TALKING BOATS!

Stage Photo: Alain Delord sailing his ARCHAMBAULT 35 ” TCHOUK TCHOULK NOUGAT” solo around the world. By VoilesetVoiliers Photo@ALESSANDRO GUI

The Southern Ocean is tough on GGR boats as it is for all who venture south. It’s a place of extreme beauty, a true wilderness that captures the imagination of sailors and reminds them of their insignificance. Nowhere else on earth is like it. It’s power is unquestioned and unchallenged. You never beat it, just move and bend with it in deep respect. You venture south at your own risk with an open mind in the knowledge that you may not return. The allure of the Great Southern Ocean is steeped in history and folklore. For many the attraction is to successfully round Cape Horn, a moment mixed with pride, excitement, awe and most often great relief.

To succeed you must believe in yourself and your ability, TRUST YOUR BOAT and prepare for the worst.

JEAN LUC VAN DEN HEEDE first coined the fun phrase Petit Escargot (little snail) describing the 36ft full displacement yachts of the GGR when he joined the Race in 2015. He has sailed five times solo around the Globe in larger boats up to 80 ft long including his BOC and VENDEE GLOBE yachts. He knew the challenge was tough, indeed very tough but stakes his life on his Rustler 36 MATMUT as a safe ocean-going yacht, up to the demands of the Southern Ocean and right for this simple yet serious adventure.

The essence of the Golden Globe Race rests with strong honest boats, basic reliable sailing systems, no computers, world class safety gear and full risk minimization. It’s a UNIQUE challenge, accessible and affordable to any man or woman with the passion and desire to do it.

The choice of boats for the GGR is defined within well-conceived parameters specifically relative to the event. At 32-36 ft they are proven ocean voyaging yachts conceived by respected designers. The keels, rudders and hulls are over engineered by modern standards. These designs are not prone to damage from hitting underwater objects and their long keels track well under windvane self-steering even in heavy weather.

Only six of the original 17 starters in the GGR are still sailing and there have been five Southern Ocean dismasting. Some may think this is because the boats are too small, too slow and cannot outrun Southern Ocean storms. History does not support this assumption. Many ordinary well-prepared yachts from 22ft to 38ft have safely solo circumnavigated via the Great Capes and continue to do so. Speed may sometimes help in the Southern Ocean, but many modern fast yachts are still overcome. My 50ft 1990 BOC Challenge yacht Buttercup and another entrant Kanga Birtles in his 60ft yacht could not outrun the same storm and we both rolled 360. (Both rigs survived) Watch the video here

Typical racing sailors would never use these Petit Escargot for normal racing and have trouble coming to terms with their features and ocean-going ability. Most have never sailed them, nor been in the Southern Ocean and have not used windvane self-steering. They feel more modern designs with fin keels and outboard rudders may be safer. Again, history does not support this assumption. Modern fin keel lightweight surfing boats often need electric Auto pilots to steer, require constant human input and effort to control these sometimes-unforgiving designs in heavy weather. These designs simply have less ability to look after themselves. GGR style boats are much more forgiving in heavy weather and sail well under wind vanes without the need for electrical power.

A few years ago, I was involved in the RESCUE of French solo sailor ALAIN DELORD, sailing a fast, light modern fin keel 35ft yacht solo around the globe. He was unable to control his boat in a storm and then was dismasted 440 miles south of Hobart in Tasmania, spending four days in a life raft before we were able to recover him.

Watch the Video here .

Read the story here.

Read the FRENCH story here

Collectively I have spent 3.5years of my life in the Southern Ocean over 22 years on yachts and small expedition ships and have 48 years sailing experience. I have seen her moods. I know that the better prepared you are the more luck you have, but I also know that sometimes, you can have the best prepared boat with the best skipper, yet that GUARANTEES NOTHING.

History makes this very clear . Last year’s OSTAR solo transatlantic race saw FIVE finishers from 15 starters. The early Vendee Globe races saw on average only HALF the fleet finish. In 1996-97 only SIX of 16 starters finished and in the 2008-9 Vendee Globe 18 of the 29 starters FAILED TO FINISH. The retirement statistics of problems (3 keels, 3 steering and 7 mast issues) make interesting reading.

Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment) day 85: lost keel.

Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) day 58: lost keel bulb, capsized

Jonny Malbon (Artemis) day 56: delaminated mainsail

Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) day 53: lost port rudder

Derek Hatfield (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) day 50: broken spreaders

Sébastien Josse (BT) day 50: broken rudder system

Yann Eliès (Generali) day 40: fractured femur

Mike Golding (Ecover 3) day 38: dismasted

Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Groupe Maisonneuve) day 37: faulty halyards, broken auto-pilot

Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) day 36: dismasted

Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) day 36: ran aground

Dominique Wavre (Temenos) day 35: damaged keel box

Unai Basurko (Pakea Bizkaia) day 28: faulty starboard rudder box

Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) day 17: damaged rig

Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) day 6: cracked hull

Yannick Bestaven (Energies Autour du Monde) day 4: dismasted

Marc Thiercelin (DCNS) day 4: dismasted

Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) day 4: dismasted

The 2018 Golden Globe Race is re-creating and making history. It is new, innovative and different in many ways. It is seen as a Cultural Renaissance in sailing. There is no such thing as the PERFECT BOAT in any ocean or situation. The GGR Petit Escargots are RIGHT FOR THE SOUTHERN OCEAN and what is quickly becoming known as the TOUGHEST RACE IN THE WORLD.

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Day 169 – Mark Slats gains another 154 miles on Jean-Luc Van Den Heede

Igor Zaretskiy heads back to Moscow for medical checkup
Istvan Kopar escapes one storm only to risk running into another
Susie Goodall statement
Uku Randmaa’s ETA at Horn – Wednesday 19th Dec

Dateline 13:00 UTC 17.12. 2018 – Les Sables d’Olonne, France

Dutchman Mark Slats has taken a further 154 miles out French Race leader Jean-Luc Van Den Heede over the past 7 days, reducing the gap to 794 miles with 4,300 miles still to run before the winner returns to Les Sables d’Olonne at the end of January.

Both have had their share of problems during the past week. Slats, who was suffering severe stommach problems untl tracking the source to rotten milk, was forced to lie hove-st for the first time during this race after running into heavy head winds

On Saturday he texted: BAD WEATHER GUSTING 40 KT AND 5M SEAS ON THE NOSE. NO FUN!

followed 5 hours later with: HOVE TO NOW. FIRST TIME I STOP SAILING BECAUSE BAD WEATHER

Since then, business has returned to normal but Slats has to endure another 500 miles of northerly winds before beginning to experience the Easterly air flow now benefitting Van Den Heede 13 degrees to the north.

These head winds gave Van Den Heede equal concern at the end of last week when the pounding even in moderate conditions, extended the crack in Matmut‘s aready damaged mast. The 73-year old Frenchman was forced to climb the mast a sixth time to reinforce the temporary binding that is all that holds the lower shroud attachment points to the spreader above. Now that he is back to reaching across the winds, all seems OK for the moment, but he knows that to finish, he must sail very conservativly.

Today, Estonian Uku Randmaa is within 230 miles of Cape Horn, and looking forward to rounding some time on Wednesday. He is experiencing boisterous 40 knot following winds at present, but the forecast suggests that this could die to almost nothing within the next 48 hours.

Fourth placed American/Hungarian Istvan Kopar has repaired the failing bearings within the steering pedestal aboard his Tradewind 35 Puffin, and having successfully dodged the storm that threatened to overtake him last week by heading south into the NO-GO Zone, now faces the prospect of running the gauntlet before another low pressure system in 3 days time. This one threatens to be the biggest storm to-date with 60-70 knot winds and 12-15 metre seas. Race HQ has advised Kopar to thread his way south of the first small storm but not drop below 53S latitude before December 20.

Finland’s Tapio Lentinen whose Gaia 36 Asteria remains covered in barnacles and trails in 5th place among the Glolden Globe racers some 6,300 miles behind the race leader, has a solid breeze in typical southern Ocean weather for now and will have been buoyed by the fact that he has taken 102 miles out of Jean-Luc‘s lead over the past week.

