Wadden Odyssey

19.05-23.05.2024

FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF Otto Kemmerich

100 years ago, the adventurer Otto Kemmerich swam from Husum to Sylt. He was traveling unaccompanied and orientated himself using a compass and a map, which he rolled up in a jam jar. Later, Kemmerich polarized people when he competed in a long-distance swim against a Californian sea lion named Leo at the Busch Circus in Hamburg – and actually swam for eight hours longer.

ACROSS THE NORTH SEA

In May I followed his footsteps into the magnificent nature of the North Frisian Wadden Sea and swam the Wadden Sea Odyssey to mark the anniversary. The route leads from Husum over the Halligen Islands to Amrum and ends with the most difficult stage: through the dangerous “Vortrapptief” from Amrum to Sylt. Kemmerich failed on this route in 1924 – and died there on his second attempt in 1952. Since then, no one has crossed this Channel by swimming.

THE ROUTE

ImpressionS

From the water into the pub or the theater

Together with the musicians Tony Kaltenberg and Carsten Hormes, who already organized the “Konzert & Meer” with me in June 2023, we performed every evening in a restaurant on the islands. I reported every day about the experiences and impressions of the day. Meanwhile, Tony and Carsten were able to enchant the audience with their live music. Thanks to everyone who made the whole project possible and who was there!