The sailing days on the North Sea were perfect! We headed south with a light backstay breeze. After stopovers in Hirtshals, Hanstholm and Hvide Sande, we made the challenging approach to Föhr. The fairway to the popular Frisian island is narrow and winding, but well buoyed.

As the Dagmar Aaen has a draught of 2.5 meters, the anchor was dropped a few miles off the island for safety. Waiting for the tide. Just under two hours before high tide, we made our way safely to Wyk on Föhr. We were already expected there. The harbour master had assigned us a central berth in the old harbour.

As soon as we were moored, two bicycles were brought to us so that we could be mobile. Hospitality par excellence! Here in the Frisian Wadden Sea, the focus was once again on science. Arved was invited to a high-level workshop. The aim of the “floating platforms seminar” was to intensify cooperation between operators of scientifically oriented ships (sailing for science) and researchers. The renowned Swiss “Swiss Polar Institute” and its founder, the entrepreneur and science patron Frederik Paulsen, whose family has its origins on Föhr, had invited the participants.

The conference venue was the Waalem winery in Nieblum, run by Frederik Paulsen. The list of participants was impressive: there were representatives of French polar research projects, experts from Switzerland, New Zealand and Denmark, researchers from the well-known British Antarctic Survey (BAS) from England and top scientists such as Antje Boetius, the former head of the Alfred Wegener Institute, who now conducts research in the USA.

Exciting from a German perspective: Boris Herrmann, the charismatic professional sailor from Hamburg, was also at the start. The 44-year-old Vendee Globe conqueror recently launched a research sailing ship (Malizia Explorer) alongside his racing yacht, which he intends to use as a working platform for scientists in polar regions.

The highlight for the Dagmar Aaen crew: Frederik Paulsen (who also financed the top-class Museum Kunst der Westküste on Föhr, for example) invited all participants to a reception on our ship one evening. With fantastic weather and delicious wine from the Waalem winery, Arved was able to present the history of the Dagmar Aaen and the background to our Ocean Change expeditions to around 30 guests. Every corner of the shark cutter was marveled at by the participants.

Für den meisten Gesprächsstoff sorgte aber ein Akkuschrauber, den wir einsetzen , um die 500 Meter lange Halteleine der CTD Tiefensonde aufzutrommeln. Diese simple Technik begeisterte die Gäste, weil sie zeigt, dass man auch mit kostengünstigen, selbstgebauten Installationen wissenschaftlich relevante Daten sammeln kann.

Arveds Seminar Bilanz: „Der Workshop auf dem Weingut Waalem war für alle Beteiligten sehr wertvoll. Die Vernetzung ganz unterschiedlicher Projekte hat begonnen, wir alle werden uns in der Zukunft enger austauschen, Erkenntnisse teilen und damit die polare Forschung noch intensiver unterstützen können. Mein besonderer Dank gilt unserem Gastgeber Frederik Paulsen und seinem Team. Frederik Paulsen hat durch sein Engagement die Perspektiven der „floating platforms im arktischen Raum ganz maßgeblich weiterentwickelt“ – soweit Arved Fuchs.

Wir sind jetzt wieder auf See. Unser nächstes Ziel ist Helgoland.