North American entries are dashing throughout the Atlantic Ocean, whereas others are anticipated to make landfall this week in France and the UK in preparation for the Golden Globe Race.
As Afloat reported beforehand, Inexperienced Insurgent would be the principal sponsor for sailor Pat Lawless as he makes an attempt to change into the primary Irish particular person to sail all over the world continuous as a part of the race. This week the County Kerry solo sailor signed up a neighborhood nationwide college as a part of his marketing campaign assist.
27-year-old Elliott Smith left Boston USA on his Gale Drive 34 on July 10th a month delayed. He’ll miss your entire Prologue, crusing direct to Les Sables d’Olonne as an alternative. He should then undertake the obligatory eight-day World Crusing Survival Course and STCW Medical Care course previous to the beginning on Sept 4th. This appears to be like unlikely, as he has the entire Atlantic to cross.
Canadian Gaurav Shinde had motored his Baba 35 from Toronto to New York, prepared for his transatlantic crossing, however dislocated his shoulder whereas placing the mast up. Already working late, he’s now utilizing his two-week restoration time to do his STCW Medical Care course. Scheduled to depart July 20, he won’t make the Gijón Prologue after his 3000-mile qualifier on an untested boat contemporary out of refit. Will he make the beginning?
Man deBoer, is at present mid-way in his transatlantic crossing heading to Gijón. Picture: Man deBoer Staff
Along with the GGR obligatory survival and medical programs, there are necessary security briefings in each Gijón and Les Sables d’Olonne. Lacking any of those will activate time and monetary penalties which is very doubtless.
To save lots of time Finnish entrant Tapio Lehtinen “Captain Barnacle ” is delivery his yacht Asteria to Bilbao, Spain. Throughout the 2018 GGR he was stricken by Barnacles that meant he was the final finisher after 322 days at sea. For 2022 he has new antifouling and is out to win! In the meantime, New Zealander Graham Dalton, who lately retired from the GGR is now hoping to rejoin the occasion. This won’t be thought of till he completes his 2000 mile qualifying voyage and all different security necessities earlier than getting into Gijón on sixth August.
Tapio Lehtinen selected to ship his yacht to Bilbao reasonably than sail her by means of the Baltic, Channel and Bay of Biscay
Making Landfall
Canadian Edward Walentynowicz is finishing his return crossing from Nova Scotia departing on June 20th on his Rustler 36 Noah’s Jest. He left Les Sables d’Olonne a yr in the past, crusing house to finish his refit and is predicted again in Vendée this week.
South African Jeremy Bagshaw ends his 6000-mile journey from South Africa after a brief cease in Horta to kind engine points. He expects to make landfall in Falmouth this week, simply in time to attend the rugby check match between Wales and South Africa!
Kirsten Neuschäfer, is nicely into her journey from Cape City to Europe, began mid-Could. Together with her 7000 nm journey from Prince Edward’s Island to South Africa after refit, she now has sailed a formidable whole of 13000 miles solo on Minnehaha. She is nicely ready.
Kirsten Neuschäfer (South Africa) has sailed a formidable whole of 13000 miles solo on « Minnehaha » already earlier than the beginning of the GGR 2022. Picture @ Kirsten Neuschäfer Staff
Elliott Smith’s Gale Drive 34 “Second Wind” at Newburyport (USA) earlier than setting sail throughout the Atlantic. Picture: Elliott Smith Staff
Gijón is gearing as much as welcome the sailors and their workforce managers, who will meet for the primary time throughout the Prologue from 6 to 14 August for security briefings and a ultimate likelihood to chill out within the Asturian port metropolis.
The SITraN Problem, a 280-mile course, will lead them from Gijón to the port of Sables d’Olonne, which can welcome the general public in an even bigger 7,000 m2 village from 20 August to four September, departure date of the 18 skippers all over the world. The variety of entrants is now 18 out of the unique 30 paying entries, the identical quantity as within the second version 4 years in the past.
The GGR is a race of attrition reasonably than efficiency, a journey to the end that in some ways has already begun, and this yr is not any exception!