Mr Falk, what is life like on two boats?
I can't imagine anything better! I have owned a Polaris Drabant for 20 years, which I have upgraded to a long-distance yacht. When I got divorced nine years ago, I needed an affordable home that was big enough to accommodate my two children. As a flat like that in Aarhus is absurdly expensive and the 26-foot Polaris is too small, I also bought a Møn 391. I couldn't part with the small boat as I still wanted to go on adventure trips with it. So I suddenly had two boats.
How have your children accepted the rather ascetic life on board?
They loved it! My children were 11 and 15 years old when they moved onto the 39-foot boat and were with me every other week. We were in the harbour most of the time because they had to go to school, but they found it much more comfortable than living in a big house. They particularly liked the short distances: two steps to the toilet, three steps to the fridge (laughs). They each had their own cabin, but we spent most of our time together in the lounge and really enjoyed the closeness. We lived together like that for a total of four years.
Then use the Møn as a houseboat and the Polaris for sailing?
No, I quickly realised that having two boats in one harbour makes no sense at all. After sailing the Polaris to the Faroe Islands, the Shetlands and the North Cape, I moved the boat to the Canary Islands during the coronavirus lockdown. There was nothing better to do at the time. I liked the area so much that I decided to leave the boat there. Now I sail the Møn in Scandinavia during the summer and spend the rest of the time in the Canary Islands with "Mathilde". As soon as I arrive on one of my boats, I immediately cast off and drop anchor wherever I feel like it.
That sounds like a dream life. How do you reconcile that with your career?
After surviving cancer, I quit my permanent job as a professional musician and hung up my violin. I needed something new and I wanted it to be fun! So two years ago I set sail as a self-employed therapist. As I advise all my clients online, I can work from anywhere, as long as I am close to the coast and have mobile phone network coverage. I also offer sailing courses and spiritual retreats on Møn in Denmark.
Are you still planning real adventure trips with one of your boats?
I dream of circumnavigating South America with my little "Mathilde". To the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, along the coast of Chile south to Cape Horn and back up to the Canary Islands. A solo non-stop circumnavigation with an old traditional boat would also appeal to me. That would be my third boat, but it can't hurt to have more dreams.
