Crossing the Atlantic on a SUP - that is Michael Walther's big project. The experienced paddler wants to build on his previous long-distance tours and at the same time collect donations for a good cause. The start of this project is Lagos on the south-western tip of Portugal, from where he will then head south, past the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, until Michael takes a more south-westerly course towards French Guiana. Michael Walther is planning about three months for the journey.
The planned launch is drawing ever closer, and last week Walther presented its board in Hamburg. In mid-August, Walther will also set off on a longer test tour on the Baltic Sea. He will then set sail from Lagos on 15 September. Walther is relying on minimalist but highly functional equipment to cope with the weeks of stress - an analogy to climate protection, which also relies on clever strategies and long-term stamina.
With four million paddle strokes across the Atlantic
Michael will paddle around 4,000,000 strokes on this trip, burn 600,000 kcal and endure 2,500 hours of solitude - plus stormy conditions, calm with strong sunshine, cool and windy nights, but of course also the quiet and beautiful moments. Preparations for this ambitious project have been in full swing for months. A live tracker will be put online to enable interested parties to experience the event. Thanks to modern communication equipment, Walther will also be able to send information, pictures and even videos directly from the Atlantic.
"The journey across the Atlantic is a long one, just like the path to a truly sustainable future," says Walther. "But the crucial thing is: we have to start now, consistently and with perseverance. Any hesitation costs time - and we no longer have any." During the calm phases, he will use a hydrophone to collect acoustic underwater recordings, which will then be transmitted directly to the Alfred Wegner Institute in Bremerhaven via satellite link.
The SUP for crossing the Atlantic
Michael Walther will be paddling across the Atlantic alone and without external support. His special board - which looks more like a ship than a board - offers him a survival room, sufficient space for food and is equipped with safety and navigation equipment. The special design enables Walther to spend around 90 days alone on the Atlantic. "The mental challenge is particularly great on this journey. I will hardly see any progress during the crossing. Due to the wind and currents, it's also quite possible that I'll drift away from my destination despite the hard physical effort. Those will certainly be the moments when I really struggle with the challenge," says Walther.
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The board should weigh around 200 kg, fully loaded with equipment and food for three months it will be around 500 kg, estimates Michael Walther. There is a place to sleep in the front area, and should it capsize in the waves of the Atlantic, the vehicle automatically rights itself again.
Michael Walther: Extreme sportsman on the SUP
Michael Walther's journey to becoming an extreme SUP athlete began in 2013 when, alongside various sailing projects, he discovered stand-up paddling as a new passion. The flexibility and simplicity of the sport compared to the more complex sailing fascinated him. Walther was soon regularly travelling with his SUP board off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein. It therefore comes as no surprise that he was soon using this means of transport for extreme activities.
Walther took on his first major SUP challenge in 2015. He paddled across the open Baltic Sea from Kiel to Ærø - a distance of 50 kilometres, which he covered at night and without interruption. He combined this action with a charitable cause: for every kilometre paddled, donations were collected for the Paulchen Esperanza Foundation, with which Walther has been cooperating since 2013.
The following year, Michael Walther stepped up the challenge considerably. The nine-hour paddle to Denmark was no longer enough for him. Instead, he took on an even greater distance: From Kiel to Flensburg, 120 kilometres in 24 hours, again without stopping, of course. He also used this extreme tour to collect donations for the Paulchen Esperanza Foundation.
Another impressive SUP adventure followed in 2017. Michael Walther crossed Schleswig-Holstein on his SUP board. The route took him 98 kilometres through the Kiel Canal. This tour impressively demonstrated Walther's stamina and his ability to cover long distances on inland waterways.
Preparing for the Atlantic crossing
Michael Walther now wants to eclipse all his previous achievements with the planned Atlantic crossing. The preparations for this mammoth project have already been running for many months. The extreme athlete is aware that numerous factors have to work together perfectly for such an endeavour. From physical and mental preparation and the right equipment to safety precautions and logistics - every detail has to be carefully planned.
A particular highlight of the planned Atlantic crossing will be the technical support. A live tracker will enable interested parties to follow Walther's progress in real time. Thanks to modern communication equipment, the paddler will also be able to send regular updates, photos and even video recordings directly from the Atlantic. This promises an unprecedented closeness to such an extreme adventure.
