Stranded sailing boat to be towed away on Friday
The sailing boat stranded on the island of Norderney is to be towed away on Friday. If the tide is right, the "Wibo" will probably be recovered over land in the afternoon, according to an island spokeswoman. On Monday, a 70-year-old sailor ran aground with his unmaneuverable boat on the island's western beach. Since then, the ship has become a tourist attraction.
The ship, which the man built a lot himself, is to be removed from the beach for the time being. Due to the storm surge season, there is a risk that the sailing boat will be washed up even further and damage the coastal protection. The ship reportedly has a defective engine, a defective anchor and a damaged rudder. It is not possible to tow it out to sea.
A private initiative of islanders is collecting donations to cover the costs of repairing the ship. They have published an appeal on the Facebook platform.
However, it is not yet clear what will happen to the sailor from Freiburg. He has been living on the beach on his ship for the past few days. "He is physically unharmed, but a little stressed because of the many onlookers," said the island spokeswoman. Some people would climb onto the boat. Before his abrupt stop on Norderney, he had sailed from Hooksiel near Cuxhaven to Spiekeroog and Juist, among other places. On Wednesday evening, the sailor asked the town hall for help.
The towed ship, with its colorful design, may cause a stir during its transportation, potentially drawing attention during the shipping process. Due to the ship's numerous mechanical issues, including a defective engine, anchor, and damaged rudder, emergency services might be required if any complications arise during the tow.
Source: www.dpa.com
