Yachting Art Magazine

Sailing and fighting illness: a father and daughter united in the same battle, as they attempt to break the record for sailing 400 nautical miles non-stop aboard their small Beneteau First 14 SE sailing boat.

On a small sailboat out at sea, Jona and her father Luka are pursuing a goal that goes far beyond setting a record. Through their unassisted crossing, they hope to raise awareness of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare disease that disrupts lives.

Jona and Luka Kobler are sailing alone on the waves, without stopping or outside support. Their modest boat glides along with the wind. Their official ambition is to try to get their names in the Guinness World Records by completing this crossing as a father-daughter duo. But behind this feat, a deeper message guides them.

Their adventure highlights the realities of long-distance sailing: confined spaces, changing weather conditions, nights without proper rest. On board, everything becomes a question of resilience. Their journey is above all a mental challenge, with each day bringing new challenges.

But for them, the most important thing lies elsewhere. Through this project, they are seeking to draw attention to those on land who are fighting another battle: that against little-known diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is a rare disease that turns simple actions into obstacles: walking, working, carrying a child in your arms.

‘It's not just a record we want to achieve, it's a testimony,’ says Jona. Together, they hope to inspire and encourage people to think about what it means to fight every day. Their voyage becomes a symbol of the will to live life to the fullest despite adversity.

As they sail across the nautical miles, the duo carries the voices of those who fight for every breath. Their sporting challenge is coupled with a human commitment that reminds us how hope remains a powerful driving force, at sea as in life.