Celebrating the Corinthian spirit
The 2019 Jester Baltimore Challenge started on 16 June, with solo sailors from seven different countries, including Australia, France and Sweden, signed up to sail 250 miles from either Plymouth or Pwllheli in north-west Wales to Baltimore, Ireland.
An offshoot of the Jester Challenge, which was first held in 2006 by Blondie Hasler’s biographer Ewen Southby-tailyour, the biennial Jester Baltimore Challenge is not a race but like all Jester challenges ‘a modern experiment in old-fashioned self-reliance, self-sufficiency and personal responsibility’. All those taking part sail in boats under 30ft, and stops are permitted. Engines can only be used for battery charging not propulsion. It is up to the individual skippers to decide what safety equipment they want to carry and when to begin sailing after the starting pistol has been fired.
‘It attracts sailors with a Corinthian spirit; proper seamen,’ explained Southby-tailyour. ‘All those that take part are great enthusiasts and follow the Jester ethos of selfreliance at sea based on good old-fashioned seamanship. They are on their own and face what God throws at them. It is about seamanship not showmanship.’
Speaking ahead of the start, Southby-tailyour said 10 sailors were confirmed to start from Pwllheli and 26 from Plymouth, with 13 others still deciding.
‘I am delighted with the level of interest. We never ask for publicity and it is all done through word of mouth. The reason why people like it is because everything is done on a gentlemanly basis. Everyone helps everyone else, so we have become a bit of a family,’ he noted.
Jester Challenge veteran Andy Lane, who had to be rescued in 2010 when his 21ft boat, Amadeus dismasted and was then holed approximately 600 miles south of Newfoundland, is one of the entrants in the Jester Baltimore Challenge. He will be taking part in his 12ft Krill, Cocc.
‘When we started, the yachting press pooh-poohed us, saying lifeboats would be called out as there were no tests or inspections. Everyone assumed we would be going to sea in colanders but people now realise that this is not a bad concept,’ stressed Southby-tailyour, adding that Blondie Hasler still inspires sailors.
‘Many use windvanes derived from his servo blade concept. Singlehanded offshore racing started with the OSTAR, which he invented. The inspiration has come down even if some don’t know who Blondie is,’ said Southby-tailyour.