Resurrected after a decade: The return of bottle postal service
In an intriguing tale of oceanic connection, Clint Buffington, an American message-in-a-bottle enthusiast, is on a mission to find a particular bottle that has travelled an impressive 6,000 kilometers across the Baltic Sea. The bottle was sent by Jörg and Cornelia Wanke, a couple from the German town of Heringsdorf, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, back in 2015.
Clint, who is known as a message-in-a-bottle professional, having found over 100 of them, initially discovered the Wanke's bottle during a family vacation. The serendipitous find took place while he was walking on a beach with his father. The bottle, which contained a heartfelt message, was thrown into the sea on October 23, 2015, after dinner on the "Star Flyer". At the time, the ship was between Madeira and Gran Canaria.
Jörg Wanke, who was born on the island of Usedom, and his wife Cornelia, have since sent another message in a bottle from the Heringsdorf seabrücke into the Baltic Sea. However, the new bottle has yet to be found. Clint, who considers himself a "message in a bottle professional", has initiated a social media appeal in hopes of tracking down the Wanke family's latest missive.
In a heartwarming twist, Clint was able to contact the Wanke family through a report in the "Ostsee-Zeitung". The couple, who describe themselves as "proud islanders", were delighted to learn of the discovery and have since spoken to Clint via an internet call.
Clint's message-in-a-bottle finds include a 1976 bottle that gained attention on TikTok in July 2025, and a bottle associated with a historic transatlantic paddleboard event that also set a world record. While the exact number of bottles he has found is not known, it is clear that Clint's passion for these oceanic treasures continues to grow.
As the search for the Wanke's lost bottle continues, one thing is certain - the story of these two continents linked by a simple message in a bottle serves as a testament to the enduring power of human connection.
Clint Buffington, a message-in-a-bottle professional with a unique lifestyle, has launched a search on social media to find the latest message sent by Jorg and Cornelia Wanke, hoping to add their new bottle to his extensive collection of travel-worn messages. The Wanke couple, who previously sent a bottle that traveled 6,000 kilometers, are now waiting for their new message to embark on a similar journey, hopefully connecting with someone far away, just like Clint's other oceanic treasures.
