Sponsoring – Projects supported by BAUER

September 1998

Astronotus II – Third Around the World Cruise

Otto Zimmermann, dedicated boat builder and yachtsman, has lived on boats for over 26 years. He is joiner, boat builder, botanic, diver, underwater photographer, journalist, cook and lecturer all at once. His greatest passion is sailing. Meanwhile the robust 60-year-old prides himself with having travelled 160 000 nautical miles at sea.

After two successful around the world cruises, the Zimmermanns have set sail for their third voyage in September 1998.

Otto Zimmermann is an archetypical old salt. Alert eyes register every move from underneath the bushy eyebrows, who are themselves partially hidden behind his captain's cap.

When Zimmermann recounts his adventures, his audience holds the breath in suspense. His bellowing laugh makes the ship's walls shake. Johanna, his Bavarian wife, has stone grey eyes, which reinforce a charismatic radiance that is common amongst around-the-world adventurers. Their paths crossed during a cruise with the Astronotus I in Australia. After several adventures at sea, which forged an indivisible team, Otto and Johanna married.

The Astronotus II

The Astronotus II, given the name of an Amazon fish, has been hand-built by Otto Zimmermann. She will ferry the Zimmermanns around the world for the third, consecutive time. The 15 metre sailing ship has a 29 register ton steel hull and is powered by an IVECO diesel.

BAUER's JUNIOR compressor has been the Zimmermann's dependable pure air supply for many years. Besides air quality, BAUER's legendary reliability and the worldwide availability of spare parts an important consideration for decision for a BAUER KOMPRESSOREN unit. The success of Mr. Zimmermann's biological dive trips was made possible only through guaranteed air supply, even in isolated locations.

The Travel Route

The final touches were put to the Astronotus II at the port of Wilhelmshaven, in northern Germany in August. The route took the yacht through the English Channel, past the southern tip of Ireland (Bishop's Rock), on to Madeira, the Canary Island and, exploiting the Trade Winds, on to Brazil.
From Argentina, the journey continues along the "roaring forties" (40. degree of latitude) to Cape Town, the destination of the cruise's second stretch.

• Diary Entry #2 dated 13. July 1999
• Dairy Entry #1 dated 8. December 1998