The infection with the sailing virus

Spatz starts sailing almost 50 years ago

The starting point of my adventure participating in the Clipper Round the World Race 2019/20 dates back many years. It was actually 1972 in September. My school mate Helmut Wilkomm took me to the local sailing club in town. We went there straight from school. It was the Schwartauer Segelverein. At that time I did not know that this would become my family, home, playground, education center and the only thing that mattered for many years. He pushed me into the front of an Optimist Dinghy and we sailed away down the Trave River. My grand pa sat in the banks and did what he did every day – he fished. I called “hey grand pa! See not only my father can sail the sea – I can do too”. Bold statement because I had no clue about sailing. We docked after two hours. I jumped on my bike and drove to the riverbank to see grand pa. Paul saw me coming. He pointed in the narrow strip of water and looked at me. He said “grand son – I saw you happy – you should do this. Become a sailor and enjoy becoming your own captain. I will talk to your father once he comes back”. I rode home and asked my Mum whether I could join the club. The following Wednesday I pulled her to the youth training and insisted to become a member. I started training with a club boat. After two weeks I was allowed to sail on my own. Every day I was out there. And in winter 1972/73 I did my first license the A-Schein.

My father came from a 9 month trip back home. He was Chief on a merchant ship. At that time he sailed a lot to West Africa. Now being back he had 10 weeks vacation and I had a father for 10 weeks. Boy tough times. Chief Horst started to tell little Captain Jörg what he had to do.

On the first weekend in Feb 1973 on a Sunday he took me to a trip to Travemünde to the boat show, only me and him – yes! And we walked the tents and looked at boats. In the back corner of the second Hall was a small stand of “Falsterbrø Optimist”. There was this yellow speed machine, Green sail, spruce mast, multi laminated rudder and dagger board. The call was “World Champion 1972 – fastest Optimist”. I could not walk away. I did not stop talking telling my father why this was beautiful, efficient and outstanding. Yellow it was. My dad did not say anything other than “son, can you be responsible for it and treat it well, if we would own one?” I did not understand. But my father ordered one. It was 11am in the morning. I was speechless and almost unable to specify the color. 980 Deutsche Mark. It was a fortune for us and my dad gave it to me.

When we came home my Mum had lunch ready. Rouladen, red cabbage, Schlesische dumplings. My dad walked into the kitchen first and just nodded his head saying “I have done what we talked about”. That was all. Simple. Mum and dad had a plan. It was not X-mad and My birthday was far away. Later I found out from grand pa that he had spoken to his son about my new passion seeing me on the water every day. My family decided that I should become serious about sailing. I was the happiest person on the planet with my yellow speed machine – the only Falsterbrø Opti in Ostholstein,