The boat is still in winter storage on Fehmarn. But on April 20th it should be in the water. If everything goes well on the subsequent test drive, the First actually changes hands, and nothing stands in the way of Michael Hölzen and his friend's planned trip to England.
Well, almost nothing more. Because a little something is still missing. The outboard is already there. And already a dinghy. But a life raft, for example, is still missing. And a few other things as well.
That is why the second part of MichHölzen's boathouse sailing podcast is about equipment issues - including exciting insights. Just click on the play button with the arrow and off you go. The next parts will follow in the coming days.
To the background:
The Berliner MichHölzen has been a passionate sailor for 15 years. It all started on the Wannsee, the first capsize, but also the first excursion on your own bow with an inland permit just acquired - "priceless", as he says. After that he never let go of sailing with all its facets, step by step he broadened his horizons.
Podcast author Michael Hölzen
This summer he would like to sail a very special trip that he has long dreamed of: around England.
The problem: Holz does not own a boat. And he doesn't want one either. Charter, borrow or sail somewhere with him is also out of the question. So what to do
Without further ado, Hölzen made a decision: he became a temporary boat owner. In other words, only for the duration of the trip. Specifically, he buys a yacht shortly before the start of the trip, which he wants to sell again immediately afterwards.
But whether that works without ending up with a big hole in your wallet?
"Almost all sailing enthusiasts just shook their heads when they heard about the plan," says Hölzen. And also various boat dealers to whom he presented waved them off. He did not let that confuse him.
MichHölzen is now the owner of a used First 30 from Beneteau. The boat is still on land, but in a few weeks he wants to set off on his long voyage.
As a full-time radio journalist, MichHölzen regularly reports on his trip in his own podcast called "Bootschaft".
Podcasts can be listened to on the way to work, on the way to the ship or at home in the evening or at the weekend on the sofa. Or on a rainy port day in the boat cabin.