Timm Kruse: On the “Thor Heyerdahl”, almost everything is still done by hand. In fact, the ship is even steered without an autopilot. Is that precisely what makes this training sailing ship so special?
Fabian Boerger: I actually do think so, yes. I even think it would do us all a bit of good to lean more towards the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’ approach. Many boats these days are so packed with technology that it’s simply impossible to repair them yourself anymore. You need specialists to take care of it. On the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’, everything is still done by hand. Even the rudder – you need a helmsman at all times. I mean, what does that do for a crew? They’re much more attentive; they’re much more involved. They don’t just rest on all the advantages that technology naturally brings with it. And I think that simply leads to a much deeper and much more solid understanding. [...] And I have to say, that’s exactly what I love so much about the Thor Heyerdahl – that absolutely everything is carried out by the crew. It requires this teamwork, and ultimately that’s the beauty of it – that’s why we set sail, isn’t it? That sense of togetherness, being close to nature – and I think you tend to achieve that more with less technology than with too much.
Timm Kruse: Detlef Soitzek (founder of the “Thor Heyerdahl” project) makes this fascinating observation: “The best teachers on board are the ship and the sea.” Why don’t you explain to us what he means by that, particularly when it comes to young people?
Fabian Boerger: I believe that being there in person – that is, being on board and experiencing the forces of nature – really has an effect on all of us. So all sailors out there have an experience. And sometimes it’s good, but sometimes it’s bad. And I believe these are important things from which you can learn. You make a mistake – for example, you set a sail incorrectly. But you only make that mistake once, because you immediately realise what the outcome will be. And of course, when you’re up in the yards or up there in rough seas, you certainly won’t forget the tools you need. Or rather, you might forget them once, but then you’ll have to climb up and down. That sort of thing simply becomes second nature and, naturally, helps you develop a great deal. So I think there are lots of things where nature can simply teach us – or rather, teach sailors – many essential lessons, but in doing so, it’s what makes this learning possible in the first place. And I think another point that’s simply just as important is what it means to take responsibility – that’s a concept I learnt whilst on board. It’s about picking things up from other crew members, and sometimes asking yourself: ‘What’s he actually doing? How does he set the sails? Can I do that too? And can I have a go at it?’ Or: ‘Can I take the helm or climb the masts?’ All of that is possible there because you learn from one another and you can also teach others. So taking on responsibility is a really important part of life on board, which is very helpful when it comes to teaching young people certain things.
Timm Kruse: Are young people today, in some respects, less independent and perhaps in need of more support than they used to be?
Fabian Boerger: Young people have become less independent, says Detlef Soitzek, describing this trend. I believe that if you use too many technological aids, you concentrate less or take on less responsibility. [...] I can use Google Maps to see exactly when I need to be where and how long it will take me to get there. I think in the past you had to be much more forward-thinking and plan your daily life. And when you think about the sort of voyages that the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’ undertakes – for example, sailing across the Atlantic or navigating more challenging stretches – then all of that is essential. You need that foresight, you need that preparation, and it doesn’t help to pull out your smartphone in a tricky situation because there’s no signal. I think the younger generation needs to learn that again. In that respect, he’s perhaps not entirely wrong when he says we’ve become less self-reliant – which I could say about myself too, in that the mobile phone has simply become such an important part of everyday life.
Timm Kruse: Let’s listen to another clip in which Detlef Soitzek deliberately talks about this old-fashioned ship and what that means from an educational perspective.
Detlef Soitzek: I don’t want to pass judgement on that now, but back in the day – young people – I get the feeling – were more independent and had a greater zest for life. These days, we often get pupils who would be at a loss if you left them on their own somewhere. They need more support these days, but also a bit of a nudge to help them become more independent.
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Timm Kruse: On the “Thor Heyerdahl”, old skills are passed on – some of which have, in fact, been lost: traditional rigging, working with rope, and classic seamanship. Has the “Thor Heyerdahl” now become something of a floating museum of traditional crafts?
Fabian Boerger: A museum is more of a building or a room. What makes the “Thor Heyerdahl” so exciting is that you get to have a go yourself. You handle everything; you work with it. That’s precisely what makes it so special, and the term ‘school’ fits better in this context, because this traditional craft has perhaps died out on a wider scale. On board, the sails are set just as they used to be. Many manoeuvres are carried out just as they were in the past. I believe that this requires precisely this knowledge and these skills, and they must always be passed on. That means simply watching it, as one might in a museum, is simply not enough in this case. It really must be passed on from the older generation to the younger, so that they can repair the sails, maintain the ship and the rigging, and prepare themselves for life on board. There’s no better school than that.
