Written by: Elena Brambilla

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30. January 2016

ATLANTIC CROSSING: DONE!

Morocco has been a great experience, but after building up 15 prosthetics there, it had come the time to move on and get ready to face one of the biggest challenge for every sailor: crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

At first we had to move Imagine, our Lagoon 410, to the Canary Island, where we took care of every detail on the boat, in order to avoid finding ourselves in danger in the middle of the Ocean. Everything has passed an accurate check, starting from the rig, ending up with the bilges. As soon as the weather conditions got enough stabile to leave, we bought the last provisions and store them…. believe me, we never saw such a long bill!!!

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After a last good steak lunch, on the 5th December, we left the safe water of Las Palmas harbour direction Caribbean : a new feeling, difficult to tell, took place in our hearts. A mix of tension, adrenalin, respect and curiosity only big events are full of. We watched in our eyes, gave a last caress to our Imagine and set the sails: 2800 miles, infinite blue, waves, sun, wind, were waiting for us.

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The first 7 days have been a calm approach to the cross: we decided for a southwest course and set our spinnaker, supported by a moderate wind blowing into the sail. The sun was shining and the nights were mild. Sailing with an average speed of 6 knots, we thought to make it in time for X-MAS. Imagine was amazing, moving through the waves smoothly. Everyday schools of dolphins came to visit us and play with the boat, maybe curious to see which beautiful orange big fish was swimming out there, and I would dare to say that also Imagine enjoyed playing with them!

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Almost in front of Cape Verde the wind left us and we decided to turn on the engines in the hope it would have refresh again. But after two days of engines, a little conservative with the fuel consumption, we decided simply to turn everything off and wait for the wind. This has been an incredibly magical moment! Staying in the middle of the Atlantic, the water still like a mirror, we could play with a big old turtle, fish from the boat really tasty Mahi Mahi fishes and watch movies at night simply covered by a sheet of stars. Two more days passed like this and we will never forget the imagine of a small orange Lagoon calmly resting in the middle of the Atlantic.

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On the morning of the 17th December the wind came to knock again to our door, but this time without any courtesy: 5, 6, 7 Beaufort blowing into our back, high and stiff waves in cross sea. No chance anymore to set our light spinnaker. Supported only from our reefed main sail, Imagine was jumping, running, surfing down the waves and roaring. But she was still stabile and stiff, holding on wave after wave, shacked, smashed but still. We couldn’t buy a better boat than her!!! We got fast used to the new situation and went on with our daily duties on board, sleeping 3-4 hours each during the night, cooking, downloading the weather cast, reading, checking the boat. The first squalls came, overall overnight, and we had often to steer and watch out, but everything worked great.

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Unluckily, after four days of calm wind, we couldn’t make it to Saint Lucia for X-MAS, but we celebrated anyway an unforgettable X-MAS EVE on board rewarded by the biggest Mahi Mahi we fished during the all travel, a tasty dinner, presents and even a X-Mas tree!

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On the early hours of the 27th December we could see the profile of Saint Lucia: after sailing 2873 miles and crossing the Atlantic Ocean, we two and Imagine made it! How did we felt? Like after crossing an Ocean… there are no other words to describe it! Wow, we made it! As first we gave a good wash to Imagine, who was covered in salt and deserved only the best treatment. After few days we started the scouting of the patients supported by the Health Government of Saint Lucia, but about this we will write soon!

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Crossing the Ocean has been on of the strongest experiences of our lives! We gained, if possible, even more trust in each other and overall in our Imagine. We didn’t regret, not even for one second, the choice to buy our Lagoon. We have been instead so thankful to have such a stabile and trustable boat, easy to handle, amazing to live in and incredibly great to sail! But now it is already time to work and bring a little bit of hope also here: happiness can crosses Ocean and land everywhere!

