The genius of physics and yachting - the story of Albert Einstein

Brilliant scientist and imperfect yachtsman

You can often hear the phrase: "A talented person is talented in everything." This is a fundamentally wrong and even dangerous statement that does not correspond to reality. The same applies to Albert Einstein - we will not list all of his regalia in the scientific field. As for yachting, Albert's skills left much to be desired. 

But despite this, the Genius not only passionately loved yachting, but also actively engaged in it. The author of a biography of Einstein, Rudolf Kaiser, wrote the following: “When Albert was at the helm, he told his friends about his new scientific ideas almost non-stop. And he steered the boat easily and joyfully, like a child rejoicing in the breath of the wind and full sails.

Einstein himself claimed that yachting helped him completely “let go of himself and forget about everything in the world.” At the same time, according to the same Rudolph, Albert always took a pen and notebook with him on board, writing down all new ideas in it.

Friends of the physicist noted that Albert was truly happy at the helm. They also noted that it was yachting that played an invaluable role in finding new ideas for the scientist.

The yachtsman who can't swim

Albert, as we have already said, was not a good yachtsman. He often lost his bearings, it often happened that he could not cope with the wind, sometimes he ran aground and a couple of times narrowly avoided collision with other boats. And yet Einstein never learned to swim even at a basic level, refused to wear a life jacket. And even so, he managed to literally get out of the water dry. 

If assessing a skill is a difficult enough task, then one thing is for sure - Albert loved adventure and did not lack them. Einstein is an example of a real sailor, not in form, but in essence. This man loved the drive and freedom that yachting gives and appreciated every minute spent at the helm of his boat. 

Albert started sailing around the age of 20. This happened for the first time on Lake Zurich. In partners, one can often observe the daughter of the owner of the apartment in which the physicist lived. Her name was Susanna Markwalder. She recalls that when calm came, Albert stopped the boat. The physicist took out a notebook and began to write down something intensely. But somehow, as soon as the wind filled the sails again, he was again ready for adventure. 

By this time, Einstein was already closely working on a theory that would turn physics upside down and become the key in the science of the twentieth century - the theory of relativity.

Boat Tümmle

Many acquaintances and admirers of Einstein knew about the love for sails. So, in 1929, on the 50th anniversary of the genius, a group of admirers of the scientist gave him a boat. That boat was Tümmle, a 7-meter sailing yacht that was 2.35 meters wide. There was also a 5 hp auxiliary petrol engine on board. and movable keel. 

The area of the grotto was 16.05 m2, and the total area of the two staysails was 14 m2. Below deck you could find a cabin with two berths. Einstein loved his boat and even wrote to the shipyard: “I am imbued with deep respect for this boat, as well as respect for all the people who were involved in its creation. I am equally grateful to the people who gave it to me. The boat combines good stability with high mobility and comfortable handling.”

Equally important to Albert was the simplicity of the boat. He did not participate in races, and therefore he does not need any frills. Interestingly, Einstein considered the engine to be something superfluous. He even refused the outboard motor given to him. 

The main passion of the physicist was adventure and travel. Alas, Tümmle could not fully realize the desires of a genius - in 1933 the physicist had to flee to the USA. The Nazis confiscated all of Albert's property, among which was the boat. Einstein tried to return the boat, save it from the clutches of the Nazis, but the owner of the shipyard did not want to risk being repressed. That is why he refused to assist Einstein.

The boat was sold under a different name at auction, and then its trace in history is lost.  

Emigration is not a reason to give up your hobby

Despite all the difficulties of life in a foreign land, Albert continued to engage in yachting. His new boat was the 5-meter "Tinef". It is with this boat that all Einstein's documented punctures in yachting are associated. 

Among the most famous is the accident at Saranac Lake, New York. The story happened in 1944. During the cruise, Einstein's boat hit a rock and got a hole. The yacht quickly filled with water and capsized. Albert is trapped. The physicist's legs were wrapped in a rope, and the sail did not allow him to get out of the water. By some miracle, Albert, who cannot swim, was able to extricate himself and swim to the surface. Physics picked up a passing motor boat.

A brilliant scientist and ... a real yachtsman

Despite the fact that Albert's skills left much to be desired, the physicist seemed to know and understand what he was doing very well. Einstein preferred to move close to the coast. He always seemed to know where he was sailing and never got lost. 

Calm and confident, adventurous and resourceful - these qualities fully compensated for the lack of skills. Despite the fact that Albert is considered not the best sailor, the fact that he himself was able to get out of an overturned boat already says a lot. 

Biographer Ronald Clark recalls: “Einstein seemed to be fearless in the face of danger or death. It was not crazy and stupid fearlessness, but rather a very measured attitude towards passion. He knew how to keep calm and sobriety of mind, not only during dangerous solitary situations on the water, but also during inclement weather. More than once he had to deliver a boat to the nearest port with a fallen mast on his own.”

Albert passionately loved surprises while sailing. He felt a sense of excitement and deep involvement in the process - some kind of collision with another yacht for a physicist was a fun test, during which he tried not to crash into someone else's boat.

Einstein's longtime friend, Joanna Fantova, said that it was during the cruise that one could see the scientist truly happy and contented. Even despite the deterioration of his health towards the end of his life, Albert continued to engage in yachting. Joanna suggested that the idea of Einstein's "unlearnedness" in boating was exaggerated. 

“I think this is an exaggeration and a very big one,” Joanna said. “The real reason for the cruising mishaps was more about diving into complex theories while sailing the boat, rather than a lack of skill. Albert was really good and his skills improved over time. No less interesting was the application of the laws of physics in yachting. Albert could often literally predict the next direction of the wind and the slightest movement of air masses. Even on the most windless day!” 

Einstein sailed almost until his death in 1955. An example of a real sailor and an imperfect yachtsman who was passionate about his business and was engaged in it against all odds. We call on everyone in 2023 to follow the example of the great physicist!

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30.12.2022