Captain Sifr is a turtle, and for good reason: turtles are considered wise. They stay calm, take a proper look, and then decide. That is exactly what young sailors practise in mental training, and exactly what the Captain shows them.

Captain Sifr as a plush toy – turtle with captain’s hat, eye patch and bib with sail number GER 2031

His name comes from sifr, the Arabic root of our word “zero”: the nought. The zero point where the noise falls silent and only the signal remains. Zero fear, a clear head, full capacity to act. He carries his shell with him wherever he goes, just as you carry your mental strength.

Captain Sifr is made for children: a companion for the kit bag, complete with captain’s hat, eye patch and, if you like, your own sail number on his bib. And honestly: the grown-up children think he’s rather sweet too.