Berlin Students Set Sail for RORC Transatlantic Race to Antigua

The RORC Transatlantic Race, departing from Lanzarote to Antigua, has drawn a diverse fleet of competitors, including seasoned sailors and newcomers. Among them is Matthias Kahnt, a 39-year-old skipper leading a novice crew from Berlin’s Akademischer Segler-Verein, who view this journey as both a thrilling challenge and a significant learning experience.

Kahnt’s vessel, Walross 4, is a Nissen 56 that has logged over 130,000 nautical miles, including a global circumnavigation and participation in the prestigious Sydney-Hobart Race. For his young crew, this race is a chance to embrace a lifelong dream of offshore sailing. “We have done a lot of provisioning… I think it’s the biggest challenge for the young crew, to calculate how much water we need for the crossing,” Kahnt explained.

Focus on Fundamentals and Team Dynamics

The crew will operate using a classic two-watch system, ensuring that sailors are well-rested and ready for the demands of the sea. Each watch consists of four crew members, alternating shifts every six hours during the day and four hours at night. Kahnt emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “The mood is most important… if there’s any injury that would be the worst case. So, be healthy and don’t get any injuries; that will be the biggest challenge for us.”

While the fastest boats in the race are aiming for a five-day crossing, Kahnt expressed a preference for a more cautious approach, happy with a crossing time of up to 16 days. “The Atlantic is quite a big distance,” he noted, underscoring the significance of safety and crew well-being during the voyage.

Celebrating International Relations

This race is part of a larger initiative aimed at fostering sailing and international camaraderie. Following the transatlantic crossing, Walross 4 is scheduled to arrive in New York on July 4, 2025. The occasion marks the 250th anniversary of the German-American relationship, and Kahnt intends to celebrate it with fellow sailors and tall ships. “We are an ambassador of Berlin city,” he said.

For the students, participating in the RORC Transatlantic Race offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience while enjoying the thrill of competitive sailing. Kahnt aims to provide them with not only sailing skills but also lasting memories from this remarkable journey.

As they embark on this ambitious venture, the crew of Walross 4 embodies the spirit of adventure and the pursuit of knowledge that defines the world of offshore sailing.