Es gibt viele Menschen, die uns auf unserem bisherigen Weg begleitet haben. Wir haben Unterstützung in Form von handwerklicher Hilfe, dem Teilen von Wissen und Erfahrungswerten, durch Ausbildung und Inspiration durch bereits durchgeführte Reisen erhalten. Diese Form der Unterstützung war und ist für uns wertvoll und unbezahlbar. Als Dankeschön und Art der Anerkennung haben wir unseren „Sail & Dive Project Coin entwickelt. Die Coins sind fortlaufend nummeriert und somit personalisiert. Wir führen an Bord eine Liste mit den bereits vergebenen Coins und haben dadurch eine bleibende und hoffentlich gegenseitige Erinnerung.
SY GERMANE Sail & Dive Project COIN
Looking back to more than 30 years of service in the German Airborne Infantry, we thought that it is a good idea to take over an old military tradition. Our Sailing Yacht GERMANE and the related Dive and Sail Project 66°33‘ NORTH are worthy of creating a special coin. After retirement we set sail without a fixed destination, route or time frame. Our focus is the Northern Hemisphere, boundaries to be set by nature and not politics. We want to explore remote places, nature and cultures. We are looking forward to meet extraordinary people and enjoy life.
Historically, coins were presented by unit commanders in recognition of special achievement by a member of the unit. They are also exchanged in recognition of visits to an organization. Coins are also used as rewards or awards for outstanding service or performance of duty. As such, they are used as a tool to build morale. Military officials occasionally give them to non-military personnel for outstanding service.
The tradition probably began among Special Forces units during war and spread through the Airborne community. As soldiers were reassigned as their careers progressed, they carried with them the tradition of awarding a unit coin for acts that were worthy of recognition but lacked enough merit to submit the soldiers act for an official medal.
One story from WW I tells that a fighter pilot was shot down behind enemy lines. He made it back through the lines to allied forces but was suspected to be a spy. He was facing execution but could show his squadron’s coin to his would-be executioners. One of his captors recognized the squadron insignia on the coin. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him, they gave him a bottle of wine.
Both of us aren`t afraid to be executed along our route to the north, but appreciate each donated bottle of wine. We recognize that our projects success also depends on support. We received this support in terms of help, advice, inspiration, training, hospitality and friendship. We want to give a coin to those who supported us in an outstanding manner as a token of appreciation or simply to say: “Thank you”! In order to keep everybody in good memory and somehow connected, the coins are personized. The coins have running numbers; each number is related to its owner. Simone and Dirk are keeping the #1 and #2, all following numbers are in chronological order. A list with all coin owners will be kept on Sailing Yacht GERMANE.
Simone & Dirk
Segelyacht GERMANE 