New podcast episode: Why a 77-year-old woman is sailing across the Baltic Sea on her own
Leonie Meyer
· 07.08.2026
There is far more to Renate Weineck’s story than just a simple solo sailing trip. Following her husband’s death, the 77-year-old withdrew from public life for just under two years. Boating had been a shared hobby for the couple. When her husband fell seriously ill and died, their life together came to an end. But after a long period of mourning, she began, step by step, to find her feet again. She sold the boat they’d shared and looked for a model that she could sail safely on her own and on which she could live for longer periods.
A solo sailing trip with its ups and downs
In the YACHT podcast, Renate Weineck speaks very openly about what being alone on board means to her. For her, freedom means, above all, being able to make her own decisions: waking up in the morning and deciding, without consulting anyone, where her “Rumtreiber” is headed. For her, this independence is not a form of withdrawal, but a conscious way of continuing to live her life.
Of course, there have been ups and downs along the way: she recounts a truly harrowing experience at sea when she encountered heavy weather on the route from Ystad to Wieck, with cross-swells slowing her down and taking her nine hours to cover 65 miles. She explains how AIS, the autopilot and her own mindset helped her through it.
Daily routine on board and tips from Renate Weineck
On land, her outlook remains practical and clear: Renate Weineck talks about repairs, winter storage, high fuel prices and the often helpful reactions of others when she moors alone in the harbour. She reveals how she copes with loneliness, why books and a sense of calm are part of her routine on board, and what simple yet important advice she gives to other solo sailors.
You can listen to YACHT’s sailing podcast with Renate Weineck here
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You can find the article here from our sister magazine BOOTE about Renate Weineck.
Leonie Meyer
Editor News & Panorama