Igor flying home for a medical

Igor Zaretskiy, who dropped down to the Chichester Class after stopping in Albany Western Australia last week to rid his hull of barnacles and make repairs, announced today that he will return to Moscow for a health check before continuing in the race. In 2010, the Russian sailor suffered a heart attack after winning the Jester Challenge solo transatlantic race, and after undergoing a further health check in Australia last week, has been advised to return to Russia and see if further surgery in necessary.

There is no time timit for Igor to restart in the Chichester Class – Francis Chichester stopped for 48 days in Sydney during his one-stop circumnavigation in 1966/7 – but there are practical limitations. After the end of March, the onset of winter storms in the Southern Ocean makes it unadvisable to attempt a Cape Horn. rounding until the following Spring.

Susie Goodall statement

After arriving in Punta Arenas on Friday, Susie Goodall thanked all those involved in her rescue and suggested that she can’t wait to get back to sea. In a statement she says;

“If you asked me if I would do this again, now knowing what it’s really like, I would say yes in a heartbeat! But as I said to the Chilean Navy captain who brought me ashore from MV Tian Fu, ‘I created so much work for everyone involved in the rescue,’ to which he responded ‘Of course you must do it again!’

You may ask why?! Some people just live for adventure – it’s human nature. And for me, the sea is where my adventure lies. Having grown up admiring Tracy Edwards and Ellen MacArthur, I just knew that one day I needed to try to do this too. Every seafarer understands the risks involved but that’s what makes us stronger and able to overcome other challenges in life.

I can’t tell you what is next beyond spending time with family and friends over Christmas and enjoying a glass of grog, but that fire in my belly is far from out, so watch this space…!”

Click here to read full statement

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Susie’ s statement after arriving…our thoughts are with her right now:

After arriving in Punta Arenas today, I’m still a little wobbly both emotionally and physically as I find my land legs again.

I arrived with a heavy heart, no longer a competitor in the Golden Globe Race – but here is certainly a lot better than the alternative. And I wouldn’t be here today without the incredible support and seamanship shown by so many people over the past 10 days.

I want to start by thanking MRCC Falmouth. After successfully picking up my distress call following the incident on Wednesday 5th December, they worked quickly and efficiently with the Golden Globe Race organisers to pass the information onto MRCC Chile. To the captain, crew and owners of Tian Fu, to whom I owe so much, soon diverted their course having received the request. Thanks to the precision and professionalism of the ship’s captain, I was safely found and lifted aboard, onto a somewhat bigger boat! Sailing away from DHL Starlight was heartbreaking, she stood up valiantly to all that the elements had to throw at her and looked after me until the last. Onboard Tian Fu, although there was an obvious language barrier, I felt very welcome and was made as comfortable as possible for the week-long journey into Punto Arenas.

After 157 days alone at sea and a very emotional week to follow, I was fighting back the tears as I stepped off the ship and saw my mum and oldest brother. My whole family (Tash, that now includes you!) have been my rock from day one of this journey, way back three years ago when I signed up to the Golden Globe Race. I have put them through a lot, and I know I have a lot of making up to do! But I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for believing in and supporting me in the many, many ways they have – thank you.

To my sponsors – what can I say. I had hoped to make it a full circle, but it just wasn’t to be this time. However, I wouldn’t have even made it to the start line without you and I certainly wouldn’t have been so well equipped. Thank you to Zhik, Selden, Marlow Ropes, Weleda, Adesaskews, Sport Kitchen, Invivo Clinical and of course, to my hugely supportive title sponsor, DHL.

It was lovely to have Jaime and Andreas from DHL here to welcome me in today. DHL have supported me throughout this campaign above and beyond what I had expected. They offered help with logistics, communications support so I could pass on messages to family throughout the race and, the biggest thing for me right now, a ticket to get home!

Having only just touched land today, I have not yet looked at my emails, social media or any media for that matter. However, the race organisers and my family have told me that the support from the public, both sailors and non, has been overwhelming. Thank you so much to everyone who has followed the race and sent messages of support.

