As of: March 26, 2024, 5:50 a.m
By: Carina Ottillinger
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The world was their home for 13 months: (from left) Sophia, Florian, Helena and Lucie Kiermeier.
© private
In 13 months, the Kiermeier family from Neukeferloh sailed from Europe to America and back again.
Here they report on their trip.
Neukeferloh – sunrises and sunsets on the wide sea, petting giant turtles, swimming with Bahamas pigs, getting stranded on deserted islands.
That sounds like a dream.
The Kiermeier family from Neukeferloh has fulfilled this requirement.
From August 2022, Lucie (46) and Florian Kiermeier (45) and their daughters Sophia (16) and Helena (14) spent 13 months on the sailing boat “Mariposa”.
They covered 14,500 nautical miles.
From the coasts of Europe, Italy, Spain and Gibraltar, it went via the Canary Islands, the Cape Verde Islands and across the high seas to the Caribbean and America.
“Sailing to the USA and dropping anchor in front of the Miami skyline was the cherry on the cake,” says Florian Kiermeier.
At the age of eleven, Florian Kiermeier hoisted the sail for the first time with his father, who was also a passionate sailor.
He later spent two years in the Navy.
“When I met Lucie, I immediately made it clear to her what it meant to be married to a sailor,” he says and laughs.
His wife took up the challenge and passed the sailing test.
Daughter Sophie has a youth license.
The family spends almost every vacation on the sailboat.
At some point Florian Kiermeier wanted to go one step further.
Parents quit jobs
In 2022 the time had come.
The family unanimously decided to go on the sailing trip.
The planning began.
Florian and Lucie Kiermeier quit their jobs and took their children out of school for a year.
In Germany this is only possible if the family deregisters as a resident.
There is no other way to avoid compulsory schooling.
“We would do it like that again at any time,” says Lucie Kiermeier.
“The experiences during this time cannot be compared with anything.
The children have learned to take responsibility.” Because Lucie Kiermeier was still registered in Neukeferloh, the family was able to rent out the house.
“That helped finance our trip.” The Kiermeiers saved for a long time and took out a loan for their trip.
Breathtaking expanse: The family traveled in the sailing boat “Mariposa”.
© Private
The Kiermeiers prepared for their trip for six months.
Everyone took a medical course and blue water seminars.
Hanna learned how to make eggs last longer.
“Buy everything unrefrigerated,” she explains.
“Fruit and jam must not have been in the cold chain.” Together, the Kiermeiers cooked chili con carne and fermented peppers.
Everyone on board loved Mama Lucie's bread baking skills.
In an emergency, the Kiermeiers can sew wounds or place dental fillings.
But what if someone falls overboard?
The four experienced such a misfortune in the Virgin Islands.
An American drowned.
Hanna and Sophie got his brother off the boat while his parents tried to save the man.
After 45 minutes of resuscitation, he died.
It feels terrible when you run out of diesel and water but the country is still 3000 kilometers away.
Florian Kiermeier
It wasn't the only nerve-wracking experience.
For four days the “Mariposa” had a stowaway on board: a rat.
During the crossing to Menorca the engine mount broke.
Heading west, the sailboat battled waves up to seven meters high and wind blowing at over 50 gusts.
The Kiermeiers experienced the opposite on their return trip to Europe: a lull that lasted for days.
“It feels terrible when diesel and water run out, but the country is still 3,000 kilometers away,” says Florian Kiermeier.
But the family did it.
All went well.
Now they can tell about their experiences.
What they liked best was Dominica, an island nation east of the Caribbean, with its rainforests and hot springs.
Another highlight was the Bahamas with turquoise water and miles of beaches.
“But the first cold Carib beer in Barbados after 19 days without a country can’t be beat,” says Florian Kiermeier and laughs.
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Food on the high seas: Sophia caught a fish.
© Private
With heavy hearts, the Kiermeiers sold the “Mariposa” in northern Italy after their return in September 2023.
After a few months of recovery, it was time for everyone to go back to school and work.
“Everyday life quickly catches up with you,” says Lucie Kiermeier.
But the memories remain.
One thing is certain.
The couple will go on a sailing trip again.
“But with more time,” says Florian Kiermeier.
“We would have liked to stay in one place longer.”
Further news from Neukeferloh and the Munich district can be found here.