Michael Walther, athlete and climate advocate, is preparing to undertake a solo, unsupported stand-up paddleboard (SUP) 6,000-kilometre crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.
Set to paddle off in late September, the journey will start from Lagos, Portugal, and finish in Cayenne, French Guiana. In doing so, he aims to become the first European to complete the Atlantic crossing alone on a 6-metre SUP, highlighting ocean conservation throughout the expedition.
The project is supported by Austrian-based logistics company Gebrüder Weiss, which is managing the transportation of Walther’s custom-built paddleboard.
The board will be transported overland from Walther’s hometown of Kiel, Germany, to Lagos. After the crossing, Gebrüder Weiss will handle the sea freight return of the board to Kiel using a certified climate-neutral process.
“Michael Walther is drawing attention to marine conservation through an unconventional form of mobility – and we are proud to support this mission as his logistics partner,” says Robert Stahlschmidt, country manager air & sea Germany at Gebrüder Weiss.
During the estimated three-month crossing, Walther will operate without a support vessel or external assistance. As part of the mission, he will deploy a hydrophone to record underwater sounds of marine life. These recordings will be shared with Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute to assist climate impact research on ocean ecosystems.
Walther has a history of combining athletic challenges with environmental activism, having completed previous expeditions focused on climate awareness, including paddling across Germany’s rivers and documenting glacial melt in Iceland.
Gebrüder Weiss is also engaged in the “GWcycles – Cycling for the Seas” campaign, which encourages cycling to support ocean plastic removal. Since its launch earlier this year, the campaign has helped collect six tons of marine debris. Walther supports this initiative, helping to promote its goal of ocean protection.
To follow Walther’s audacious journey, head to his Instagram profile. And, for more information on Gebrüder Weiss’ sustainability efforts, see their website.
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