If you asked me if I would I do this again, now knowing what it’s really like, I would say yes in a heartbeat! But as I said to the Chilean Navy captain who brought me ashore from Tian Fu, “I created so much work for everyone involved in the rescue,” to which he responded “Of course you must do it again!” You may ask why?! Some people just live for adventure – it’s human nature. And for me, the sea is where my adventure lies. Having grown up admiring Tracy Edwards and Ellen MacArthur, I just knew that one day I needed to try to do this too. Every seafarer understands the risks involved but that’s what makes us stronger and able to overcome other challenges in life.

I can’t tell you what is next beyond spending time with family and friends over Christmas and enjoying a glass of glogg, but that fire in my belly is far from out, so watch this space…!

I’d like to say a final good luck and fair winds to the remaining five competitors in the Golden Globe Race. I look forward to seeing you all at the finish line!

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Day 164 – Lead narrows between Mark Slats and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede

Istvan Kopar faces major storm
Susie Goodall arrives in Punta Arenas on Friday
Mark Sinclair – ‘Capt Coconut ‘– retires in Adelaide
Igor Zaretskiy reaches Albany to make repairs – now in the Chichester Class
Uku Randmaa’s ETA at Horn – Wednesday 19th Dec

Dateline 16:00 UTC 12.12. 2018 – Les Sables d’Olonne, France

As French race leader Jean-Luc Van Den Heede works to protect his shrinking lead over 2nd placed Dutch rival Mark Slats, the focus is once more on a violent storm in the Southern Ocean that looks likely to overtake 4th placed American/Hungarian Istvan Kopar on Friday.

Race HQ has given permission for Istvan to take evasive action and move south into the NO-GO Zone, just as Estonian Uku Randmaa did to avoid the same storm that left Susie Goodall dismasted and in need of rescue a week ago.

Race Chairman, Don McIntyre says: “We have just advised Istvan to head south as fast as possible. We hope he can make at least 180 miles, which is the lower marker on the distance track. We then have to hope the forecast track of this storm will be correct. Going South has risks because it takes him closer to the centre of the storm and sudden wind shift zone? But if he gets south he may miss the worst of it.

Yesterday we alerted Istvan to run East as fast as possible to try and outrun the worst of the weather, but since then the storm has intensified and changed direction. It is for Istvan to decide what to do . GGR can only offer advise and we are updating him every 12 hours.”

Leaders draw closer

Jean-Luc Van Den Heede tacked to within sight of Rio’s Copacabana Beach today and is now entering the zone of headwinds that is likely to slow his progress considerably. The 73-year old has climbed Matmut’s mast again to check that his repairs to the lower shroud tang fastenings remain secure and seems happy enough for now, but these head winds will concentrate his mind on protecting the rig on his Rustler 36 at all cost. This will invariably slow the Frenchman down.

At 12:00 UTC today, Matmut’s lead over Mark Slats rival Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick is down to 946 miles, a loss of 76 miles during the past 9 days. That’s not enough of an average to overtake the Frenchman, but Slats knows this could all change during the next two weeks. He is hand steering much of the time, including at night, driving the boat hard and surfing on the best waves, knowing he can make big gains on the leader. His boat is in good shape and he is feeling strong and excited at this new race to the finish. The finish back in Les Sables d’Olonne is still some 5,000 miles way, but for Mark every hour of the day is important! He knows that anything can happen, so he has to be careful himself, but is charged with excitement. Can he make up the difference?

Susie Goodall

Susie Goodall is due to be dropped off at Punta Arenas on Friday when her rescue ship, the MV Tian Fu picks up a pilot prior to navigating through the Magellan Strait. She will be greeted by her Mother.

One to miss her rivalry is Istvan Kopar who had been 780 miles behind when her yacht DHL Starlight was pitch poled and dismasted 7 days ago. But Kopar has his hands full. Not only is he facing a similar storm, but is struggling with major steering issues on his Tradewind 35 Puffin and also running very short of water. Nor does he have a working radio to pick up weather reports so is reliant on Race HQ to advise him about approaching storms as a safety measure. For now, he sits 4th overall – an amazing achievement considering. And perhaps this storm will have a silver lining and bring him rain!

