Lying in the main sail.

Everybody in the sailing scène is talking about Bernt Lüchtenborg. His mission is, to complete a double world circumnavigation, once with the wind and once against it, in each case he will face the Rouring Fourties of the Antarctic.  Will he be able complete his mission? Never fear, when PACTOR is near.

Bernts planded way around the world. Once with the wind and once against the wind.

On Bernt's Internet page it says:
"65.000 nautical miles, double non-stop around the world circumnavigation! Bernt Lüchtenborg’s project sail2horizons, double non stop circumnavigation of the globe from 2009 to 2010 will make its mark and enthuse the public. No empty promises but real commitment. Not only for subjects concerning Climate change but also – practically "a foot in the door" - for the support of disadvantaged children and youth building their future perspectives. Sail2horizons is not trying to set a counterpoint to the political manifestations and discussions "all around the climate change". Sail2horizons does not point any fingers. Bernt Lüchtenborg intention is to alert the public for the grievance of enviromental problems, by following this remarkable sailing performance. On top, he will be able to collect not yet present sea data for the scientist. The sponsorship of disadvantaged children played a big role already in the preparation of the long journey. Not only faces he the discussion about how to help such children, but takes it from the practical side. Sailing with the children in a small group on the "Ostsee" in Germany and information about jobs and apprenticeship in maritime occupations ist only one part of it. Above all, of course, it's the sailing and sportive challenge, that tempts Bernt."

AURYN at Patagonia

Bernt trusted PACTOR from the start. On his first world circumnavigation, in 2003, with the sailing yacht SV AURYN Bernt asked me to install a PTC-llex on his yacht in Fiji. This enabled him to sail the rest of his world circumnavigation with GRIB files as well, as to contact  friends and family. This was an unforgettable experience for me. Having to finish the installation we were a bit late to start our trip to New Zealand to late. Subsequently we found ourselves sailing against 30 knots of wind and I was seasick for nearly two days, until I got my sea legs back.

SV HORIZON at the East Sea of Germany

Six years later, I find myself standing on Bernt's new yacht, SV HORIZON. "Now Bernt, what am I doing here? You have everything, Imarsat, Iridium Backup, Live Streams on board. The SV HORIZON is fitted out with the state of the art electronics." I wasn't able to wipe the grin of my face, knowing I have my favorite transceiver, the indestructible M710 with integrated SCS PTC-II/TRXPTC in my luggage. When I first arrived,  Bernt was'nt on board and so the next contact we had was by phone. He was currently sailing with a troop of young people in the Bay of Wismar at the East Sea Coast of Germany. Good that Bernt did not see the big, chunky piece of equipment I had brought to my friend in the first place.  "Micha, just do what you need to do, do the installation as if it where your own yacht you where working on.” He knows my work and the PACTOR system. In times of distress it is simple to use and supplies reliably weather fax maps with information about the weather systems on his planned destination and the fronts and ice maps for the professional mariners.  The M710/TRXPTC is a common alternative for him and I am excited to see how often he will use the system via SAILMAIL.

Training with Bernt

I bend my arms to place the M710/TRXPTC in the space it has to be installed in. It fits perfectly to the millimeter on the space allocated, where previously there was a big transceiver on the SV HORIZON. An SGC SMARTUNER aerial tuner SGC230 and an insulated back stay is already there and the grounding on the impressive aluminum ship is no question. When Bernt returned to his yacht after a few hours, everything was already installed and the first connection with PACTOR is ready to be made,  to stations from Wismar to Holland, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy. This convinced Bernt quickly. "Yes, I remember, here I can subscribe the GRIB files."

Soon Bernt is going to miss typical german food as "Scholle with Bratkartoffeln" as we are having it for dinner and he will have to  exchanges the fried potatoes for fresh fish from the sea and bread from the box,  if the weather on his journey leaves him time to dinner. Bernt radiates an incredible confidence. It would not surprise me if he pulls a potato from the trouser pocket at the next moment and crushes it in his hand like Raimund Harmstorf in the fil adaption of JACK LONDON’S "DER SEEWOLF" "This is a long time which you will be alone on the boat. Only you, no tomcat, like on your last trip. No stops. No Rio, no easter islands and no girls in Thaiti - No stop. Do you really want this?" I asked. “Yes Micha. This is my goal. Now it is time. I have the correct boat now and I even have PACTOR ", with his incredible charm he asks: "And when will you set off to sail again. So, Micha do you already have a new plan in the back of your mind?" The evening became long on the HORIZON as Bernt’s desire for the sea and sailing rubbed off on me. (The name of his book about his first world circumnavigation is “Meereslust”). In the background the M710/TRXPTC is running and receives one weather fax after the other. I already have the next appointment downing on me and the next morning I show Bernt the newest functions of AIRMAIL and the invisible modem that has hidden in the M710/TRXPTC. The operation is simple and the connection with the steam engine transceiver, as I like to call it because of its size, is only just a right click away. It is quite hectic on the vessel. Constantly new technical engineers arrive. They shake my hand and immediately start to repair and optimize what is necessary for the long trip. Bernt hardly has the time to concentrate on something correctly, because constantly  people come by with questions or just for chat. Bernt is famous, because of his project and has now become like a multicolored dog.

Work is done. Friends looking forward south together.

"So, Bernt. Now I have to leave, as my train will not wait for me." His wife Anita takes a few photos of us both. "I personally wish you all of the best Bernt. Have a safe journey and come back healthy and alive." With tears in my eyes, I say my goodbye. "With PACTOR on board it is now safe for you to leave. If nothing else, you can at least send a message ON AIR", I whisper, so that it nobody hears.“That is, if I do not call you via Iridium!" Bernt says as he grins ironically from a board his yacht." Hey Bernt, we all, from SCS and LUNATRONIC wish you all the best. May you always have wind in your sails and a handswidth of water under your keel.

One can see the journey multimedially under:
www.sail2horizons.com

Michael Wnuk DL1JD, Knysna Sout Africa, June 2006