Classroom under sail: "Thor Heyerdahl" returns home to Kiel with 34 pupils

Saturday morning on the Kiel Fjord. The "Thor Heyerdahl" glides into the mouth of the Schwentine. The students stand in the yards - despite strong gusts. Their oilskins glow red and yellow against the grey sky, the wind drives the training sailing ship swiftly forward. Destination: the berth in front of the Geomar in Kiel-Wellingdorf.

Dozens of people have already gathered on the quay. Family members, friends, former fellow sailors. They are waving flags - many of them Caribbean, others from the Azores or elsewhere. They are the flags of all the places the crew has travelled to in recent months. It is a colourful welcome in grey.

Six and a half months at sea. 12,000 nautical miles lie in the wake of the "Thor Heyerdahl". Now 34 pupils are returning, together with 16 adults, teachers and the regular crew. In October, the traditional ship set sail for the Caribbean with the "Classroom under Sail".

"'Thor Heyerdahl' is more than just a ship"

Among those waiting on the quay: Constanze Prange, Deputy Mayor of Kiel. "The 'Thor Heyerdahl' is more than just a ship," she says. "It is a living place of education and personal development."

It is a figurehead for the state capital of Kiel."

During the voyage, the students explored different countries as well as the Atlantic and went ashore in Cuba and Panama, for example. On several occasions, they took the helm of the ship themselves.

Impressions of the journey:

For the "Thor Heyerdahl", it was the 18th voyage in the "Classroom under Sail" project initiated by Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. The aim: not only to impart knowledge at sea, but also to develop personalities.

Farewell after 40 years

The arrival was not only significant for the students and their families, but also for Detlef Soitzek, the founder of the experiential education concept. After more than 40 years, this is his last crossing - he is now retiring. "Detlef Soitzek, the visionary founder of this project, is leaving the ship," says Christian Haehl, Chairman of the Sailing Ship Thor Heyerdahl Association.

Soitzek has been closely associated with the ship from the very beginning. In 1979, he bought the old cargo motorsailer, built in the Netherlands in 1930, at auction. From 1979 to 1983, the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft shipyard in Kiel - now ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) - converted it into a topsail schooner. Since then, the ship has been used for youth and educational projects on board. From October 2007 to May 2009, the ship underwent a comprehensive refurbishment including the complete rebuilding of the hull. Since then, numerous programmes for young people have been offered - such as the "Classroom under sail".

More on the topic:

• German Maritime Heritage Foundation: Federal government gives 30 million for traditional ships and historic boats
• Traditional sailing ship: Fyn Round like a hundred years ago

Volunteering, a driving force on board

A large part of the work is carried out by the core crew: almost 800 active volunteers manage the ship in varying compositions and keep it running reliably. The association has a total of around 1,700 members, making it one of the largest and most active traditional shipping associations in Germany.

The number of young, active members is particularly high. Many students from the "classroom under sail" return on board later, says the association - then as part of the crew.

The project is run jointly by two institutions: Segelschiff Thor Heyerdahl gGmbH and Segelschiff Thor Heyerdahl e.V. The departure of Detlef Soitzek is an opportunity to restructure the organisation. The members are currently setting up a foundation that will become official in summer 2026.

More information about the "Thor Heyerdahl" you will find here.

Summer season in the Baltic Sea

The return of the "Thor Heyerdahl" to Kiel also marks the start of the season in the Baltic Sea. The sailing training ship will be travelling there until October, when the next "Classroom under Sail" starts. Before that, it will go to the shipyard for minor work, involving around 50 volunteers. This will be followed by six months of shorter cruises, primarily for young people on the Baltic Sea, before heading back across the Atlantic.