Berlin to Hobart - part of an indefinite vacation

by Caroline Ball/Rolex Sydney Hobart media team on 20 Dec 2008 Since leaving Hamburg in October last year, the ever-changing crew of Walross 4 has partied in Mexico, sunbaked in the Canaries and cheered at the Olympic Games in China. And while the young crew is thrilled to be a part of this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, for them it is more of a weekend getaway than a long distance sprint.

'The race is not so much long distance for us,' says skipper Christian Masilge. 'We only hope for good racing, having fun and a safe arrival in Hobart.'

Walross 4, which arrived in Sydney last Sunday morning, is owned by the Akdemischer Segler-Vercine (Academic Sailors Club) in Berlin, an organisation founded in 1886 to encourage young Germans to participate in ocean sailing. Six of the twelve-man crew onboard are students with the youngest crew member just 20 years old. Indeed, one 29 year old student crewman describes the trip as an 'indefinite vacation'.

Walross 4, a Nissen 56 that flies the bear-clad Berlin flag with pride. set sail from Germany 14 months ago intending first and foremost to see the Olympic Games in July. The crew visited an impressive number of competing countries both before and after the opening ceremony. After crossing the Atlantic from the Canary Islands the long-distance cruising yacht sailed to the Caribbean via the Panama Canal, and then stopped at Los Angeles, Honolulu and Guam on its way to Tokyo. From there the current skipper took the helm and sailed Walross 4 to Sydney via Hong Kong, Manila, Cairns and Brisbane.

While this is the first Rolex Sydney Hobart for Walross 4, Masilge is no stranger to Australian waters. In 1988 he sailed the Bicentennial Hobart to Sydney yacht race, as well as some smaller races in 1981and 1982. According to Malige, the Rolex Sydney Hobart is the next logical step in his Australian racing career.

Speaking about the boat’s prospects for some race silverware, Masilge says 'We’re not here to win or anything like that because it really is a cruising boat. We have no real chance against a racing boat'.

Amongst 11 internationals contesting this year’s ocean classic, Walross 4 is the only German competitor.

'I have had a wonderful time in Australia before, even though I wasn’t able to see many sights. I won’t have much of a chance this time either, but luckily I’m able to see it all from here,’ says Masilge, surveying the view from his mooring at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Rushcutters Bay.

The yacht has constant crew changes and a new skipper will sail Walross 4 around Cape Horn and back to Europe after its arrival in Hobart. But for most of the young crew, the ‘indefinite vacation’ will continue.