Global Solo Challenge skipper Philipp Hympendahl: The race to the start is on
by Dave Proctor 22 Feb 2023 19:57 AEDT
Global Solo Challenge skipper Philipp Hympendahl © Philipp Hympendahl
Amongst the many different Nationalities represented by the sailors entering the 2023/2024 edition of the Global Solo Challenge (GSC), Philipp Hympendahl is the only German.
As a result of it only having a limited shoreline, Germany does not have a great seafaring tradition and consequentially, has not had many sailing heroes. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that Philipp is gaining a lot of home interest for his GSC campaign, and there has been a real buzz of excitement around his entry.
At the recent Dusseldorf Boat Show, he received a lot of attention from the press and the public alike (something I did not realise was that this landlocked boat show is the largest completely indoor boat show in the World).
As a result of the boatshow, Philipp has even appeared on television in Germany, and "Yacht" magazine, Germany's largest sailing periodical, regularly publishes multi-page reports on his travels, and indeed, his GSC campaign.
Sadly, however, despite all this attention and interest, Philipp reports that this following and interest has yet to be translated into sufficient sponsorship for him to complete the renovations to his boat, a Comfortina 38, and for him to get to the start line.
He is totally determined to join the GSC and emphasises that he has far from given up, and whilst he and his team work furiously to meet the deadline to have the boat ready to complete the qualifying sail by June and the subsequent entry, he laughs and describes these as 'exciting' times.
Philp comes from a line of sailors, from whom he has inherited his love of the sea and sailing. In previous times his Great-Grandfather was a Boat Captain and subsequently, his father, Klaus Hympendahl, a keen sailor, circumnavigated the Globe and was involved in the Lapita Expedition, an Experimental Marine Archaeological expedition which followed the migrations of the early Polynesians. During the course of this voyage, he was joined by Philipp for two legs of the journey.
Having survived a number of adventures together, including a horrendous 50-Knot storm whilst in the Pacific Ocean. Philipp expresses his sadness that his father passed away a few years ago, as he feels that he would have enjoyed seeing his son setting off in the GSC.
With his enjoyment of sailing remaining so strong, it has been his lifelong ambition to sail solo around the World. Indeed, this idea became somewhat of an obsession and he laughingly reports that his now grown-up children got somewhat fed up with their father going on about it and told him to just go and do it!
In the intervening years, Philipp owned a Mini 6.50, did some regattas, and for the past seven years has owned his beloved half-tonner 'African Queen.'
Recently, he did a winter voyage around Denmark and then subsequently he sailed to France, England, and back to Germany, completing a big north sea journey, all single-handed.
Philipp realised that, as a regular working man and sailor, he would never have the resources and sponsorship to enter the Vendée Globe, so he welcomed the opportunity to enter the GSC.
He also respected the decision that the challengers for the GSC should not be using more of the World's natural resources to build new boats, just to partake in this venture.
Philipp realised that at the age of 55, now was probably the best time to consider following his dream of completing a solo, non-stop circumnavigation, whilst he was still physically fit (he has been an Ultra-cyclist) and has the means to consider this adventure.
He is currently carrying out the refit to the boat in a yard up in Schleswig, Northern Germany, but admits he has faced some serious, unexpected problems, including finding water in the laminate sandwich near the keel and having to have a new stronger rudder specifically made for the challenge.
He is working through these problems one by one, with his small team of volunteers and one paid member of staff, a young professional boatbuilder. Philipp reports that the 'Team Seesucht' are working day and night to support Philipp to get this boat ready.
Up until the point of him going full-time to undertake the challenge, Philipp worked as a professional photographer and film-maker for a major German Company and he assured me that he will be documenting his voyage and hopefully submitting his stories via the GSC, his own website, his Youtube channel, and indeed through the mainstream media. He is of the opinion that such exposure may well attract further sponsorship for him to get to the start line in time.
Full details of Philipp's campaign can be found on his website, on his Youtube channel and on his Facebook group page.
One creative idea that Philipp admits he has copied from another sailor, is the concept of him being sponsored both using the Patreon platform, but also by sponsors being able to sponsor him by degrees (the concept, he calls 360 degrees- see his website for further details) and of course, no good sailing team would be complete without a range of clothing, again, available to order on his website.
Philipp is concentrating on the preparation of the boat at the moment and not the challenge itself, but I will conclude this article by quoting from his website, a short quote which amply shows his resilience and strength of character both in the work he is currently undertaking and an attitude which he will undoubtedly take forward when he puts to sea:
'But I'm also a stubborn dog. When I have my mind set on something and want to see a project through, I do my best. No more and no less.'
The Race to the start is on.