank, the insurance company, the employer. Nothing works without a permanent address. When we left in 2014, we had given up all of that.

After your return home, you continued to live on your ship, the "Gegenwind".

Asha: Yes, and it got colder and colder, despite the heating, which was still running after ten years in the tropics. When we were able to move, we were relieved: out of the stalactite cave and into the warmth.

Last time we talked about storms, cyclones and dangerous reefs. What were the adventures last year?

Helge: The first storm was a hospitalisation - a month after arrival. We were in the process of clearing out the ship and moving when the stomach pains came. Diagnosis: ruptured appendix. I was hospitalised for eight days.

Even before the trip, it was clear that you wanted to return to work afterwards. How difficult was the new start?

Asha: We wanted to apply from the Canary Islands, but we had the impression that a "place of residence" abroad is not appreciated. Again, the registration address was a problem.

Helge: Once we had that, we were ready to go. But although they say jobs are on the street, I experienced resentment - against age, against a CV that deviates from the norm. It took longer for me to find something.

Asha: It was different for me. I started looking later - we wanted to remain flexible in case Helge had to move. I looked in the neighbourhood of my old job, and that worked.

When you arrived, you said that many things were familiar and yet strange. What is it like today?

Helge: That is still the case today. The language is the same, as are the people. But we have moved on - and the world is a different place. There is less dialogue now. People are more cautious.

Was there anything that depressed you before you returned home?

Helge: No, nothing is bad, but everything took longer than expected. We wanted to start our lectures at the beginning of the year and be further along with our book. But that has had to take a back seat so far.

Asha: What worried me was the cold. It was well over 20 degrees all the time. We had read that it can be below that in German offices.

Did you feel the need to cast off the lines again?

Helge: No, not yet. Friends of ours sailed to the Caribbean for a second time - and were disappointed. The boats were bigger, the anchorages fuller. It would be the same for us. Exploring the Baltic Sea with all its changes would be exciting, but at the moment we're enjoying our work.

When you look back on your long trip a year later, what do you think today?

Helge: It is a part of our lives. It was good to let go of everything and set off. I would do it again any time.

Asha: It was the right thing to do, but we certainly made some mistakes.

What kind of errors?

Asha: "Headwind" is a bit too small for such a long time. You have to constantly rearrange things and simply have fewer supplies to store.

What do you recommend for those who still want to set off?

Helge: If you want to set off, you have to let go. Some things remain unprepared. You have to reckon with that and accept it.

Asha: Before we left, we were told to set a date and set sail. We set this date almost a year in advance and kept it.

What's next for you?

Asha: Our challenge is arriving. Sometimes we feel like tourists. We still have a lot to discover before that is complete.

"Jajapami" crew: same conviction, new home

• Crew: The Lohmüller family (Jana, Michel, Paul, Jan-Dirk)
• The boat: Catamaran "Jajapami", type Saba 50 from Fountaine Pajot
• Duration: 7 years
• Start: July 2017, La Rochelle
• End: December 2024, Las Palmas
• Read more: www.jajapami.com

Seven years at sea, 40 countries and a special propulsion concept - the Lohmüller family has completed an extraordinary circumnavigation with their "Jajapami", a Saba 50 from Fountaine Pajot. The speciality: Instead of conventional diesel engines, they opted for an electric drive and supply system. They returned to Europe a year ago. They have retained their sustainable lifestyle, but their home is different. And many other things have changed too.

YACHT: Be honest, you haven't really returned home - you now live on board in Gran Canaria. Why is that?

Jana: The decision had already been made when we set off in 2017. We spent three months in the Canary Islands back then. That's when we said: if we don't find a better place in the world, we'll go back. The plan was never to go back to Germany.

Why the Canary Islands?

Jana: The climate is marvellous - and it's part of Europe. Friends and family can visit us often. Back then, the German school here was also important to us. We now see things differently and the boys go to a Spanish school. We realised that we would be living on board for a while. In Las Palmas, we are moored in the centre of the city and it's sailing season all year round.

After your circumnavigation, you wanted to offer the "Jajapami" for day charters. What happened to it?

Jan-Dirk: We worked on this plan for two and a half months, talking to tax advisors and specialists. But the registration in the Spanish shipping register alone would cost 12 per cent of the boat price. There would also be an import tax of 15 per cent, and with our sailing licences we would no longer be allowed to sail our own ship. That's why we decided to sell the "Jajapami" now and live ashore.

Are you selling the ship?

Jana: Yes. We have interested parties from all over the world, but selling a large long-distance catamaran takes time. We don't like to part company, partly because we have invested and optimised a lot. But it's time for us to make a new start.

Apart from selling the boat, what hurdles have you faced since returning home?

Jana: The most important question was: what would happen to the children? Contrary to our old plans, they went straight to a Spanish school. That was a great decision. Paul now writes his essays in Spanish and the children are integrating better.

You taught them at sea. Did you find the change of school difficult?

Jana: No, the grades are great. The boys can quickly find their feet in new situations. Having mates who don't sail on at some point is new and great.

After your return, you wanted to start your own business quickly. What became of it?

Jana: The first steps have been taken, but it will take time.

What exactly takes so long?

Jan-Dirk: Bureaucracy is an issue. We would like to register in Spain straight away - but the boat is in our way because we would have to import it. So we first look for the right buyer and then move ashore.

Do you still talk about your long-distance trip often?

Jana: Not often. Many people enjoyed reading the blog, but nobody likes hearing old holiday stories from others. Among sailors, on the other hand, conversations happen more often. So our experiences don't gather dust - we just need the right people to share them with.

With the "Jajapami" concept, you have ventured a pioneering project. How do you view e-drives today?

Jana: Unchanged positive. It is the technology of the future, and we are part of it.

Jan-Dirk: To this day, electric drives are still exotic, even though things are changing. For us, there are not only ecological advantages, but also low maintenance costs, longevity and efficiency. Hydrogeneration under sail is a huge advantage.

Jana: People have a hard time with sustainability, but it is obvious that more efficiency can save a lot of money, even if you have to invest at the beginning.

What comes next?

Jan-Dirk: Firstly, we want to set up something of our own here. The "Jajapami" is still standing in our way. As soon as it is sold, we can invest and realise our own ideas - we are looking forward to that.

Jana: That alone is adventure enough at the moment. When everything is in place and peace has returned to our lives, you are welcome to ask us again.