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5. January 2016

Projekt Morokko finished

Ok it is a little late, but we managed to write a small blog about our experience in Morokko, which has been incredible great! We hope that while reading you could share a little our emotions and happines for the great work done there! ENJOY IT!!!

Project Morocco finally started! After two stormy days at sea, the crew of sailing4handicaps arrived safe in Morokko. Together with Christoph Ganter, our orthopedic mechanic, we started to handle our first patients in Marrakech. The smile on their faces is the best reward to all these efforts!

Second day at work in ‪‎Marrakech: it was a long day but we managed to prepare a lot. Our orthopedic mechanic, Christoph Ganter is a bomb and works without any stop. We are really proud of him and of Nada Tounesi, who is supporting us step by step translating, planning and being simply always there. Thank’s to people like them this project can fly!

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Third day: the dirty work can start! We worked all day with gips until we were completely covered with it. The positive copies of the stamps are ready: our Michelangelo-Christoph preparred them as only a great sculptor could do. And now back on board to build up the prosthetics… We are simply looking forward for it!

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Day 4: the Day of the truth!!! After years of preparation today we made it! The first containers have been build up on board!!! We worked all day long between the cockpit and the saloon of our Imagine. Our generator FischerPanda allowed us to use all the tools and machines necessary for the work, which demand a lots of energy supply. We are so proud of him! Christoph Ganter gave once again proof of his ability and Wojtek and Elli supported him sewing, cutting, building up parts… It is an incredibile feeling to see all our dreams becoming true! Thank to Rupes, ‪‎BIW, ‪‎WIHA, ‪‎WerkzeugSchmidt, FischerPanda, ‪‎WagnerPolymertechnik, ‪‎SommerKompressoren our ‪‎Lagoon 410 S2 has been transformed into an orthopedic atelier!

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Day 5: another long day of work on board is done. 6 containers have been finished!!! We are incredibly happy and looking forward for the next steps!

Day 6: our team works hard and without any break… But now up in bed because tomorrow there will be a big surprise… We are looking forward for it!

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Day 7: D-DAY!!!

WHAT A DAY!!! After years of preparation, expectations, work, difficulties finally today we realized our big dream: our first prosthetic, build up on board of Imagine, has been completed and donated. To see a young guy staying on his legs and moving the first steps without support in front of his mum crying has been one of the biggest emotions in our life!!! Thank’s to all of you for the support, to Christoph Ganter for his unique work, to our sponsors and supporters. Maybe it is only one drop in the ocean, but for someone this is the all ocean!

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Day 9: a lot of work has been done on board. Almost all the prosthetics are ready… Christoph Ganter and the crew of Imagine are working hard!

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Day 11: the crew of Imagine and Christoph Ganter worked hard in the last days but finally we could donate the first prosthetics! We never could imagine how thankful and happy these people could be… The small Khalid experimented for the first time in his life the feeling of having legs…and paied us back with smiles and jokes! This work is amazing!!!!

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Day 12: 5 patients more got their prosthetic today and they were unbelivable happy! The highlight of the day? Imad, 7 years old and amputee since 2, got his first prosthetic. He put it on, jump down of the bench and started to walk around and up and down the stairs, letting all of us speachless… What to say? AMAZING!!!

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Day 14: the last day! After every patient has got his prosthetic, we train all togheter to learn to walk and work on the muscles. It’s amazing to be all togheter and see how much the patients are supporting each other! We are really proud of our work and of the incredibile ability of Christoph Ganter in building up protesis in every condition!!!

Sailing4handicaps project Morocco successfully concluded!
 After almost 3 weeks of work between Marrakech and Mohammedia, we are now ready to go on and sail to the Canary Islands where Imagine will get a full check out before crossing the Ocean.
 Morocco was a great experience: we build up 15 prosthetics for a total of 14 patients, all of them already walking with it… We will bring each of them in our heart and remember their smiles of happiness: this is our biggest victory! A special thank goes to Nada Tounesi for her help on spot and to the great Christoph Ganter who worked day and night with incredibile passion! He is amazing.
Thank’s to all our sponsors and supporters who belived in us since the beginning and to all the people who are working at home supporting us. 
And in the end thank’s to all of you our friends: your daily support, your words and posts have been a great push! 
And now sails up.. Next stop we are coming!

