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In the middle of the 20th century (1950), when solo sailing was rare, Hannes Lindemann, a German doctor by training, introduced a new paradigm to the study of survival at sea. To this end, he completed two solo transatlantic voyages: the first, in 1955, in the a traditional pirogue purchased from a Liberian fisherman; the second, a year later, in the a folding sea kayak . By trying to reproduce the living conditions of a castaway, he hopes to prove that man, even in extreme conditions and with rudimentary equipment, can survive, adapt and navigate alone.
Lindemann puts Bombard theory to the test
In 1953, Hannes Lindemann arrived in Liberia, where he began his career as a doctor. It was here that he met his French colleague Alain Bombard, already famous for his 1952 crossing from the Canary Islands to Barbados aboard "l'Hérétique", a 4.65 m Zodiac inflatable rigged with an Optimist sail. The man saw this small sail as a symbol of resourcefulness, an essential quality for survival on the high seas. On board, there was no food or water, fresh or canned. Bombard had drifted in the Atlantic for 63 days, equipped only with a tent, a sextant, a fishing line, a knife, a plankton net and a few odds and ends, to demonstrate that the ocean could provide the resources necessary for the survival of the adaptable castaway.
Skeptical, Lindemann decided to put this theory to the test himself by testing the limits of survival at sea.
A first crossing where the mind faces the ocean
In 1955, after 2 years of observation and preparation, Hannes Lindemann set off into the unknown. He boarded Liberia II, a hollowed-out tree trunk approximately 76 centimetres wide and 25 feet long. Liberia I, measuring 36 feet, had previously been set on fire by African boatbuilders during the process of smoking the wooden trestles.
Lindemann set off from Spain with the aim of reaching the West Indies. The journey lasted 65 days. In addition to the physical difficulties imposed by the waves and wind, he had to confront his mind to the situation. Losing his rudder and floating anchors in the middle of the ocean could have caused another sailor to give up, but Lindemann persisted and managed to go the distance without his spirit wavering. The crossing proved to be a rigorous test of human ability to withstand seasickness, starvation and the elements.
A disagreement with Alin Bombard
From these experiments, Lindemann concluded, but could not prove, that Alain Bombard, despite the solitude he had remarkably endured, had been provided with fresh water and other foods on two occasions. In his opinion, Bombard could not have survived on salt water and fish alone, as initially claimed. Right up until his death, however, Bombard received many letters from shipwrecked men expressing their gratitude that he had survived thanks to the principles he had shared. In any case, the confrontation between the two adventurous sailors, though marked by disagreements, enriched our understanding of the trials a castaway must face, combining wit and pragmatism in the quest for survival.
Hannes Lindemann, far from being satisfied with this first experience, decided to pursue his thinking and push his understanding of human limits in extreme situations even further.
The concept of "psycho-hygiene
The adventurous sailor then developed a method he called "psycho-hygiene", which consisted in preparing his mind to face extreme situations. Every day, for 6 months prior to his departure, he repeated to himself autosuggestions such as "I'll make it", "Keep heading west", "Never give up". These phrases become like mantras, anchors in his subconscious that help him overcome moments of doubt at sea.
Kayaking as a tool of mental resistance
In 1956, Lindemann opted for a 17-foot Klepper Aerius folding kayak, modified to carry two masts and an outrigger. Folding kayaks were a great success in Germany at the time. Their history began in 1905, when architect Alfred Heurich launched his 15-foot "Luftikus" on the banks of the Isar near Munich. The boat, inspired by Inuit kayaks, is made of ribs held together by bamboo rods and covered with canvas. In just 5 hours, Heurich reached Munich, 50 kilometers away. In 1907, he sold the manufacturing license to the merchant Johann Klepper, who founded the Klepper shipyard in Rosenheim, producer of the "Aerius II" model used by Lindemann.
Lindemann's choice of the smaller, more vulnerable kayak was no accident: he wanted to experience what it's like to be shipwrecked alone, to feel the suffering and the moments of hope. On October 20, 1956, the adventurer set sail from the Canary Islands on a solo transatlantic voyage: a stealth departure so that no one would worry, he later confided in an interview with German TV station WDR in 2012.
The voyage doesn't start auspiciously: a pilot boat damages his kayak and breaks a float. Despite this, Lindemann showed his resilience and decided not to return to port. He headed west. He makes little use of the paddle during navigation, using it only when the rudders break. On departure, he loaded up with 70 kg of provisions, mostly canned goods and beers for calorie intake, but was forced to abandon some of it due to the excessive weight of the kayak. To support himself, he catches fish and collects rainwater.
Over the next 72 days, he endured extremely difficult weather conditions, capsizing in force 8 winds with force 9 gusts that left him unconscious on several occasions, and waiting nights in complete darkness, clinging to his overturned kayak. For endless hours, he practiced sleep deprivation and meditation: his determination drove him to persevere, always fueled by the repetition of his inner mantras. On his return, he recalls experiencing what might be described as altered or tantric states of consciousness.
On December 30, 1956, Hannes Lindemann finally reached Saint-Martin in the West Indies. He was exhausted, having lost 25 kg during the voyage, but his spirit remained intact. This second crossing was not only a model of resilience, but also a means of demonstrating that human beings are capable of overcoming extreme conditions by drawing on their own mental strength.
4 years later, in 1960, he crossed the Atlantic again with Colin Archer's 30-foot Liberia IV.
A life dedicated to survival and optimism
Lindemann wrote about his experiences in his book Alone at Sea published in 1958 and now a classic of solo adventure and survival literature.
In 1975, he published another important work on positive thinking entitled Autogenic Training in which he explains the techniques he used for his mental preparation. His research and work greatly influenced those who, in turn, embarked on adventures at sea, such as Michael Collins, the editor of the old magazine Sea Kayaker who met Lindemann in 1993 at a sea kayaking symposium in Port Townsend.
Dr. Hannes Lindemann, who died in 2015 at the age of 92, did his bit and showed everyone that in extreme conditions, it's not just the boat that counts, but also the mindset.
