An interim look back on the journey

Since the „Dagmar Aaen“ left the harbor in Hamburg on August 5th, 2015 she has covered 12.000 sea miles - an equivilent to 22.000 kilometers. For a traditional sailing vessel built in 1931 this is no trivial achievement. Especially when one considers that a great part of this journey has been in the extreme southern latitudes, accompanied by the unusually violent storms which occurred this summer. Cape Horn, the Antarctic - time for a personal interim look back.

The “Dagmar Aaen” is now in Ushuaia (photo) in Club Nautico. The ship has obviously taken a lot during this long journey: tropical sun, storms and glacial ice have left their marks on the ship. The paint is cracked, the white quarter deck appears dull and the anchor chain, after countless anchor maneuvers, has left rusty tears on the hull. This in not dramatic, but eight months of continuous use has taken their toll and a small overhaul is necessary.

The good news – nothing is broken. We are controlling all of the rigging, some of the ratlines need repair, the stays and the shrouds must be tarred down. The cordage will be checked for wear and replaced where necessary. The deck will be sanded and painted and below deck the whole sanitary area, the machinery and the generators will be thoroughly overhauled and serviced.

CO₂-assessments

A sailing ship, especially when made of wood, is a living organism - it demands care. We gladly grant this attention to the “Dagmar Aaen”. When one considers the adventures and the storms the ship has been through, one has a deep feeling of gratitude and closeness. We are familiar with each shackle, each rope’s end and each piece of wood on the ship. The “Dagmar Aaen” is our home and our life insurance.

And the tasks we set for ourselves?

We were not able to carry out all of the things we had planned to. Despite the total commitment of all those involved, we were unable to land on the stormy islands Diego Ramirez, Ildefonso or Isla Noir in order to attach small  transmitters to Rockhopper penguins. But above all the wishes and the planned projects in these latitudes there is always the weather to consider. Landing on these islands was simply impossible – in spite of all our efforts.

The planned CO2-assessments in the ocean waters could not be carried out. The financial means for the purchase of the expensive measuring instruments were not available. Still, we hope that the necessary equipment can be provided for the measurements which began two years ago. The expedition “Ocean Change” and the journey of the “Dagmar Aaen” will continue.

Topics: Fishing Industry and Plastic Waste

On the plus side there are many positive things to report. Two documentaries for ZDF were completed as well as three further documentaries for “National Geographic Germany”. And finally we succeeded in reaching the Antarctic – a goal which is distant and difficult to reach.

We are still very concerned with the complex topic of the fishing industry as well as the assessment of plastic waste. In the further course of the journey with the “Dagmar Aaen” there is still a lot to undergo. Ushuaia is the turning point of the journey. From here we head north. In the middle of April the new crew and an overhauled ship will sail to the Le Maire Strait in the South Pacific and then head for the mouth of the Rio de la Plata – a distance of about 1.300 sea miles from Ushuaia. Autumn has set in here in the southern hemisphere. We are still sailing in the notorious “Roaring Forties”. It remains a sailing challenge.
Arved Fuchs