“Giving up is not an option!” OTTO WULFF Duo Burke/Fink battles to complete its circumnavigation of the globe

A loud bang in the early morning in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and it felt like it was all over for Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink. The “boomerang,” the part of the mast on which the spreader sits, broke on the Class40 racing yacht of the two offshore sailors.

It was a shock for the OTTO WULFF duo, who had to abandon the third leg of the Globe40 regatta, covering 30,000 nautical miles around the globe. Fortunately, the mast of the “Next Generation Boating Around the World” is still standing, but it can only be subjected to minimal stress until Lennart and Melwin reach the island to repair their boat.

“We're giving it our all and will be back in the race”

“We're extremely sad and disappointed, but giving up is not an option. We're continuing to give it our all and will be back in the race,” said the two sailors.

When the damage occurred under normal conditions, the duo reacted courageously and correctly, securing themselves and the mast. They immediately set a northern course to avoid the impending storms in the south. At three to five knots, the two are now making their way towards La Réunion, always careful to protect the mast.

OTTO WULFF supports the duo

These are difficult hours for Lennart and Melwin, who are drawing a lot of strength from the encouragement and support they are receiving, especially from OTTO WULFF. “They are all great people who are doing everything they can to help us show what we are capable of and grow with our tasks. It's incredible,” said Lennart.

OTTO WULFF stands firmly by Lennart and Melwin and their courageous project, especially in these difficult times.

"OTTO WULFF is 100 percent behind Lennart and Melwin, even in this challenging phase. We will overcome this situation together and continue on our journey with our sailing duo. We stand together and are proud of what Lennart and Melwin are achieving," said Nils Wendler, Managing Director of OTTO WULFF Bauunternehmung.

Tackling and solving problems

Problems, both small and large, are just as much a part of offshore sailing as they are of OTTO WULFF's project business. We tackle, plan, build, strive to deliver the best performance and make dreams come true. Despite the most careful planning, things can still go wrong and conditions can change completely.

The important thing is not to shy away from problems, but to tackle them head-on.

Nils Wendler: “Lennart and Melwin have once again demonstrated their courage and ability to tackle problems and find solutions. That's what we stand for at OTTO WULFF, too. We face challenging situations, find solutions, make decisions, and move forward. In doing so, we always keep our eyes on the goal of delivering the best possible result in the end.”

The journey continues for Lennart and Melwin, on a different route than planned, but with just as much drive, conviction, and passion. We will continue to closely accompany them on their road to comeback and support them in making decisions that are as courageous as they are well-considered.

A text by Matthias Heidrich