Face of the Island: Rika Harder and Her Zeesen Boat

From May through October, you offer sailing trips lasting about an hour and a half on your Zeesenboat. What can people see and experience on these trips? Do you need to have any sailing experience?

No, you don’t need any sailing experience. But if the weather permits, anyone who wants to can take the helm or set the sails. Even kids—but of course, it’s all voluntary. If you don’t feel like it, you can just sit back and enjoy nature.
The beauty of it is that during the trip, all you can hear are the sounds of nature—mainly the wind and the water. We use the motor as little as possible. And for most people, this tranquility alone is a dream come true, because it’s simply a rare commodity in everyday life.
Add to that the clouds and the sun peeking through. The numerous water birds. The water shimmers emerald green and shifts through every imaginable color. And then this natural spectacle changes from hour to hour. Pure nature!

What do you do when there’s no wind? In what kind of weather can’t you go out on the boat?

It’s very rare for a trip to be canceled. If the weather is bad—for example, because of a thunderstorm—we wait it out and monitor the weather conditions. Usually, it passes quickly, and afterward, the sun usually comes out again.
Dead calm is also extremely rare because thermal winds are actually constantly present. Guests on land always think there’s no wind at all. But I always say, “Just wait a minute—the air conditioning’s about to kick in!” And when it’s as hot as it was last year and this year, it’s naturally wonderfully pleasant out on the water. It’s not called “Usedom, the Sun Island” for nothing (laughs)!

How did you end up making sailing your career?

I went through various stages of life in both the East and the West. I studied first in Leipzig, then in West Berlin. And then there was the boat—my father was getting older—and we were thinking about what to do with it. That’s when I had the idea to use it as a tour boat, because I’d seen friends do something similar.
In 1998, I just went for it, and I’ve been doing this for over 20 years now. It’s really turned out great. We’ve become a brand, and people come specifically for us. They’re grateful for the experience and leave the sailboat with a smile on their faces. That’s a wonderful reward and it’s really fun.
That’s why I’m so happy with my job—because not every profession lets you make people as happy as mine does. I really get to make the most of it!

From the Zeesenboat, you and your guests get a completely different view of Usedom. How do you experience the island from the water?

Where I operate, in the Krumminer Wiek, everything is very unspoiled. People appreciate and enjoy the fact that it’s so unspoiled and close to nature. And they’re very consciously aware of that from the water.

Is there a special experience you’ve had on your Zeesenboat that you can tell us about?

There are many special experiences. For example, once a young man booked the entire boat and wanted champagne for the trip, which I then arranged. Then he arrived with his girlfriend and said it was supposed to be a surprise.
Unfortunately, the weather that day was absolutely terrible, with nonstop rain—which, as I said, we rarely get. So it was windy and rainy, and I couldn’t make out what he was saying to his girlfriend. But at some point, he looked over at me and said, “She said yes!” So he’d proposed to her, and then the two of them sipped champagne in the rain.

Why would you recommend Usedom to sailors as a sailing destination?

I’ve sailed all over the world, but here on Usedom, the landscape is simply uniquely beautiful. It’s a very sheltered area that’s well-suited for beginners. The island offers many small, beautiful harbors. There are natural harbors and city harbors, each with its own distinct charm. And the Polish side has a lot to offer, too.

Are you an “island kid”?

I didn’t grow up directly on the island, but with a view of Usedom. I’m from Mönkebude. For our entire family, water has always been something that brings us together, not something that divides us. That’s actually always been the case throughout history, too. There were few roads and bridges, so people relied much more heavily on waterways. In recent years, unfortunately, that perspective has changed, and water is now seen as something that divides. I think that’s a real shame!

What’s your personal favorite spot on Usedom when you’re not sailing?

Where I spend my days, it’s very rural. That’s why I personally like to drive out to Swinemünde every now and then. It’s a bit more urban there. But I rarely do that in the summer—it gets too crowded there then.

Thank you very much for the interview!