Update
non-stop circumnavigation without a radio transmitter and did not speak to another person for 329 days. Towards the end of his second, non-stop voyage in 1980-81 Les survived only on rainwater, a few spoonfuls of rice and a quarter tin of meat per day. On his third eight-year voyage in the late ’80s he was given up
for dead, but surprised everyone when he returned to Lymington four months after setting sail from New Zealand. He had lost 5st and hardly had the strength to lift a sail. For this he won the British Yachtsman of the Year award. Lymington Yacht Haven marina gave Powell a free berth for life and until very recently he was still living there happily aboard his original beloved Solitaire. With publication of his book, Solitaire Spirit, telling his life story
and circumnavigations, Powles received unsolicited letters from all over the world congratulating him for his unpretentious pioneering spirit and the inspiration he provided. More recently, with his sailing days now over, he was asked, ‘Do you miss the open sea?’ The 96-year-old replied, ‘Thank you, but I am completely satisfied.’
THE FIRST TIGER – Roger Vaughan A couple of brief Pete Barrett stories, to accompany two magnificent images of two magnificent sailors in this month’s opening pages… In the 1964 Olympics in Japan Peter Barrett started the final Finn
race with a gold medal virtually assured. After the start he took the stern of a starboard-tack boat. Hiking flat out, he thought he felt a little ‘tick’ as the boats passed, indicating his shoulder might have touched the other boat’s rudder. The other skipper didn’t react. But the knowledge that he might have committed a foul was enough to make Barrett drop out (no penalty turns in those days). ‘That type of sportsmanship, that was Barrett through and through,’ says Peter Harken today. Despite his thick glasses and lack of an athletic build, Barrett
played quarterback in high school when he was known for his strength and determination. He was a brilliant student who earned a law degree on the side. As a Finn sailor he was known for his will- ingness to share his go-fast secrets with his nearest competitors, even during the Olympic trials. In the 1968 Olympics Barrett crewed for Lowell North in a Star.
On the way to the start of the final race the main halyard broke. Barrett unstepped the mast, laid it in the water, swam out, pulled up the sail and tied it in place, got back in the boat, and somehow lifted the mast with the sail attached out of the water and stepped it. (Star sailors still struggle to understand how he did it.) Of course North and Barrett went on to win the gold medal. When
North started making sails he recruited Barrett as his first sailor- salesman, or ‘Tiger’. Barrett went on to be president of North Sails, win countless other titles and even design a few sailboats. He died of cancer in 2000. The University of Wisconsin’s sailing programme awards an annual trophy in Barrett’s name ‘for excellence in sportsmanship during competition’.
q SNAPSHOTS Brought to you in association with
Second prize… two of the world’s most hideous sailing vessels (for that it truly is). Sailing Yacht A, so named in case it was not immediately obvious, is among superyachts recently seized as a consequence of sanctions against Russia. Described as Philippe Starck’s design masterpiece… we much prefer his pepper grinders
18 SEAHORSE
l First… an apology… l Contrary… to the impression given in our recent article about Roberto Lacorte’s fabulous new foiler Flying Nikka, Luna Rossa Team has no involvement in the project l Any… members of Luna Rossa taking an interest did so on a private basis only l Nikka’s… foil design is being undertaken by KND who will be sharing more about it all here shortly l PS… we have no idea and make no claims (sic) about who did the experimental foils on the Mills-designed Cape 31 caught on film recently flying high and steady in Cape Town l We… sh*t you not – it was absolutely ‘flying’ l Corker… Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada won the Bacardi Cup in the Stars, the Polish skipper’s third consecutive victory l Home win… Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen won the Grand Masters l Now that’s… a donation... l The… Schoonmaker Foundation has pledged US$7.5million to US Sailing to jump start some results… l The great Star sailor… Ding Schoonmaker passed away last year having won everything there is on offer in this class l Seizures… there have been some shockers... l Allegedly… the bailiffs refused to go aboard the 143m ‘Sailing Yacht A’ for repossession in case they were seen by anyone they knew l While in Palma… a Ukrainian was apprehended trying to sink a 48m Russian-owned motor yacht l Allegedly… Russian-owned (ed) l And there was… some impressive powerboat racing on ‘Day 2’ as superyachts raced out of the Solent away from the reach of the Old Bill l With… all these trophy yachts now chained to docks, and not inconsiderable doubt about the legality of it all… l Possession… may not always be 9-tenths of the law when you find yourself paying to maintain an oligarch’s €500million plaything and then his lawyers come knocking to charge you for the privilege l Personally… we’d tow ’em somewhere else and sling the hook l Which… is why after years of vigorously promoting their attractions the ports of Montenegro are now filling up with these ‘white goods’ l No extradition… see l So… Team NZ – lots of money, talent, resources – is having a go at Richard Jenkins’ 12-year-old land speed record of 126mph l That was… pre-Saildrone Richard... back of a shed, one person, no money, no design tools (no heater – ed) l We doubt… they will do it, at least not before the next Cup l Two tragic endings… Crowhurst and Tetley (last month) l Bit weird… while the devastated Tetley was found dead in ladies’ clothing, poor Crowhurst’s parents so desperately wanted a daughter that until the age of seven this tragic figure was also dressed as a girl l Interesting comparison… a top-end Vendée Globe project sets you back around €2million per annum for four years l While… an AC75 campaign will lighten your wallet to the tune of maybe €250-300million l But… you cry, the VG campaign is tiny by comparison? l Well… in terms of personnel the gap is closing with several Imoca teams now 25-35 strong l Must be the wages… who’d a thunk it? l Sad sad… this month we said goodbye to Mike Evans, formidable sailing organiser and influencer, multiple sailing champion and founder of Queen Mary’s Sailing Club near London (where the ed was grateful to cut his teeth during God’s coldest winters) l Mike… raced his beloved Norfolk Punt (Google it, not what you’re expecting) into his late-60s and won the class Gold Cup eight times l Also… this month a tragic superyacht accident took the life of the immensely popular sailor and sailmaker Sam Richmond, who died during training in Antigua when a runner failed l Not a lot of people… know that... l The first person… to sail solo across the Atlantic was very brave 20-year-old Alfred Johnson in 1876 on his tiny 20ft dory Centennial l There may be others… but did they live to tell the tale? l Welcome back… to Vendée Globe veteran Catherine Chabaud who takes the start of this year’s Route du Rhum on her famous red cigar l A (very) few Rhum rides still left… at
RaceBoatsOnly.com l Plus tips for your voyage at…
EurosailNews.com
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