News Around the World
FRANCE Kirsten’s achievement By crossing the finish line of the Golden Globe Race in Les Sables d’Olonne after 235 days at sea on the evening of 27 April South African Kirsten Neuschäfer (the only woman competing) became the first woman to win a solo non-stop round-the-world race. Her boat, Minnehaha, is a Cape George 36 launched in 1988. She was built in the Cape George yard in Port Townsend, Washington, but the design is a fibreglass adaptation of the very much older 1930s Atkins design Tally Ho Major. At the age of 40 Kirsten has achieved a remarkable feat, all the
more so since her world tour included the rescue of another com- petitor when in the middle of the Indian Ocean she took Finland’s Tapio Lehtinen off his rapidly sinking yacht. After a brief period together Lehtinen was lifted aboard a cargo ship and Kirsten continued on her way. The day after her arrival in this ‘old-fashioned’ race, which counted 11 retirements from 16 starters, the engaging sailor-adventurer faced us in the press room. Competition I want to thank the other competitors because
without them this round-the-world race would not have been a race! The competition was fierce, especially from Simon Curwen, who was always in front of me. As for Abhilash (Indian Abhilash Tomy finishes second, only 33 hours behind Kirsten, making up for his painful retirement four years ago), I knew he was never far away... Good surprise I expected the worst and I hoped the best for this
finish. I knew that Abhilash and I were very close, and when I was slowed in the final stages I didn’t know if he was already in front… I kept hoping for a good placing, then seven miles from Sable d’Olonne a motorboat came to meet me and announced that I was first. And then everything went crazy!!!! Preparation Eighty per cent of the race is preparation before
departure. Lining up at the start of a race around the world is the hardest part. It is also essential to do this preparation yourself as much as possible. Know exactly where to find what, how to repair, assemble, disassemble… I was asked why I chose to deliver my boat by sea between South Africa and Les Sables; it was a perfect opportunity for me to get to know her better, to learn how to make
22 SEAHORSE
her go well, to see how she behaved and how I would myself behave onboard… and to look for some improvements. Fear I have never really been afraid or thought that my life was
in danger. I go through life with an optimism I am not even aware of. I go with my heart, so I don’t imagine that I will die. And then the fact is that I was lucky because nothing serious happened to me. There was never a time when my life was in danger. Trouble I haven’t had any big technical issues. None I cannot
fix. The tiller was hard physically, but I was helming as little as possible and most often just went with the Hydrovane. I had to dive several times to remove barnacles and diving in cold water is never a pleasure. But generally in rough weather and especially in breaking waves my boat proved to be very easy to keep tracking. I did occa- sionally trail ropes to help control, when it felt prudent. Tears I had moments of discouragement but I always knew why
I was doing this race. The worst times were the calms when there was nothing to do. The very worst was the Doldrums. It almost finished me off! When I got too frustrated I would dive in and get away from the boat. It was my way of redirecting the boredom! Happiness I was very happy on my boat and when there was no
wind I comforted myself by looking at nature, the sky, the stars… In the breeze I liked to go very fast especially while running, first under spinnaker, and if the breeze really increased then with two jibs goosewinged. It was great. I found myself over-canvassed some- times but I didn’t want to stop… Will you come back? I don’t know. I really don’t know. I fulfilled
that dream and now I can move on, so really there is no need. That would make room for someone else (laughs). I’ve been living in the moment for months and now I have a hard time projecting myself into the future. For now I can’t wait to get back to my country and have long walks with my dogs.
Speedy Curwen At 1815 UTC on 27 January, 1,200 miles northwest of Cape Horn, Simon Curwen contacted GGR control to advise of the total failure of his Hydrovane steering gear. He had weathered the worst of a deep depression in 40kt+ and 6m seas when the boat surged off
OLIVER BLANCHET/ALEA
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