Tales from the Golden Globe Race

Solo round the world skipper Tapio Lehtinen has a narrow-miss when sleep deprived on the Golden Globe Race. Tom Cunliffe introduces this extract from The Last Voyage of Asteria:

Ten years or so ago I was contacted by a Finnish yachtsman, Tapio Lehtinen, who was seeking assistance with his studies of astronavigation. He was obliged to become a master of this ancient art to take part in the 2018 solo Golden Globe Race around the world.

For the event, boats had to be typical of those available for the late 1960s race won by Robin Knox-Johnston, and navigation was to be by traditional methods. Tapio’s yacht in the inaugural event was plagued with gooseneck barnacles, which severely restricted his speed and upwind sailing ability, yet he was among only five that finished.

Determined to be competitive, Tapio decided to have another go at the race in 2022. He sailed the same boat, the Gaia 36 Asteria which, although the oldest yacht entered, was better fitted out this time as Tapio had learned much from the earlier race. – Full report