Around the World Sailing Record Broken

A new world record for the circumnavigation of the globe has been set by a French team of 13 sailors aboard the Banque Populaire V.  They did it in 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes and 53 seconds.  No longer does it take 80 days as in Jules Verne's book after that title.  

The breaking of the record was so significant for the French that their president Nicolas Sarkozy called the captain Loick Peyron to give congratulations.  

Sailing is always an adventure and crossing the great seas of the Earth brings out all the romantic notions of the wind in your hair, if you have any left, and see exotic places and peoples.  It brings back the age of Wooden Ships and Iron Men.  

Sailing Race around the World

Here is an interesting event.  On November 5th the 11th around the world sailing race will begin.  The race lasts eight months and covers some 39,000 miles.  Some sections of the race have not been made know because of the problem of piracy along the African coastlines.  

There are six teams from six different countries: Abu Dubai, New Zealand, France, United States, China, and Spain.  Over the last 11 races ten sailors have been killed, most recently in the 2005-6 race when the sailor was washed overboard.  

I have to wonder why Great Britain has not put forth a team as they were one of the great ocean going nations of the world.  If you would like more information or follow the event visit there very complete site The Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012.

Laura Dekker's Sailing adventure

Photo by Laura Dekker

Laura Dekker, the 16 year old sailing around the world, has completed her traverse across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  She has just left Darwin, Australia and is now crossing the Indian Ocean.  This will probably be one of the most dangerous legs of the journey.  Not because of the weather, even though that does play a part, but because of piracy.  

This only goes to show that adventure can have a price most would be unwilling to pay.  And even though the age of piracy; Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, etc.. is gone, there are those still willing to take part in a crime that is hard to prevent and even harder to capture and prosecute.  

Laura, however, has a team of people working with her to help keep her safe.  And currently her exact location is not posted, a wise decision.  

Here is hoping and praying Laura makes it across the Indian ocean safely.  Only one leg left, to travel either through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea or around the Horn of Africa up to the Straits of Gibraltar, probably the safer of the two routes.

Exploring the Chesapeake Bay

Looking for new blogs I ran across this one about Steve and Bruce.  These two sail around in a home-built Welsford-designed Pathfinder called Spartina.  They are currently exploring the Chesapeake Bay in Steve's beautiful boat.  If you want to follow their blog here is the link logofspartina.

The best way to explore the world of water is in a boat built with your own hands.  Not only do you feel the satisfaction of seeing your creation float but seeing new place in it.  And sailboats also bring a certain sense of romanticism to the adventure.  

These men have had two adventures the first one is building the boat and the second one is sailing the boat with the wind in your hair to places yet unseen.  

Sailing the Northwest Passage

Nicolas Peissel

Here is an adventure worth mentioning.  At one time seeking the Northwest Passage was of great importance to shippers and traders, they thought it would shorten the trip to the East since the only routes they had were around either the Horn of Africa or Cape Horn.  

Edvin Buregren and Nicolas Peissel have set sail from Sweden and plan on stopping in Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and finally in the U.S.A.  and their route runs through the ice choked Northwest Passage.   A trip I am sure that will take at least a few month and possibly span more than one year. 

Edvin Buregren

They are keeping a blog of their trip Northwest Passage on a Shoestring.  These are two very exciting things 1) and adventure through a little traveled route and 2) doing it cheaply.  This is the heart and thrill of adventure: New places and on a budget.

Ocean sailing with Abby Sunderland

I you remember reading about the 16 year old who had to be rescued in the Indian Ocean when her mast was knocked off in her attempt to sail around the world.  Though I am not sure of the wisdom of allowing a 16 year old travel the world by herself, her story is quite interesting and her faith, at least on the surface, is solid.  Abby sailed from Del Rey California around the tip of South America, known as one of the most dangerous places in the world, across the Atlantic and again around the Cape of Good Hope, with some repair stops along the way.  Instead of me talking about her trip why not let Abby tell you about it. 

Vertical Sailing Part 5

The last installment of the Vertical Sailing series.  The Wild Bunch have finished their climbing and are returning to Scotland, a 15 day sail.  Their biggest adventure was the washing/skinny dipping in the Atlantic while being dragged by the sailboat and Captain Bob.  The fantastic thing is, they would do it again and I hope so for our sake.  The sailing, climbing, and music make a wonderful and captivating adventure.

Sobed Crosses Finish Line

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned Thomas Coville's attempt to make the fastest sail around the world in "Around the world in less than 80 day?"  Well he finished on Thursday March 31, 2001.  Sadly he did not set a new record because of weather and the damage to his bow, caused by a collision with a Pilot Whale.  

Coville took 3 days, 10 hours, 43 minutes and 26 seconds longer than Francis Joyon, the current record holder.  He actual sailed faster the Joyon but because of the previous mentioned problems the average speed was not enough.  

Hopefully Coville will make another attempt at the sailing speed record sometime in the near future, it is fun to follow.