Media enquiries regarding interviews with Susie Goodall are being handled by Lucy Cadel, Maverick Sport, Tel +44 207 378 6969 mob: +44 7725 256427 E.mail lucy@mavericksports.com

Barnacles

While Uku Randmaa’s barnacle ridden Rustler 36 One and All was making 5.7knots today, the Estonian has revised his ETA to round Cape Horn from Monday 17th December to the 19th, 5th placed Tapio Lehtinen missed the opportunity two days ago to finally scrape clear the barnacles slowing his Finnish flagged Gaia 36 Asteria. The weather was calm without wind, but just as he was about to dive overboard, two sharks arrived and circled the boat for the rest of the day. His only consolation came with the text message: 09 Dec 06:13 UTC: SHARKS EATING THE BARNACLES (I THINK) SO DIDN’T NEED TO SWIM

Tapio has since reported a leak in the bow, which he is trying to fix, and though he now has the winds from the right direction for a change, he is still making slow progress across the South Pacific and must wait for the next calm to finish off what the sharks began.

Australian Mark Sinclair whose Lello 34 Coconut has also been plagued by barnacle growth, reached his home port of Adelaide last week just as his water supplies ran dry. He has decided to retire from the Race. Speaking by phone, he says that barnacles had slowed his yacht considerably, and though a team of friends had rallied round to clean the hull and make other repairs to the boat, he was concerned that reaching Cape Horn in early March was a little late in the season.
Click here to listen to Sinclair announcement on Facebook

Barnacles also proved the downfall of Russia’s Igor Zaretskiy who put into Albany, Western Australia on Wednesday to clean the hull of his Endurance 35 Esmeralda and replace a broken forestay. He blames the barnacles on a simple error of judgement made two days before the start from Les Sables d’Olonne, when he slipped his boat to wash the bottom and did not take the opportunity to apply another coat of antifouling.

Zaretskiy is now demoted to the Chichester Class for making a stop and hopes to set sail again on Monday. This leaves just 5 of the original 17 starters competing in the Golden Globe Race.

GGR at the Paris Boat Show

Race leader Jean-Luc Van den Heede is scheduled to make a satellite phone call to the Paris Nautic Boat Show at 10:30 UTC (11:30 French time) on Thursday 12th Dec during a media event on the Les Sables d’Olonne Agglomeration stand. All entrants will be presented and plans for the arrival of the first boats home late January and the grand prizegiving event on April 22nd will be announced.

Position of skippers at 12:00 UTC 12.12.18

1. Jean- Luc VDH (FRA)Rustler 36 Matmut
2. Mark Slats (NED)Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick
3. Uku Randmaa (EST) Rustler 36 One and All
4. Istvan Kopar (USA) Tradewind 35 Puffin
5. Tapio Lehtinen (FIN) Gaia 36 Asteria

Chichester Class

1. Igor Zaretskiy (RUS) Endurance 35 Esmeralda

RETIRED

1. Ertan Beskardes (GBR) Rustler 36 Lazy Otter
2. Kevin Farebrother (AUS) Tradewind 35 Sagarmatha
3. Nabil Amra (PAL) Biscay 36 Liberty II
4. Antoine Cousot (FRA) Biscay 36 Métier Intérim
5. Philippe Péché (FRA) Rustler 36 PRB
6. Are Wiig (NOR) OE 32 Olleanna
7. Gregor McGuckin (IRE) Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance
8. Abhilash Tomy (IND) Suhaili replica Thuriya
9. Francesco Cappelletti (ITA) Endurance 35 007
10. Loïc Lepage (FRA) Nicholson 32 Laaland
11. Susie Goodall (GBR) Rustler 36 DHL Starlight
12. Mark Sinclair (Aus) Lello 34 Coconut

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SOME WONDER WHY?

A personal view about the inspirational ethos of adventure by Golden Globe Race Founder, Don McIntyre.

