- The competitiveness of a race crew depends a lot on your skipper. Just like in business, if your manager doesn’t want to achieve a certain goal or isn’t very focused on it, its very difficult for the team to do so. Sadly skipper Vicky was more interested in “just making it” rather then aiming to reach higher. A frustration that still will take me some time to overcome.
- The hardships of the ocean is a great place to make new friends – on this note special thanks to my newly found Italian friends, who enhanced this trip not just on the culinary side but also provided the fun and relaxedness in times of discontent to make it a great experience. I hope we can do soon a trip again!
- The Expendables were the best bow crew (ever) !
- Whales are not just great to watch, they can be very dangerous animals – in particular when they breach a mere 30metres in front of your boat
- Running out of fresh water in the middle of an ocean is not a cool thing. However I was surprised to see how well we coped with just 2 liters by day.
- Flying a spinnaker into Rio harbor, Sugar Loaf Mountain and Jesus Christ statue looking at you ranks as one of the most memorable sights of my life.
- Drinking tons of beer & Caiprinhas right after you have touched land does not enhance your working (=cleaning) capabilities – very importantly: Don’t try to shave after such an extensive influx of alcoholic beverages!
- A wrap is better consumed as food, but definitely not experienced with a Spinnaker
- Sleeping in fourty degrees is not possible and if it is, it causes the weirdest dreams ever.
- Constant sleep depraviation has some interesting side effects – the strangest that you think you are awake all the time, even in your dreams…
- I don’t need any Tune & Sweetcorn for the next few years
- One cannot buy too much Nutella for an ocean crossing – and one bottle of olive oil is definitely not sufficient either. To be fair however Vitelling (ie buying food) for an ocean crossing must be the worst job ever…
- There is a different interpretation for the word “Ease” between the bowcrew and the cockpit. The commando “Pull” sounds too similar to my own name when shouted – Confusion guranteed!
- Four weeks of complete news blackout – and nothing has really changed. Makes you wonder why we spend so much time each day checking news, worrying about stuff that has to tangible impact on life.

The curse of the mosquito (or being caught out by climate change)
The plan was straightforward: Pack bags, travel to remote valley, hike to virgin peak. Climb! So was the plan for my recent expedition into the remote Naar-Phu valley in Nepal, which came together...