Timm Kruse: We need to have a chat about the core crew who’ve been doing this on a voluntary basis for decades. There are always sailors on board who have specific skills and are away at sea for weeks on end. How does that work for them?
Fabian Boerger: Many people are simply fascinated by the ship, by the whole project, and also by the spirit that thrives on board. That is precisely what motivates so many to stick with it. The crew members – that is, the regular crew, who have completed a training programme involving a few days’ sailing to learn the basics – are actively involved in the association set up for this purpose. They come together there and can contribute in a wide variety of ways. A ship like this is incredibly labour-intensive: It has to go into the shipyard, be repaired and maintained; it needs to go on voyages, be serviced, and so on. This always requires people. The association has around 1,700 members, although the core crew who are regularly involved is, of course, much smaller – but it is precisely these people who are needed to carry out all the tasks. They really are very motivated people. I was very surprised myself and wondered whether they were sacrificing their free time to keep this ship running. Many, however, do not see it as a sacrifice, but as a hobby and a meaningful way to spend their time. I was very impressed myself and, by the end, could fully appreciate the benefits to be gained from it and everything one learns in the process. In that respect, it’s a very exciting hobby that brings many people together: working together to keep an old schooner afloat.
Timm Kruse: As an outsider, it’s impossible to imagine just how much a boat like that costs. Refurbishing the hull cost 2.7 million euros. And that’s for a vessel belonging to a relatively small club. How on earth did they manage it?
Fabian Boerger: I find that figure fascinating too. I was a bit taken aback at first, but then Detlef Soitzek said to me: “Well, actually, that’s not really that much for a boat.” When you compare vessels of this size, the financial outlay required to keep such a vessel afloat is truly immense. The project received a great deal of support from various people, private individuals and organisations, all of whom were willing to help and back the venture. Nevertheless, it was, of course, a huge undertaking to pull it all off. The bank also had to play its part and provide loans. In the end, everything worked out – but there was certainly some anxiety as to whether it would all come together. Between 2007 and 2009, whilst the ship was being rebuilt and restored, some people were genuinely unsure whether it would all turn out well in the end. Fortunately, it has.
Timm Kruse: For me, Detlef Soitzek’s greatest achievement is, firstly, that he saw it through to the end, and I believe he managed to inspire people to commit to this project – people who were always willing to invest their time and money in it. Did you also find him to be that charismatic?
Fabian Boerger: He’s a real motivator. His drive and his manner are absolutely infectious. But I think it’s much more than that: it’s the ethos, the spirit that reigns on board – that mutual support, that sense of responsibility, that sense of togetherness. It’s just so infectious. Detlef Soitzek is certainly a key factor in this, but it’s this spirit that motivates, sustains and inspires. I think that’s what keeps most people on this ship – what inspires them, keeps them motivated time and again, and helps them overcome all the hurdles that have certainly existed, do exist and will continue to exist. I’m not worried about that: as long as this motivation and this drive are kept alive, there will always be people who carry the project forward and stick with it. They’re well on their way. In any case, it was exciting to be able to experience it like that for once.
Timm Kruse: After more than forty years, Detlef Soitzek is now stepping down. Can a life’s work like this really be handed over?
Fabian Boerger: That’s a good question – I’d like to ask him that again in ten years’ time. But I do believe they’re on the right track. At least, I got the impression that what’s happening at the moment has been very carefully thought through. A foundation is being set up – this is still in the process – with the aim of separating this life’s work from a single individual, namely Detlef Soitzek, and putting it on a new footing. The foundation structure is very helpful for this purpose. The impression I’ve gained is that this has been thought through at length and in depth, and that everyone knows exactly why they’re taking this path. I therefore believe that the ship and its funding – which, as we’ve mentioned several times, costs a fortune – are on a really good track. Careful consideration has been given to how the project can be continued most effectively, so that thousands of young pupils can still come on board in the future – and not just them, but people of all generations who can sail along and experience this for themselves.
The interview was conducted by Timm Kruse.
You can listen to Fabian Boerger’s YACHT sailing podcast here
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Leonie Meyer
Editor News & Panorama