YACHT author Peter Sandmeyer met up with Arved Fuchs and Hauke Trinks in the secluded setting of the Norwegian island of Utsira to talk to them about a very special phenomenon: sailing in winter. "I'm always amazed at how early the boats are taken out of the water in Germany," says adventurer Fuchs. In fact, the season often lasts twelve months a year in the Netherlands or Norway, for example. Yet on the Baltic Sea, for example, "it's certainly not always freezing cold in January", says Fuchs, when a cruise is "wonderful".
But what is it all about? Cold, snow and ice - these are supposed to be the conditions for enjoyable travelling? Of course, say those who need to know. Researcher Hauke Trinks, for example, enthuses: "This experience is enriching. You experience a solitude and a closeness to nature that doesn't exist in summer and that triggers elemental joy."
Fuchs and Trinks have gained a lot of experience in the high latitudes; however, more and more sailors are also taking to the water in their home waters in winter. Andreas Hülsenberg, for example, is an avid fan. The deputy chairman of the Trans-Ocean offshore sailing association sails the Elbe estuary from Cuxhaven in all weathers and sails to the North Sea islands. He enjoys it when people on land look after him and ask: "What kind of crazy people are they?"
In YACHT, this trio reports on the tremendous charms of winter cruising - and anyone who has worked up an appetite will get plenty of tips on how to make such a trip a success under very special conditions.
