Dear Reader,

after 783 days my boat FANFAN! and I returned to Germany on the 8. of August 2003. I visited 16 countries on four continents and many remote islands. For a map of my solo circumnavigation click here. A collection of pictures can be found here. A video of my trip is also available (15 MB, 14 minutes, WMV filetype). A book and a DVD of my trip where published in 2004. The title (translated from german) is “The sea is mine - alone on the edge of the world”. Click on the bookcover to order it at amazon.

Here is a brief summary of my trip:

• 16. of June 2001 start in Hooksiel/Germany and nonstop to the north coast of Iceland.
• Visit of the islands Grimsey and Kolbeinsey.
• Trip to the island of Jan Mayen, where the world's northernmost active volcano is situated (71°North).
• Two weeks at the west- and north coast of Iceland including a visit of the Westman Islands (home of the famous killer whale Keiko).
• In eight days from Iceland to the southern tip of Greenland and passage of the Prins Christians Sund. Cruising in Greenland waters. I set sail at the end of August heading south.
• On my way to the South Atlantic, hurricane Felix came in my way. I altered course to the island of Flores , only to find out that the harbor offered no shelter. After 32 hours at Flores, I left the harbor to weather the hurricane in lee of the island. Against all predictions, the hurricane eased to 35 knots before he reached the island.
• Visit of the St. Peter & St. Paul Rocks. Anchoring was not possible.
• Six days break on the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha.
• Visit of the islands Martin Vaz and Trindade. Anchoring was not possible.
• Visit of Tristan da Cunha. At the anchorage, my boat had a collision with the South African ship Agulhas. Bowsprit and pulpit were badly damaged. I lay ahull for four days to wait for better weather to attempt a landing on Tristan. Finally I gave up to continue to Gough Island . There was the weather too bad to go ashore, too.
• 2,000 miles trough the Southern Ocean to the Prince Edward Islands. On Marion Island I experienced 55 Knots of wind in the lee of the Island. Anchoring was not possible.
• After 45 days on sea I finally dropped my anchor in front of the French station on Île Possesion/Crozet . I had a hero's welcome and spent four days there.
• My next stop was at the Îles Kerguelen. I spend nine days there an had a very friendly welcome on the French station at Port aux Francais.
• From there I continued to Heard Island/Australia. Bad weather prevented any attempt of landing.
• One day was spent in the crater of Île St. Paul. In the passage into the crater, I sat my boat aground and damaged the keel.
• On my way to New Zealand my boat capsized (about 100°) in a gale south of Australia. A spinnaker pole broke, my solar panel was destroyed and the wind vane was damaged.

  In Auckland I met solosailor Chris Sayer, who was 3rd in the 1999 Minitransat. You can take a look at a video of him here (7,5 MB, wmv filetype)

• 147 days after I left Greenland, I reached the Auckland Islands/New Zealand. I spent two days at anchor before I continued to Wellington .
• After two months in New Zealand I continued my trip to the Cook Islands and the Society Islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora.). From there I went to the North Pacific via the islands Flint, Malden, Christmas and Fanning. Much of the trip was done against the Trade Winds.
• After a stop in Honolulu (at this time I had 25,200 nm in 365 days on my log), to stock up my provisions, I continued to the Midway Atoll , which is the breeding ground for hundreds of thousands of albatrosses. Fantastic wildlife and very friendly welcome.
• From there I sailed 3,200 nm against the Trade Winds (hard work!) back to French Polynesia. This time to the Marquesas Islands . After 2 weeks the trip continued to the Gambier Islands.
• I sailed via Pitcairn, Easter Island and Isla Robinson Crusoe to Valdivia/Chile, which I reached on the 7. October 2002.
• Two months rest in Chile. Broken jibstay, rudder bearing and cracked welding seam on the hull fixed.
• In 16 days round Cape Horn to the Falkland Islands. West of Cape Horn and close to my position the German sailing yacht Ole Hoop got lost in an gale. No trace was found of the boat.
• From the Falkland Islands I joined the three-masted- topsailschooner Oosterschelde and sailed with this ship to South Georgia and back to the Falklands (1.850nm). I left my boat in Port Stanley for this time.
• Falkland Islands to Cape Town in 27 days (3,700nm). On the way second visit to Tristan da Cunha . Circumnavigation of the world technically complete (from Tristan to Tristan in 15 months). Unluckily the weather was too bad to go ashore.
• From Cape Town to Newport/Rhode Island USA nonstop in 61days (6,750nm). I passed the islands of St. Helena and Ascension to take pictures. In a gale east of the Bermuda Islands my boom broke and I lost a headsail. Arrival in Newport on the 18. of May 2003. Total miles logged 48,700.
• Trip continued via Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket to Halifax/Canada
• Atlantic crossing Halifax to Ireland in 24 days. Much fog!
• Visit of the Aran Islands on the west coast of Ireland.
• Short stops on St. Kilda and the Faroe Islands.
• 8. August return to Hooksiel/Germany.

Duration of the trip: 783 days. Total Miles logged: 52,360. Miles of solo navigation with my boat FANFAN!: 50,200. The course of solo navigation circles the world uninterrupted. Adrenalin used: approximately 6 litres.

During my trip I experienced great hospitality. Almost everywhere I met great people, whom I would like to thank for their help and support!

Click here for an article in japanese (197 KB) and here for a short story in spanish (117KB).

Yours Uwe 

 

Letztes Update: 26.12.2011

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