The latest rescue of British yachtswoman Susie Goodall from her dismasted yacht DHL Starlight after being pitch poled during a storm some 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn earlier this week has led some to wonder if the event safe? Should the Golden Globe Race be stopped after five boats dismasted and three rescues?

This forgoes the simplest fact that the master of any vessel at any time can return to any port and give up on any voyage. HE/SHE CONTROLS THEIR OWN DESTINY. Whatever the organizers of the Golden Globe should do, I can assure you that it will not impact on any sailors currently at sea. They would carry on. They love it. Without exception, every GGR skipper is a very experienced mariner aboard a well-prepared yacht who volunteered for this challenge with spirit and enthusiasm.

They are not there for the money, nor the fame. They are there to challenge themselves and seek adventure. Adventure has risk and has by its very nature an unknown outcome. Without Adventure, or those who are prepared to push themselves, the world is worse off. The issue is one of responsible adventure and the 2018 Golden Globe Races is very definitely just that.

Consider Susie Goodall. She is a highly qualified professional skipper with vast ocean experience. She is sailing a yacht built and prepared by a boat builder considered one of the best in the World. Her mast and rigging were designed and built by one of the biggest and best in the world, with full understanding of the challenges and expectation of knockdowns and rollovers. This is part of the reality. Susie’s safety gear, training and risk minimization process carried out under the GGR Notice of Race is exceptional and to the highest standard. The French Maritime Administration even declared that the GGR Notice of Race was THE BEST they have seen for ANY yachting event in all of France.

The challenge is very simple and pure. To sail solo around the world in a small seaworthy boat. People have been doing it for over 50 years. Young and old like David Dix, Jon Saunders, Jesse Martin, Jessica Watson, Vito Dumas, Minoru Saito, Kay Cottee, and of course, Sir Robin Knox Johnston, the first to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation 50 years ago.

Ordinary sailors around the world with ordinary boats who sail oceans for the very same reasons, are watching, listening and learning from the GGR like it has never been done before. So too are future entrants in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, and there are many! So too are the organizers of the Golden Globe.

Sir Robin Knox Johnston is currently undertaking a comprehensive investigation into all issues surrounding the storm tactics of GGR entrants, rig designs and the events that have led to dismasting’s and three rescues in the Race. This very thorough report is widely anticipated and will be released at the conclusion of the Golden Globe Race.

As Founder of the GGR, I too am surprised at the outcome of some of these storms and dismasting that have resulted. It is an incredible challenge. Some may ask what is the point of continuing? The answer is very simple. No one should ever and can never kill off the human Spirit of Adventure. Adventure is inherent in our makeup. How often do you see the word ADVENTURE on TV, the side of a bus, and advertising billboards? Adventure is the very essence of a full life.

There may be some who do not understand the ethos, or the facts behind this amazing cultural renascence in sailing that is the Golden Globe. Some may say it is unsafe because these GGR skippers are not competing in fast foiling 60ft yachts and multihulls. You need only look at the results of the recent Route du Rum solo transatlantic race where 35% of the fleet was knocked out after just one storm to see that they are missing the point. Modern designs, latest composite construction, and satellite technology did not stop these boats from breaking up, being dismasted or being rescued.

There is nothing wrong with slower well-found yachts, traditional navigation techniques and high safety standards that ARE the Golden Globe Race.

The GGR is real life with real sailors in real boats. Boats, masts, sailors have been lost in all around the world races including the Volvo, Vendee Globe, Clipper, Whitbread and BOC Challenge races. These events are all adventures with young and old, men and women living their dreams that inspire others to follow in their wake. By any definition, the Golden Globe is tough, if not the TOUGHEST of them all.

Whilst we are all saddened by Susie having to abandon her boat and her ambition, and very appreciative and humbled by the efforts that many people, agencies and companies are making to bring her safely home, the GGR will continue. The support from ordinary sailors around the world is HUGE, passionate and growing every day! It is still a long way to the finish. Anything can happen. Only one boat finished in the first Sunday Times Golden Globe race 50 years ago. That is what adventure is all about. The 2018 Golden Globe Race is a very responsible one. The 2022 edition will be even more so.

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