25. October 2015

SAILING4HANDICAPS: MISSION STARTED

That’s true, we have to admit it: our project has started since some months but our blog has been empty… It sounds maybe strange but even now in the Third Millennium it is not an easy thing to find internet connection, overall in the middle of the sea! So here we are finally to update you over the last months and days!

At the beginning of the summer we left the old cold Germany direction south and leaving behind us miles and miles and visiting several European nations. Maybe you could wonder what it is like to live on a boat… the answer is simple: one emotion after the other!!! The sea and his inhabitants are so fabulous to let you breathless, the heart stops to beat for a moment, just to start to jump fast again as soon as the weaves grow up and the wind blows strong into the sails. Imagine is amazing: our small baby brought us safe till Portugal, sometimes sailing like a princess, sometimes a little bored moving under the noise of her engines, a few times, luckily, jumping and sliding under and over stormy waves. It has been also for us an important test before crossing the Atlantic, but we are a really strong team and we never give up!

After months in Europe the moment to sail till Morocco where our first patients were already waiting for us had finally come. Easy to say, not that easy to do: a low pressure localized on the East Atlantic has decided to travel with us for all the way with wind in our face constantly over 30 kn. Can you imagine a flying Imagine in the middle of the ocean steered by a super Captain Wojtek and with Elena (unluckly with a cast on her leg) jumping around on one foot helping him??? This is exactly the way Morocco welcomed us. Our plan was to land in Safi, but the storm has forced us to head towards the Bay of Mohammedia where a small but really friendly marina offered us a good shelter.

Here we are! Not even the time to settle down that we have started to work. Three days ago our orthopedic mechanic Christoph Ganter, a good friend and working on the side of Wojtek since years, joined us from Germany. Christoph landed in Marrakesch, where an orthopedic center where we can work is located. Two hours after is arrival, our unstoppable Bavarian was already at work. The first two days have passed meeting the patients, interviewing them and doing all the measuring and gips work in order to get a negative copy of their stumps. A long job, if you consider that we meet 15 people with completely different problems, ages and origins. But they all have one thing in common: their smile in front oft he big treasure they are going to receive.

What does it mean to loose a leg in Morocco? The exclusion from the everyday life, the lost of your job and huge difficulties. Starting from the kid who doesn’t anymore go to school because the other kids make fun of him, ending with the father who would like to move again to play with his two small daughters… you can understand how much those smile are true and are filling our hearts!!!

Third day at work: only the strongest can take part to it! The negative copies of the stumps must be filled with gips in order to get their positive: we are completely covered with white podwer…I think we will need to ask our washing machine an extra effort tonight! Christoph is modeling the raw gips as an expert sculptor… if it would not be for his unique bavarian accent, I would be tempted to call him Michelangelo! Tonight we go back to the boat where tomorrow we will start to build up the first prosthetics on board… we are looking forward for it!!!

Stay tuned!

16. May 2015

A new bimini for Imagine

Last year, while spending some days in Heiligenhafen, we met Katrin und Wolfgang Franzmann. We told them that we had some problems with our bimini. Katrin and Wolfgang are the owners of the shop Franzmann-Segel and know this business really good.

We faced the challenge to build up a working station for our orthopedic technician, which he can use even with a lot of wind and rain. So far we had only a kind of sun tent.

We explained Katrin and Wolfgang for what we needed the bimini and that it should have also been laterally closed.

Wolfgang listened everything silently, thought shortly about it and came out with a lot of ideas.

In fact, it was not easy to cover the large area, but the trained sailmaker hasn’t let himself to be put off.

