Simpson requires repairs in Hobart

As Philippe Delamare continues to lead the Global Solo Challenge in the South Pacific, the enduring chase by Americans Cole Brauer and Ronnie Simpson will change as Simpson has committed to a pitstop in Hobart, Australia.

Simpson plans to deal with sail repairs while also fixing the primary autopilot (which has not worked from the first night of his circumnavigation) and other issues on his Open 50 before taking on the second half of his journey.

According to the Sailing Instructions, a boat pulling into port must then observe a minimum 96 hours time penalty or longer as decided by the Organizer. However, no time penalties are applicable if a boat anchors to carry out repairs, find shelter from bad weather, or other reason without receiving any kind of outside assistance.

As the halfway point on the route from the start and finish in A Coruna, his pitstop will leave Brauer with a very solid 1400+ nm lead on Riccardo Tosetto who set off on the same date and is also sailing a Class40. Brauer’s location has her south of Australia and approaching New Zealand.

While the gap between Brauer and Delamare keeps reducing and stands now at 3500 nm, the time on time difference in relative term has been fairly constant, especially after Brauer experienced a knock-down, injury to her ribs, followed by autopilot issues.

Her more cautious approach to ensuring she does not run into any technical problems has allowed Delamare to manage, maintain and, as the weeks pass, consolidate his fully deserved lead. However, the weather and technical issues lottery can catch anyone off guard as the leaders approach Cape Horn.

Attrition List:
DNS: Peter Bourke – Class40, Imagine
DNS: Ivan Dimov – Endur37, Blue Ibis
DNS: Curt Morlock – IMOCA, 6 Lazy K
DNS: Volkan Kaan Yemlihaoğlu – Open 70, Black Betty

RTD: Juan Merediz – Class40, Sorolla
RTD: Dafydd Hughes – S&S 34, Bendigedig
RTD: Ari Känsäkoski – Class40, ZEROchallenge

Race details – Entry list – Start times – Tracking

The inaugural Global Solo Challenge 2023-24 seeks to be a budget-friendly solo, non-stop race around the world. Using a pursuit format for the 2023-24 race, 20 entrants from 34 to 70 feet have start times between August 26 to January 6 from A Coruña, Spain, with the first boat to return deemed the winner.

Source: GSC