Ageing cannot be stopped, but we can do something to slow down the processes or partially rejuvenate ourselves. "The topic of longevity is extremely topical and science is making great strides forward," says Dr Tobias Reichmuth. The Swiss national invests in longevity projects and companies and has been observing the research that has been working intensively on the topic for around twelve years. The Blue Zones are coming into focus, places such as Loma Linda in California, Nicoya in Costa Rica, the Greek island of Ikaria, Sardinia and Okinawa, a Japanese island.
Blue zones and longevity
Tobias Reichmuth now wants to travel to these areas and look for best practices worldwide in order to achieve the longest possible good life. During this BlueCruise, the data from the Blue Zones will also be scrutinised - for example, there are doubts about inadequate birth certificates. On 8 March, just one week later than planned, he, his partner Aleksandra, friends and scientists board the newly refurbished "Prometej".
A stable, seaworthy ship was needed for the 18-month Longevity Tour. "We needed a steel hull and a range of at least 4,500 nautical miles," explains Reichmuth. In the end, he and his team set their sights on a 45-metre icebreaker from 1956, and the yacht newcomers needed professional help to buy it. In this case, Ocean Independence stepped in to help them with the contract negotiations. Despite her good condition, there was a huge list of defects. "Supposedly it wasn't that long, I thought it was blatant," says the entrepreneur.
Stormy passages are planned
Before the round-the-world voyage, there was a kind of test voyage - for crew and yacht. In the summer of 2024, the "Prometej" cruised through Mediterranean waters. She was then taken to a shipyard in Trogir, Croatia, where a generator was replaced, the batteries renewed and the turbos of the ship's engines replaced.
The biggest challenge was the doors, which had to be specially made. Reichmuth explains: "We needed different doors because we are also travelling through the Drake Strait and you have to be prepared for stormy waters.
The to-do list also included converting a cabin into a wardrobe, a wish of Reichmuth's partner. The team also set up a large office with fast internet via Starlink and a podcast studio: "We want to be able to work well on board, not just go on holiday."
The "Prometej" is a floating longevity spa
The main aim was to equip the yacht with red light therapy, IHHT altitude training and a sauna. A cryochamber for cold therapy was actually also planned, but the ceiling height was not sufficient for this. "We would have needed 2.37 metres," explains Reichmuth. And so there is now a cryo bed on board. There is a fully equipped gym for athletes; one of the Technogym treadmills is reserved for the on-board dog Fritz.
Tobias Reichmuth was somewhat surprised by the challenges surrounding the crew: "As an inexperienced yacht owner, I was thrown in at the deep end. It's not like setting up a company". With a yacht, people come and go, it's not easy to retain someone and certainly not "when you're travelling around the world for 18 months". The team definitely wanted to speak to the people themselves about the duration of the trip.
The crew is one of those things
After many interviews, a First Officer came on board shortly before the start of the journey and had to be replaced straight away. It then emerged that a deckhand and the second steward were not coming on board after all. "They actually knew where they were going, but now they realise that 18 months is a long time," surmises Reichmuth, "not an easy topic, but we like challenges."
A central role has definitely been filled. For the position of head chef, several chefs travelled to Switzerland for a longevity test meal: "It's probably almost the most important thing that the food tastes good."
Applications are very welcome
Reichmuth invites friends, scientists and business partners to accompany him on the BlueCruise. There is room for twelve guests on board. A Shaolin monk, a fashion designer from Switzerland and a clinic owner from Bulgaria have already accepted. In addition, anyone can register for the Homepage apply. His appeal: "All you have to do is convince us why you should be there. We are interested in your story and what we can learn from you."
Anyone coming on board should have their blood values tested in advance, this data is then passed on to the nutritionist, who in turn gives the chef clear instructions for the menu. The list also includes special dietary supplements from longevity specialist AVEA.