We have agreed that Katrin and Wolfgang would have visit us in the winter hangar to take all the measures. Until then, the two would still have think over how the bimini would have looked once finished.

As soon as the two arrived in the winter hangar, they started to measure. First of all they made a cover-copy of the bimini.

IMG_1390Katrin and Wolfgang during the measurments work

Then they returned to their shop in Heiligenhafen. We were able to be on spot and get an idea of how Wolfgang and Katrin would have manufactured our bimini. Elli loves sewing and was quite amazed about the powerful pneumatic sewing machines.

Franzmann-Segel is a pretty much new company: the two build it up only last year. But the quality of their work has been known quickly around!

Established sailmakers, like the Segelwerkstatt Stade, are now collaborating with Franzmann Segel: in Heiligenhafen you can now find a very competent provider of sails, boat covers and boat equipment of any kind.

Shortly after we put Imagine into water this year, our bimini was finished. We were amazed of the dimensions. Now, the orthopedic technician can withstand all weather conditions and hopefully build many prostheses.

IMG_2476     Katrin and Wolfgang during the installation of the bimini
IMG_2513The finished bimini is perfect! Now the Orthopedic can always work without that wind and rain will stop him.

From a simple request to a great friendship and a terrific support for sailing4handicaps project!!!

Thank you very much Katrin and Wolfgang from Franzmann-Segel!

s4h Crew.

21. April 2015

Imagine gets new sails from Dimension-Polyant and Seglerwerkstatt Stade

What is the heart of a sailing boat?

For us the sails!

We thought for a long time about which sails we should take. The market offers a lot of good sellers and many more different materials. It’s easy to get lost in all these informations.

Hydra Net, Hydra Radial, Cruising Laminat, Racing Laminat and so on. This is just a small glimpse of the diversity of the canvas. To get a little more experience we thought we go to a “THE” cloth manufacturer, Dimension-Polyant.

The Vice President of the company and marketing responsible, Robert Kühnen, took his time and introduced us to the matter of the canvas. The project sailing4handicaps played of course a major role because the needs of the crew will be partly something outside the normal sailing routes. For our project we need a very stable cloth with good sailing characteristics.

Our choice has in the end been a  radially Hydra Net. This cloth is comparable to a laminate cloth but very durable.

Now we got the cloth, but what’s next?

The next step has been to find a very good sailmaker.

For us it was important that the sailmaker wouldn’t have just take the measure and  would have then produce the sails somewhere in the East because we also wanted to follow the production process.

For us it was also important that the sailmaker would have already equipped one or two long cruising  sailing boats himself.

Also in this situation Robert Kühnen of Dimension-Polyant helped us. He put us in contact with the Seglerwerkstatt Stade.

There we were welcome from Jens Nickel and his team.

Our expectations were more than exceeded! He himself is a sailor and has already equipped with a set of sails a lot of  long cruisers.

First, he wanted to that a close look to our project and our sailing areas.

Our experience and sailing style was aswell an important topic.

After all the questions have been answered, the measurements were made. Another main actor of the Seglerwerkstatt Stade jumped in in this job, Simon Klaas.

Simon Klaas is himself currently active in the sailing Bundesliga and has worked intensively with our new sails.

It was also to Klaas that the sails will be exposed to the harshest conditions and will thus be extremely stressed. The highlight was without any doubt the striking of the new sail. Shortly after that we had our first training with  the new sails with wind blowing up to 34 knots. The sails have been amazing (of course reefed)!!!

Thus, we are not done yet with the Seglerwerkstat Stade! The guys offered to come on board to trim the sail with optimal adjust.

In the last weeks we have learn a lot about sailcloths and sailing! Thank to Dimension-Polaynt and the  Seglerwerkstatt Stade for their great support!

IMG_2185For Klaas it is never too late… If he tackles something then he pulls it through too.

IMG_2186The last corections have been made.

