Golden Globe a tough test
HIGH ATTRITION RATE AS SAILORS DROP OUT OF THE GOLDEN GLOBE RACE 2018
Might the Golden Globe turn out to be the world’s toughest yacht race? Just one month in to the ninemonth epic ‘retro’ round the world solo race, the attrition rate looks set to be high.
Of the 18 original entries five have retired to date and one, Francesco Cappelletti, decided not to start as his preparations weren’t finished.
The first to retire was Ertan Beskardes, who withdrew from the race just a couple of weeks in after realising that he simply couldn’t be separated from his family. He was soon followed by Australian Kevin Farebrother, after he struggled to adapt to life at sea (see page 38) as well as suffering mast problems.
Others were forced out through gear failure. Nabil Amra, a US/ Palestinian sailor, announced his retirement, putting into Tenerife after a weld broke on his Beaufort wind vane self steering. With the skippers limited to short texts during the race, he messaged his situation: ‘Bk 2 hand steering, this is all terrible. I can’t hand steer as it would kill me. Can’t stay awake for 9 month.’
French sailor Antoine Cousot also had windvane problems, reporting that his Windpilot steering was not controlling his Biscay 36. He stopped to make repairs before resuming the race in the ‘Chichester’ division (yachts which stop once may continue in the Chichester class, those that stop more than once will be disqualified).
Cousot reported to organisers: “I needed the break just to relieve the pressure… and it was good to have a hamburger and a beer!
“This is a personal challenge – a huge adventure. You have no idea, even reading Moitessier’s book and those of other single-handers, about what it is like being alone. They talk about the sea and the