Harald and Silvia Paul – About Us

Skipper

Harald Paul

Theory + practice: coastal and inland boating licences, boatmaster’s licence “E”, VHF radio certificate “Ubi”, Short Range Certificate “SRC”, state-certified fisherman including trapper, firearms licence, diving licences “Open Water Diver + Advanced Open Water Diver”

Practical experience at sea from 1998 onwards: with the first ship “Silvia”, a Norwegian double-ender, 2700 engine hours, about 14,000 nm.
Expedition ship “Gypsy Life”, Smelne Vlet 1100 OK Ocean Range, 12,000 engine hours, about 73,000 nm.
In 2002 the first contact between Smelne Yachts and Harald and Silvia Paul came about. As a result, Harald Paul placed the order for the building of a Smelne Vlet 1100 open cockpit in a very special version. It was jointly decided to make a special project out of it, one that was to be a new challenge to their many years of experience at sea, both for Harald and for Smelne Yachts. The ship was designed so that unusual expeditions can be undertaken with it as well. One example is the draught of 1.80 metres. It is achieved by a special keel which at the same time serves as a diesel tank and holds 900 litres, so that the total diesel capacity comes to 1700 litres. Fully ready for sea, the ship’s displacement is about 20 tonnes!

Milestones

Farmer & forestry business
Trained farmer, working in his own forestry and farming business for over 25 years – and expeditions by water.
Long-distance travel
Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Morocco, Scandinavia, Spitsbergen, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
National motocross races
International enduro and rally races
Atlantic crossings
Twice across the Atlantic Ocean by cargo ship.
Aquatic plant management
Ten years for the Bavarian Soil Cultivation Office in Rosenheim.
Spitsbergen passage
From Hamburg to Spitsbergen in a cabin boat of only 7 m.
Author of the book “Northbound”
Expedition ship “Gypsy Life”
Built in cooperation with Smelne Yachts.
Author of the book “Freedom-Adventure-Wilderness”

Crew

Silvia Paul

Born 1965 in Kronach, Upper Franconia, married to Harald Paul since October 1983

Trained home economist and trained as an electromechanic. For over 20 years working in the family forestry and farming business together with her husband Harald Paul. Carrying out expeditions by water.

Boat and ship journeys: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Spitsbergen, British Isles, Wales, Scotland, western Ireland, Latvia, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.

Building of the expedition ship “Gypsy Life” in cooperation with Smelne Yachts

Since 1998 Silvia has accompanied her husband Paul on all his adventure voyages by water. It had always been her wish to get to know other cultures, other countries and untouched nature. Everyday life at sea and out in the open developed her ability to “hold her own” far from civilisation. Her goal is a life in harmony with nature.

Tolerance among people and a fair way of dealing with nature are a serious concern for her.

Under Way

Passages together

2005
Norway voyage: Sognefjorden – Estonia, Tallinn
2006
British Isles Tour
2007
Lapland Tour
2008
Expedition Ice
2009 – 2011
Canada Adventure Project
2012
Trial voyage Saimaa Wilderness – Karelia
2013
Danube – Greenland, wintering in Iceland
2014
Third North Atlantic crossing, Iceland – Greenland – Labrador – wintering in Labrador
2015
Labrador – Greenland, wintering in Greenland
2016
Fourth North Atlantic crossing, Greenland – Holland
2017
Reached the northernmost point of the Baltic for the second time
2018
Start of the journey “Heat Instead of Ice” through the canals of France
2019
Entry into the Mediterranean, near Sète, southern France

The ship: Gypsy Life

Technical data, fit-out and equipment of the expedition ship.

What others say

Feedback from readers and boat people.