IMG_2187We checked the new reffs position on the sails.

IMG_2188This results in a lot of questions. But luckly Klass has always an appropriate answer. We got an impression of what kind of work is done in a sailing manufactury.

IMG_2287_2D-day has come. Have the measures done good? Will everything fit? The tension was great!

IMG_2289The poles in the sail will later give it stability.

IMG_2295_2At first we lift the jib.

IMG_2314_2Pictures of the main sail will follow

4. November 2014

The crew of sailing4handicaps has receved the first donation from MARX and YANMAR.

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We have already reported about the commitment of MARX and YANMAR.

Shortly before the Hanseboot the time to meet came. The crew of sailing4handicaps have been invited from MARX to go and visit them in Hamburg where they picked important spare parts for the two on-board 3JH4 YANMAR engines. This ensures the crew to be able next year to leave for their mission.

Before the long travel will strat, the engines will be treated for the last time for the winter.

The contribute of MARX is decisive for the implementation of the project and the safety of the crew on board. We are really pleased to have MARX and YANMAR as reliable partner at our side who will round-the-clock advice and assist us.

2. October 2014

Werkzeug Schmidt GmbH supports sailing4handicaps

There are people who don’t make a big „Tamtam“. Hans Schmidt, chef of the company Werkzeug Schmidt, is one of them!

When we have met Hans Schmidt to introduce him sailing4handicaps, he listened to us patiently and gave us directly his support. He didn’t need any budgetplan, he simply took the project  sailing4handicaps on his heart and started to help.

The same day, togheter with our Orthopädiemechaniker Christoph Ganter , we put down a list of material and tools that we would need on board (togheter with our tools from Wiha) to build up the prothesis.

Only few days later we got all the tools.

Another step in this project is done and we thank a lot Hans Schmidt for his support.

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The company

The company has been grounded form Hans und Regina Schmidt on the 01.01.1955 . In the year 1960they moved to Friedrichstrasse 55, Kaiserslautern, Germany. Hans Schmidt junior took the place of the dead fater in the year 1980 and in 1985 he changed the name of the company in Hans Schmidt GmbH. Hans Schmidt is the chef and manager of the company. The target of the company is the Industry sector and the private use trougth the selling of tools, of maschine for the wood and the metal.

Contacts

Hans Schmidt Handels- GmbH Werkzeug, Maschinen- Industriebedarf

Friedrichstrasse 55 
67655 Kaiserslautern

Fon: 0631 36496 – 0 
Fax: 0631 66675
Email: info@nullwerkzeug-schmidt.de
Web:   www.werkzeug-schmidt.de

Geschäftführer: Hans Schmidt

26. August 2014

A new logo for our partner

New colour, new logo.

After talking with Jens Langer, Marketing director of Fischer Panda, we have changed the Fischer Panda Logo so that it could fit our new colour.  Marcus Ortloff from the agency Printerduo, has helped us and used his creativity.

Here is the result. Do you like it?

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Yours s4h-Crew

6. August 2014

MARX AND YANMAR SUPPORT sailing4handicaps

MARX and Yanmar are very happy to support „sailing4handicaps“during its circumnavigation with Yanmar spare parts and technical support. Often we are looking for arguments why we should support a certain project. With “sailing4handicaps” it was vice versa.  We had to ask ourselves if we could find only one reason why we should not support „sailing4handicaps“. We found none!

Mr. Czyz and the story of his life have deeply touched us. Despite being handicapped Mr. Czyz found back into life; participates actively in normal life and has achieved gigantic sporting successes. Without his positive attitude towards life and without perfectly fitting prostheses this would not have been possible. Now he and his girl friend Mrs. Brambilla – she is the current Italian champion in high jump – want to share this knowledge with other amputated persons. Therefore during their circumnavigation they are going to construct perfectly fitting prostheses for other amputated in their in-vehicle orthopedic workshop. To achieve this, precise work and a perfect technique are absolutely essential.

