Fascination of sailing: 4 Frankfurt residents and their great passion

For some, it's a sport, for others, a feeling of freedom—but for all, it's a lifestyle. Whether on the Main River between Frankfurt's skyscrapers, on the high seas in the Caribbean, or in a quiet bay off the Greek coast: sailing combines physical challenge, mental strength, and a profound experience of nature. Four passionate sailors from Frankfurt share why they keep heading out on the water.

Michael Rubin: Frankfurt City Sailing Champion A lifestyle

Sailing is a lifestyle that gives you freedom, says Michael Rubin. The management consultant is Frankfurt's city sailing champion and heads the sailing department at Makkabi Germany. "It makes a big difference whether I'm sailing alone on my small dinghy or on vacation with friends on a charter boat. When I sail a few laps on the Main after work or participate in the competitions, I'm completely on my own.

It's hard to believe, but the Main River is a wonderful yet very challenging sailing area: The skyscraper canyons create downdrafts that can quickly shift, and there's also the commercial shipping traffic. Let me put it this way: Anyone who can sail on the Main can sail anywhere, and that also helps in other waters around the world.

“Body and mind must work together, in harmony with nature.” – Michael Rubin

When I charter a boat with friends as a skipper on vacation, it's all about teamwork – and it doesn't matter whether we're on a relaxing sailing trip or a challenging regatta. I love exploring different areas and have already sailed to many: whether the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Seychelles, or Australia's Great Barrier Reef: each area presents you with new challenges. The prerequisite is always: body and mind must work together, in harmony with nature.

Close to the wind

For me as a management consultant, sailing is also a life motto when it comes to tackling projects: If you want to be successful, you have to prepare, assemble a team, make a plan, and keep your eye on the goal. But you also have to be prepared to make new decisions when conditions change. The same rules apply to sailing, for example: If the wind is from behind, the boat is easy to steer and sailing is comfortable – but you can still miss the target.

On the other hand, if you sail close to the wind, you'll experience a lot of wind and water – but you'll become more stable and always have your sights set on the goal. And at the end, you reflect on what you've experienced, overcome setbacks, or celebrate successes. One of my most beautiful trips was about nine years ago: We sailed with friends on a large catamaran from Tahiti to Bora Bora, where my wife and I were married on the South Sea beach. This experience will forever remain one of the most beautiful of my life."

Johanna Herdt: Once across the Atlantic

Crossing the Atlantic is the dream of many ambitious sailing enthusiasts. Johanna Herdt made it come true. The Bundesbank employee sailed with two skippers and a crew of six in four weeks from Tenerife via the Cape Verde Islands to Grenada in the Caribbean. Night and day watches, cooking and washing up, repairs, navigation, and maneuvering, eight people together in a confined space: "There's nothing more strenuous and yet more beautiful," says the 27-year-old.

Basic trust and tolerance

"You need a basic trust in the boat and the people, a keen sense of empathy, and a large portion of tolerance are also helpful. There's always something to do on board, and getting stuck in is part of it, so it was never boring. I haven't even had a chance to read a chapter of my book yet.

“It's as if the ocean is breathing steadily beneath you as it slowly lifts you up and down with the boat.” – Johanna Herdt

In four weeks, maybe two or three freighters passed us, and once, the Aida cruise ship actually passed us. Otherwise, we were completely alone, seeing only 2,000 kilometers of water in all directions. Most of the time on this route, you sail against the trade winds, and the waves slowly roll under the boat from behind. As impressive as the long, drawn-out waves can sometimes be, it's more like the ocean is constantly breathing beneath you, slowly lifting you and the boat up and down.

When we were almost at our destination, having only planned to spend two or three more days at sea, the wind suddenly died, and it took almost six more days to reach our destination. But when Grenada finally appeared after a total of 28 days at sea, most of us had tears in our eyes, it was so overwhelming.

