"Sailing a great last leg!" This is the comeback plan of the OTTO WULFF DUO Burke/Fink

Damage to the mast has shattered Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink's dream of sailing around the world. However, the OTTO WULFF duo's sailing trip around the world is not over yet. The plan for the comeback on the last Globe40 leg from Brazil to Lorient is in place.

"On March 29, we'll start the race again and sail another great last leg," promises Melwin. The starting signal will then be given in Recife, Brazil, for the final leg of the Globe40, which will take the fleet around 4,300 nautical miles back to the French sailing mecca of Lorient. The regatta around the globe began there last September. "Finishing the race is the most important thing for us," says Lennart.

"Lennart and Melwin will celebrate a great comeback at the Globe40 in Recife. They can continue to count on the support of OTTO WULFF on their journey," says Nils Wendler, Managing Director of OTTO WULFF Bauunternehmung.

At the end of November, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the dream of sailing around the world was dramatically shattered for the two Hamburg residents. The so-called "boomerang", a massive connecting piece from the mast to the spreader, broke. This serious damage forced Burke/Fink to abandon the third leg of the 30,000 nautical mile regatta from La Réunion to Sydney and return to the starting port. Bitter for the two offshore sailors, who had defied a loss of sail on the first leg and put in a spectacular 600-nautical-mile race to catch up on the second leg.

Nils Wendler: "It is admirable how committed and motivated Lennart and Melwin continue to work on their dream and defy all challenges. They are not discouraged by setbacks, adapt quickly to new situations, make decisions and get on with it. They make the best of it. We also live these convictions and values at OTTO WULFF."

Lennart and Melwin quickly developed a comeback plan that will separate the sailing team for the time being. At the end of January, Melwin will fly back to La Réunion to repair the racing yacht with the spare parts in his luggage. A surveyor and experts will be on board to assist with the repairs, as the mast will have to be lowered and examined ultrasonically for possible deeper damage.

If everything goes smoothly, Melwin and his team will sail the "Next Generation Boating Around the World" from La Réunion to Recife with a stopover in Cape Town at the beginning of February. An adventure within an adventure: the crossing will take 30 to 40 days and will involve the challenge of sailing against the current and the wind, in other words against nature.

During this time, Lennart will stay in Germany and look after the young entrepreneurs' business. "There's also a lot going on in our companies. In addition to our shipyard site in Hamburg, we also have our new one in Kiel, which needs a lot of care at the moment. Our team is very happy when we are there and can provide active support," explains Lennart.

Nils Wendler: "Lennart and Melwin live the team spirit, on their boat and in their company. We do the same at OTTO WULFF. Only together as a team can we overcome challenges and move forward."

In mid-March, Lennart will make his way to Recife to support Melwin in his preparations for the final leg. "Then we can fully concentrate on the race, start with renewed energy and go full throttle. We're really looking forward to it and want to show what we're made of once again," says Lennart.

The big goal: Burke/Fink want to be there at the finish in France around April 17 and then sail back home. On May 2, the big welcome-back party will take place at Sandtorhafen in Hamburg - after what will hopefully be a brilliant sailing comeback.

A text by Matthias Heidrich