MARX and YANMAR wish all the best to Mr. Czyz, Mrs. Bramilla and to their common project.

About MARX

Founded more than 100 years ago, in 1905, MARX reliably meets the technical requirements of our business units: time recording and security systems, automotive technology, industrial engines and marine requirements. 1905 MARX and Co. was founded by Carl Gustav Marx in Hamburg. While in the twenties MARX mainly concentrated on the production, leasing, repair and the installation of taximeters and in general on automotive products, from 1955 MARX began also with the distribution of marine engines. Today with two more business fields, the distribution of industrial engines and time recording and security systems MARX has a wide spread. More than 100 years after MARX still is a family owned company and since 1996 is managed successfully by Robert Marx.

MARX has a total of around 70 employees based at two locations in Hamburg. In the location “City Süd” are located the shop, the marine department and department for the time recording and security systems, in Allermöhe there are the industrial and automotive departments, the logistics center with more than 10.000 spare parts as well as the workshop for marine engines with it’s ultra modern maintenance and diagnostic technology. We offer more than just a product. From planning to installation we assist with qualified consulting and technical support. The competence and quality of our work aims to exceed your expectations with regard to consulting, solution and service. Put our premium products to the test: Yanmar and Neander engines, Mase generators, Kobelt control and steering systems, RCS push and pull cables, Hefko HVAC and refrigeration technology and many more.

About YANMAR

The Yanmar company began its life in 1912 in Osaka, Japan, as Yamaoka Hatsudoki Kosakusho. By 1921, the company adopted the name Yanmar. Yanmar began its long relationship with diesel engines when it developed the world’s first practical small diesel engine in 1933
During his studies in Munich before world war two the founder Magokichi Yamaoka developed a special relationship with Germany and with Rudolf Diesel, whose researches he considered to be very interesting and whom he often came to see at Augsburg. After world war two Magokichi Yamaoka as proprietor of the Yanmar Diesel factory got the MAN license for the production of small diesel engines. Till today Augsburg has a partnership with the Japanese cities of Amagasaki and Nagahama – both Yanmar head offices. Nowadays Yanmar is one of the most renowned und reliable manufacturers of ultra modern and efficient diesel engines plus spare and ware parts and a worldwide after sales service. Yanmar engines are used in a wide range of applications, including seagoing vessels, construction equipment, agricultural equipment and generator sets. For more than 30 years MARX has been exclusive importer for Yanmar engines, spare and ware parts in Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In these countries MARX works with more than 80 authorized Yanmar dealers to ensure that you always get the best service.

 

4. August 2014

RUPES SUPPORTS sailing4handicaps

Build up prothetics is not a small thing. To do it on board of a catamaran, in the middle of the sea, is even more difficult.

But sailing4handicaps doesn’t stop in front of any obstacle and has decided to face also this adventure to help the people in need.

The work of the club members alone would not be enough without the help of excellent partners.

We are proud to present our collaboration with Rupes, an italian brand world leader in the professional tool market. Francesco Ginocchio, owner of the company, has offered a great, heartfull and direct help to the club.

Rupes has been foundamental in the building up phases of the prothetics on board and in the renovating works on the boat  itself, thank’s to the supply of professional tools of amazing quality, light and practical, features which perfectly marry the needs of the work on board of the catamaran.

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A look on the company:

Being international leaders means being intuitive, quick, creative and innovative.
RUPES has been following these principles since 1947 and today, thanks to its R&D department and to the exceptionally high quality of its products, it is considered one of the leading players of the international professional tool market.

RUPES is a solid manufacturing group with 4 production sites and a capillary sales network serving the key markets: 55 agents supervise the national territory, while 3 direct branches and 60 importers guarantee the distribution of RUPES products worldwide, from Europe to Japan, South Africa and Australia.

RUPES is the ideal Made in Italy partner for professional tooling and related applications.

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