the wind

Yachting

Where the wind blows

By Martin Tiffany

SAILING a 46-foot ketch across the crystal clear waters of the South Pacific, with a parrot on your shoulder and a future plan s flexible as your sails, seems like the tart of a good day-dream.

Add to this stops in countries like Fiji nd French Polynesia to play a bit of izz, and the dream only gets better. But >r 37-year-old German jazz trumpeter eter Malycha, this is reality.

The native of Cologne, with Russian ncestry, studied classical music in lologne from 1972 to 1976. He played in few orchestras before concentrating

ill-time on his true passion jazz.

Malycha has played in a number of ,zz and rock bands, done a lot of studio ork and, with the help of a saxophonist, eated a new sound using electronics.

Apart from playing all over Europe, he rote a theme for a television sports "ogramme and played in the famous usical Cats in Hamburg for a year, Ithough considered one of the top umpeters in Cologne, he felt he wanted ore out of life.

Having sailed since an early age, he dulged this passion by buying his >-foot ketch The Jonathan in 1981 and ade a number of trips around Europe, e also visited the Caribbean, Ecuador

id the Galapagos Islands.

In 1988 the last time he was in ermany he set sail for the South iciflc. He arrived in Papeete in French )lynesia and stayed in the country most a year, cruising a lot around the ►ciety Islands. He fell in love with the untry and found it hard to leave, but wanted to see more of the Pacific.

He travelled to Niue, on to Tonga and

Travelling trumpeter: Peter Malycha is a long way from home

then to Fiji, where he is currently sitting out the hurricane season.

Because of the rigours of yacht travel, Malycha only brought an old jazz trumpet with him to keep him in practice and while away some long nights at sea. He played a little in French Polynesia and Tonga, but it was not until he got to Fiji that he got some real practice.

At the Traps bar in Suva, he heard local jazz band Tui Ravai and the Freelancers. He intro duced himself and now plays regularly with them. He has be come a close friend of band leader Tui, and wishes he could take the band to Europe to give them some exposure.

The Freelancers are hoping to do a South Pacific regional tour some time this year.

He feels the same way about Fiji as he did when he left French

Polynesia sad. Sad that he will have to leave new friends and the beautiful country, but he knows in his heart he will return.

Later this year he plans to return to French Polynesia via Western and Am erican Samoa and then go on to Brazil.

Enroute he hopes to fulfil a lifetime dream to sail around Cape Horn.

When does he plan to return to Germany? “Some time” he plans to leave his yacht in the Mediterranean in August-September next year and fly

home to experience the new unified Germany. Unification will open a new market for musicians and he would like to experience the East’s new freedom.

Although a sociable person, Malycha prefers to sail on his own with just his pet parrot for company. He says he enjoys the freedom that sailing gives him, and wants to be on his own so he can make the decisions he wants.

But what are his long-term plans? “To travel and to play more music.” □

Lure of the sea

proves irresistible

BRITISH media magnate Robert Maxwell’s death last year could have been caused by calenture, an impulse to jump into the sea which has been known to mariners for centuries.

Dr Sandy Macleod said the condition was identified by two early French psychologists who described it as ai delirium produced by fever, usually ini hot, clear, calm weather.

But Macleod did not associate it withi sunstroke, infection or a suicidal urge., Serving as a ship’s medical officer, he: found half the crew had experienced it., One felt “entranced” by the vessel’s; movement, one felt “lured”, and another

“hypnotically attracted”. Solutions? 1

Stay away from the rail, in company, or below deck in calm'weather. □

Tui Raval and the Freelancers: Tui, second from left, with Paul Stevens, Manoa 'Twisty', Peter Malycha and Vili Tuilaucala