Vendée Globe

Nationality : Austrian Lives in Vienna in Austria Age : born on the 27th January 1962 Situation : Single Vendée Globe achievements First time he has taken part in the Vendée Globe Web Site http://www.sedlacekontour.com

Sponsor

Nothing but a sailor!

The Vendée Globe, a competition somewhere between the ultimate adventure and top level racing, has the magic to attract skippers from the four corners of the world, who have such strong characters that you should look at each and every one. Without doubt, the Austrian Norbert Sedlacek is among these interesting elements. As with several big names from the past – the Hungarian Nandor Fa or the Russian Fedor Kounyokhov – this single-handed sailor comes from central Europe, and what is more, from a country that does not even have any shoreline. What the heck is Norbert doing then at the helm of his Nivelt designed boat with its aluminium hull in the middle of all these competitors setting out on the trip around the blue planet? Certainly, he is trying to bring alive the dreams he has had ever since that day, when he gave up being a civil servant in the transport sector, to live out his adventures all over the oceans.

Hoisting the sails became a profession
"I simply discovered twelve years ago now that sailing wasn’t just a wonderful hobby, but also my future, explained Norbert. I was coming to the end of my career in combat sports (he used to be part of the Austrian Tae Kwon Do team) and set out on my initial preparations to be able to make sailing my profession. I wanted a change in my life: to go from the trams to the cockpit of a boat, from a civil servant in Viennese trams to be a professional skipper".

It’s been explained and been accomplished and Norbert – who is not lacking the ability to find partners in a country, where ocean racing is not really part of the tradition or habits of the country – holds on tight to this new life given over to the oceans. In 1996, he built an 8-metre boat, aboard which he set sail to go around the world for two years. Back in Austria, things took off again and he got involved in another project. It was at the time of the IceLimit Challenge, which meant going aboard a 54 footer, with a crew to go right around the ice cap from Cape Town to Cape Town. This was back in 2000 in the middle of the Vendée Globe. What happened next was the obvious step. What had to happen next was the 2004-05 edition had to include an Austrian. A heartfelt welcome then to Norbert Sedlacek, who wants to be nothing but a sailor!

2004 - The Transat : 10th
2000 - IceLimit 2000 (Cape Town to Cape Town/Passoa 54)

Norbert busy at work > Read
A freak wave > Read
A job well done > Read

And then there were two! > Read
What exactly is going to happen today 7th November 2004? > Read
1 day to go: the pressure rising > Read
The gang of newcomers > Read

BROTHER > low-res / broadband

Norbert Sedlacek > Listen Norbert Sedlacek > Listen Norbert Sedlacek > Listen