This summer, I'll be focusing on training and regattas with the Frankfurt Yacht Club's Bundesliga team, perhaps even a relaxing sailing trip off Greece or Sardinia. Holiday sailing is relaxing for me, almost like camping on the water. You're in the fresh air, away from those giant hotel complexes, and you experience beautiful bays that are inaccessible from land. Even though I could skipper myself, I usually book myself on sailing trips for younger people; there are numerous providers for this.

It's great to bond as a team on board with people you don't know yet. And on every trip, there's that wonderful moment when you leave the harbor, raise the sail, and turn off the engine. Then there's only silence, wind, waves, and sun – and you just glide along."

Josef Oelschläger: 1st Chairman of the Frankfurt Yacht Club

Josef Oelschläger, Chairman of the Frankfurt Yacht Club, describes the magical moment of pure sailing happiness , like this: "You motor out of the harbor. Then the engine is turned off. Suddenly, all you hear are the sounds of nature. A wonderful, vibrant silence. And you experience a sense of inner peace and absolute freedom."

“The sounds of the waves and the wind, the proximity to nature, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, fascinated me from the very first moment.” – Josef Oelschläger

Inner peace and absolute freedom

Oelschläger began sailing 15 years ago. The initial spark was an invitation to sail on a yacht: "I was blown away. The sounds of the waves and the wind, the proximity to nature, far away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, fascinated me from the very first moment." He earned his sailing license on the Main River, joined the Frankfurt Yacht Club, of which he has been chairman since November 2022, and enjoys both competitive and recreational sailing.

Explore the area with folding bikes

"For me, sailing is an experience of nature and pure passion. A beautiful, ideal world in which you're constantly busy: You have to make plans and coordinate with others, keep the boat and yourself in good shape. Otherwise, you just do what you feel like doing. I've been retired since last year and, together with my husband, have fulfilled our dream of owning our own sailing yacht. Our Timpe Pe is moored in Kiel on the Baltic Sea.

Last summer, we primarily sailed around Sweden; this time, our rough destination is Oslo. We're not set on anything and are just seeing where we like it. Wind and weather also determine how far we get. If we find a nice place, we'll stay for a few days, get the folding bikes off the boat, and explore the area."

The Frankfurt Yacht Club has grown to 211 members, primarily younger members, in recent years and is open to everyone. This year, the FYC is participating in the German Sailing League for the first time, becoming the first club in Hesse to do so. Oelschläger proudly states that they qualified right away. The FYC offers training and continuing education as well as training support for children, teenagers, and adults, license courses, sporting events, and regattas.

Dr. Rupert Hengster: Sea, Sky, Horizon & Harbor

Making yourself comfortable while sailing with friends is exactly what Dr. Rupert Hengster enjoys. The financial advisor holds a skipper's license, but also enjoys having others do the work: "I can handle all the processes myself and lend a hand, but I also like to just lie on deck for a couple of hours while the boat glides over the waves. The peace and the vastness fascinate me. As a nature lover, it's always beautiful to experience how the sea and sky blend together on the horizon.

“Enter a harbor, eat, smoke a cigarillo, drink wine, watch other boats and people, see and be seen.” – Dr. Rupert Hengster

We always charter a boat, in Croatia or the Cyclades, cruise around, and then anchor somewhere in a picturesque bay. Relax, sunbathe, and swim. In the late afternoon, I love to enter a beautiful harbor, on Mykonos or Paros, for example. Go out to eat, smoke cigarillos, drink wine , watch other boats and people, see and be seen.

Meditate and reflect

I want to have friends around me on board. When my wife and I meet new people, we always ask ourselves: Do we like them enough to spend a week on a sailboat with them? Going on a sailing trip with strangers, some of whom I end up not getting along with, isn't a pleasant prospect for me. On a sailboat, you quickly learn about a person's character, and of course, you always have to make compromises. In the Salzkammergut region, where I come from, I also enjoy sailing on the lakes, on a small boat, all by myself, and meditating and reflecting.

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