Successful comeback! OTTO WULFF sailing duo Burke & Fink start the Globe40 final

What a journey and what an emotional finale: comebackers Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink have mastered the last leg of the Globe40 and finished third in Lorient. A worthy end to a memorable regatta for the OTTO WULFF sailing duo.

Lennart and Melwin stood on deck arm in arm, fists clenched and stretched into the sunny Lorient sky, celebrating their triumph: "We did it!"

There was great jubilation on the "Next Generation Boating Around the World" and also among the OTTO WULFF team, who had traveled to Lorient and accompanied the duo on the last few meters to the finish line.

After 18 days, 22 hours, 5 minutes and 50 seconds, Lennart and Melwin crossed the finish line off Lorient - third place behind the stage and overall winner "Crédit Mutuel" and "Belgium Ocean Racing" in second place.

"We are totally overwhelmed "

"We are totally overwhelmed by how many people are here and have welcomed us, it's been mega. This is something very special, we're enjoying the moment," said an emotional Lennart. Sailing partner Melwin was just as happy: "We are overjoyed to be here and to have made this comeback."

Nils Wendler, Managing Director of OTTO WULFF Bauunternehmung, congratulated the duo: "Lennart and Melwin have done an impressive job. They have defied all setbacks and made it back to Lorient. That makes us at OTTO WULFF proud. Their passion and perseverance are inspiring. They showed courage and team spirit and didn't give up when the going got tough. These are qualities that the employees at OTTO WULFF also stand for. We congratulate Lennart and Melwin on this achievement."

Decisive support from OTTO WULFF

The starting signal for the two-handed regatta around the world was given in Lorient around seven and a half months ago. The goal: to be the youngest team to circumnavigate the globe in race mode.

Lennart and Melwin and their team set up the "Next Generation Boating Around the World" campaign in a very short space of time and, above all, thanks to the support of OTTO WULFF, embarked on the adventure of a lifetime.

Sail loss and 24-hour record

The first leg from Cádiz to Mindelo (Cape Verde) showed that ocean sailing is a challenge without a double bottom. During a wild night, the duo had to part with a sail, but coped with the setback, subsequently setting a 24-hour record (370 nautical miles) and finishing third on the podium.

Spectacular 660-nautical-mile race to catch up

A foretaste of the rest of the regatta. The second and longest leg over 8,000 nautical miles to La Réunion was the offshore knighthood for the two Hamburgers. Lennart and Melwin passed the equator and the Cape of Good Hope for the first time and showed what they are capable of sailing. With a speed record of over 30 knots, the OTTO WULFF duo put in a spectacular 660 nautical mile race to catch up and secured second place in a heart-stopping finale.

Low point in the Indian Ocean

The moment when the dream of a complete circumnavigation was shattered on the third leg towards Sydney was all the more bitter. In the middle of the Indian Ocean, the so-called "boomerang", a massive connecting piece from the mast to the spreader, broke. This serious damage forced the OTTO WULFF duo to abandon the third leg of the 30,000 nautical mile regatta and return to La Réunion.

"Giving up is not an option!"

It was undoubtedly the lowest point for Lennart and Melwin. It was all the more admirable to see them both making plans for their comeback on the arduous journey back to La Réunion. True to the motto: "Giving up is not an option!"

Comeback with the help of OTTO WULFF

The dream of sailing around the world turned into a fight for a comeback and a worthy end to the Globe40. The duo achieved this impressively with the help of OTTO WULFF. The repair of the boat on La Réunion was followed by a 6,500 nautical mile passage of the Class40 racing yacht via Cape Town to Recife.

All carried by the dream of making it to the grand finale in Lorient despite all the setbacks. Lennart and Melwin did just that, sailing the last 4,300 nautical mile leg of the Globe40 across the Atlantic, giving it their all once again and cheering like winners when they arrived in Lorient.

Carsten Henzel, authorized signatory for infrastructure construction and passionate sailor: "Despite all the setbacks, Lennart and Melwin have held on to their lifelong dream and are now here at the finish line of the Globe40. We are delighted to receive our team safe and sound."

Arrival party in Hamburg on May 2

However, the OTTO WULFF sailing duo's emotional journey still has one more goosebump moment in store. On May 2, Lennart and Melwin will return to Hamburg with their boat. The big welcome-back party, open to all interested parties, will be held in Sandtorhafen. Arrival at the Elbphilharmonie is planned for around 12.30 pm.

"It was our dream from the very beginning to dock in Hamburg after the race, take the duffel bag off the boat and walk home." Presumably arm in arm and with clenched fists raised to the Hamburg sky.

A text by Matthias Heidrich