Calms in the horse latitudes

(March 17, 2023)- The Golden Globe Race in the Atlantic has found scorching sun and extensive areas of calms in the horse latitudes, with Kirsten Neuschäfer (RSA) holding more than 300 nm lead over Abhilash Tomy (IND).

Having discovered a problem with her bowsprit on which Minnehaha‘s genoa is rigged, Neuschäfer has been sailing more conservatively on the Cape George 36. While her easterly course gave her a clear advantage last week, this week she ran into a windless wall.

Working hard to get 40-60 miles a day out of Minnehaha, Neuschäfer, who chose her route based on centuries-old data, now thinks she has made a wrong decision but is unaware of her advantage. While modern racing yachts know their exact position several times a day, downloading GRIB files for routing and fleet ranking at least once a day, this is not the case for the GGR sailors.

After a rather low morale for Neuschäfer two days ago, the wind finally came back from the east. Minnehaha is back to her more usual speeds of 6-8 knots, increasing her lead over the rest of the fleet which now must endure the wall that stopped he.

Simon Curwen (GBR) in Chichester Class on Clara had his best week of sailing in a long time, surfing in south-easterly winds brought by the high pressure south of his position. Alternating between full main/maxi spinnaker and reefed main/genoa when the conditions are too rough, Curwen has sailed between 140 and 155 miles a day.

In the same weather system as the two leaders, 4,000 miles from the finish, with the dreaded doldrums to cross, Curwen could well contend for line honors.

Ian Herbert-Jones (GBR), in fourth position and the last GGR sailor in the Pacific, is currently 550 miles from Cape Horn. Worried about arriving late in the season, he is enjoying surprisingly good conditions on their way down since they escaped from the dreaded Pacific exclusion zone.

Event details – Entry list – Tracker – Facebook

Credit for helping with rescue of Tapio Lehtinen:
• Kirsten Neuschäfer: 35 hours + 30 litres of fuel
• Abhilash Tomy: 12hrs

2022 GGR Class:
1. Kirsten Neuschäfer (39) / South Africa / Cape George 36 – “MINNEHAHA”
2. Abhilash Tomy (43) / India / Rustler 36 – “BAYANAT”
3. Michael Guggenberger (44) / Austria / Biscay 36 – “NURI”
4. Ian Herbert Jones (52) / UK / Tradewind 35 – “PUFFIN”

2022 GGR Chichester Class:*
1. Simon Curwen (63) / UK / Biscay 36 – “CLARA” (will stop to repair windvane)
2. Jeremy Bagshaw (59) / South Africa / OE32 – “OLLEANNA” (stopped in Hobart to clean hull)
* Competitors shift to this class by making one stop.

Retired
Edward Walentynowicz (68) / Canada / Rustler 36 (dropped out, Sept. 8)
Guy deBoer (66) / USA / Tashiba 36 (ran aground, Sept. 16)
Mark Sinclair (63) / Australia / Lello 34 (retired in Lanzarote, Sept. 22)
Pat Lawless (66) / Ireland / Saga 36 (retired in Cape Town, Nov. 9)
Damien Guillou (39) / France / Rustler 36 (retired in Cape Town, Nov. 14)
Ertan Beskardes (60) / UK / Rustler 36 (retired in Cape Town, Nov. 16)
Tapio Lehtinen (64) / Finland / Gaia 36 Masthead sloop (sank off Cape Town, Nov. 18)
Arnaud Gaist (50) / France / BARBICAN 33 MKII-long keel version (retired near Saint Helena, Dec. 9)
Elliott Smith (27) / USA / Gale Force 34 (retired, Dec. 20)
Guy Waites (54) / UK / Tradewind 35 (stopped in Cape Town to clean/paint hull; retired in Hobart after losing his liferaft, Feb. 10)

About the 2022 Golden Globe Race
On September 4, 2022, the third edition of the Golden Globe Race started from Les Sables d’Olonne, France. Sixteen skippers will face eight months of isolation sailing 30,000 miles before finishing in Les Sables d’Olonne. Along the route there are several marks of the course and media requirements.

In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record breaking voyage of discovery. He had entered the original Golden Globe. Nine men started that first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. He was 29 year old Sir Robin Knox Johnston. History was made. Navigating only with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world.

In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly gained traction with adventurers, captivated by the spirit and opportunity. Eighteen started with five finishers.

To embrace the original race, competitors must sail in production boats between 32 and 36 feet overall and designed prior to 1988 that have a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge. Additionally, sailors have limited communication equipment and can use only sextants, paper charts, wind up clocks, and cassette tapes for music.

Source: GGR