TORQEEDO CRUISE 4.O FP
THE POD DRIVE
Voila....this is it. The old engine, the tank, the tubes, the smell, the fuel, the holes for emission and cooling water are all gone. They are being replaced by this little shining plug inside the boat, and the sleek pod and folding propeller underneath it.
WHY?
"I have sailed all my life and my children grew up sailing. They learned to love the sea, the islands, and nature. Things we all took for granted back then, but that are being seriously threatened today. I make these journeys for them and for their children to come. My point is sincere and pretty obvious: My generation owes it to them to fundamentally change our lifestyles into smarter ones. Now. And no matter the cost."
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Bjorn Bertoft, Skipper June 5th, 2018.
WHY
SAILING FOR CHANGE – 100% SUN, WIND, WATER.
We want to inspire sailors and boat people in general to choose more sustainable lifestyle alternatives. We believe in the power of taking action by ourselves rather than waiting for others to fix it. We also believe in sharing good examples with anybody who wants to listen.
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Boat people are unfortunately heavy users of fossil fuel. Even wind-loving sailors. We sail out to remote and sensitive islands, longing for silence and peaceful sunsets. Well out there, and by mere habit, we start our engines and pour out CO2 into the atmosphere in order to charge our batteries... for cooler drinks and more tv-time onboard. Bad idea.
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Packaging, food, cleaning, and handling of waste are other areas where boat people have difficulties changing habits and lifestyles. It is not easy to find non-packaged food, space is limited for storing waste, and what to do with biodegradable waste? Just throw it overboard? Even if that has been an approved method over the years, we know now more than well that it is a bad idea.
WE'RE ALL SITTING IN THE SAME BOAT
Yes, humanity is at risk. Back in 2015, we had 196 countries’ Heads of State signed an agreement: The 2030 Sustainable Development Goal Agenda. It contains 17 goals necessary for us human beings to reach if we want to continue to live our lives on planet Earth. Everybody everywhere should be running for to get those goals achieved, unfortunately that is not the situation as we know.
The United Nations Secretary-General at the time, Ban Khi-Moon, called it “Humanity’s most important to-do-list”. A few months later the same world leaders signed the Paris Agreement.
These are great documents, but it is not only up to them to fix what needs to fixed. We all need to think harder, step up and take action where we stand. Now.
"HUMANITY'S MOST IMPORTANT TO-DO-LIST – WELL SAID BY BAN, THE UN GS IN 2015.
THE WORLD LEADERS ALSO SIGNED A CLIMATE AGREEMENT IN PARIS 2015.
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOT A FACT,
IT IS AN OPINION.
I am an optimistic Agenda 2030 evangelist, believing in "we can do it". I am trying hard to get the word out: Hey folks, let's change our lifestyles now and have some fun while doing it.
Some people say we can't do it. Some use fear to persuade others to change, some use inspiration to reach the same goal. I'm a sucker for inspiration and good examples. I thought: Why not up-cycle a used sailboat, sail and meet with people face-to-face and online to promote these important messages? Why don't I make more global sense by investing in a fossil fuel-free electric engine and spend the summers sailing on 100% sun, wind, and water around Scandinavia as a climate statement? And why don't I add a zero-waste ambition and solar food cooking to the lifestyle menu? How hard can it be to show that it is possible?
I said, yes let's just do it. For the sake of the generations to come, having fun while doing it. A no-brainer.
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Well, here we are 2022. Five years and 7.660 Nautical Miles later. What a journey it has been. 45 young, very smart, and aware young crew members from 5 continents have contributed with joy, input, doubts, perspectives, and challenges along these miles. We have sailed via 7 countries, 3 bodies of water, and visited more than 100 marinas.
Thank you to everybody involved for everything so far. Your participation and support made this happen. And we ain't quitting. There is more to do, so stay tuned.
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Best regards,
Bjorn Bertoft
