Peter Wiprächtiger enjoys two working environments

The 52-year-old from Lucerne manoeuvres the scheduled ships on Lake Zug. The activity involves much more than just steering the ship, however.

He is a real sailor, even if he does not necessarily need the ocean to make him happy – although he has sailed the Atlantic. Lake Zug is enough for Peter Wiprächtiger. The Lucerne native has now taken the lake firmly to his heart, and has been working here as a skipper (chief officer) since 2013.

He’s just arrived at the Schützenmatt, where the scheduled ships are stationed. Although he has been working in his notary's office up to the afternoon, he happily starts his shift on the MS Rigi, where the good relationship between the crew can be felt.

Peter Wiprächtiger is visibly looking forward to the additional evening trip that a group has booked with the shipping company. He says: "It's the peace on the water and the landscape. You always see something. It’s always a special experience in the morning. There are beautiful moments, on the first trip as well as on the return home."

The 52-year-old points out with a smile that the shoulder stripes of his uniform indicate that he is a skipper (ship’s master) – and not a captain, a term that is frequently used.
(Does this mean he cannot marry people on the MS Zug? ed.)

Worked on a ship as a boy
Even as a small boy from Kriens, who liked to swim in the lake, he was fascinated by ships. "As a child, I read books about adventures on ships. I once saved up my pocket money to buy a yellow rubber boat," recalls Wiprächtiger. And his eyes light up when he reports that, as a 15-year-old, he was allowed to help in the restaurant service of a ship on Lake Lucerne, in both the galley (kitchen) and as a waiter, and was very  proud of this:

"I was part of the crew. That's why I still have an affinity for the kitchen today and always like to stop by."

Photo 1: Peter Wiprächtiger obviously likes his part-time job.
Photo 2: There are numerous instruments on the bridge to help the skipper with manoeuvring.
Photo 3: The three stripes mean: Wiprächtiger is a skipper, a captain wears four stripes.
Photo 4: Before departure, the skipper must check that everything is in order in the engine room.
Photo 5: The flags of the Swiss cantons fly on the upper deck.
Photos: Maria Schmid (Zug, 9 July 2021)

Nevertheless, Peter Wiprächtiger didn’t sign up on a larger ship after graduating from high school, but studied law instead. " I studied in the winter, and worked as a sailor in the summer." After he started working in the law firm, he soon missed ships. "Sailing is not the same, the galley is missing there," he says and laughs. In his spare time, he attended intensive training courses as a chief officer in Lucerne, and completed all levels from small to large scheduled ships. His first job was on Lake Lucerne. "I soon knew everything there. In the meantime, I have a lot of experience, including on Lake Zug. I can sail all the ships today," he says. Wiprächtiger "loves everything", whether small or large, and adds with a grin: "The scheduled ships are beautiful, and there is always something to eat."

Checks carried out before departure
A skipper simply cannot turn the key and set off: he has several tasks to fulfil before departure so that the ship is ready to sail. Peter Wiprächtiger explains: "Safety is always important. Swimmers near the ship are also a problem. You have to pay special attention to them, because the braking distance is long. I also have to know about the technology and be able to carry out small things myself." He first checks that the ship has been well cleaned and that all crew members are present.

This also includes checking that all fire extinguishers are present – one was stolen once – and that everything is working in the engine room. He then carries out a test run before the ship is disconnected from the power grid on land, because it produces its own  electricity during the journey. Peter Wiprächtiger adds:

"The generator didn’t run on one occasion. You have to anchor if the main drive is switched off .- and that’s why a proper check is so important, not least in one's own interest."

The 52-year-old now climbs onto the upper deck of the ship and attaches the rope with the cantonal flags as a decorative element. He has filled in the engine control book, and can now operate the starter. He uses the outside driving position to steer while sailing backwards out of the harbour,– but only after he has put on the cap to match the uniform.

A popular photo subject
it's now time to cast off the lines and give a signal three times, as is prescribed when reversing. The large ship glides towards the Bahnhofsteg (station pier) in Zug. On the shore, mobile phones are pulled out as the MS Rigi runs in close. The weather on this day is fantastic, the sky is blue, and the sun shines from the west, making the lake glitter.

Peter Wiprächtiger is now in his element. For him, the office of skipper, which he exercises with a workload percentage of around 30%, has become a passion.

In this series we present professions and hobbies around Zug water areas.