2022 Golden Globe Solo Non-Stop Round World Race Blog / Guy deBoer

Guy deBoer is a US entrant in the 2022 Golden Globe Race.

Race Website: https://wwwgoldengloberace.com/

Guy deBoer Website: https://www.keysspirit.com/

Stepping back to the Golden Age of solo sailing

35 sailors…30,000 miles non-stop…Alone…With no outside assistance

 

 

August 13, 2020

 

My timeline is constantly changing. Spirit’s refit continues to be extended with additional tasks added every week. It’s not that we’re discovering faulty or degraded boat structure or fittings as the reason to extend the refit it’s an evolution of equipment or redesigning system that we feel will make Spirit faster and or safer for the around the world race.

 

The COVID-19 shut down in some ways has helped me focus on the refit rather than trying to go sail training prematurely. I believe Europe is still shut down precluding of even thinking of sailing overseas. So we are just taking one day at a time, working on the task list and checking each task off the list as it is accomplished.

 

With the start of the Golden Globe Race still 25 months away we have time. Sadly, what we’re running out of funding. So, yes the bad thing of the COVID-19 situation fundraising has come to a virtual halt.  In the next 12 months, we need a minimum $80,000 to secure the final installment towards the race entry fee, mast & boom, and of course a new suit of race sails.

 

August / September Spirit’s Task List

 

Complete re-wiring electrical system

Install SSB HF radio

Weather Fax

AIS

VHF radio

Re-install bow pulpit

Finish & install rudder post cap bearing

Design & fabricate new wooden tiller

Remove butterfly hatch, fill the deck opening for preparation of 175W solar panel

Remove mast for installation of mast deck collar & mast inspection

Deck hardware installation

 

That list is quite long but we’re hoping most will get accomplished so I can begin my sail training. Remember I’m wanting to sail over 8,000 sea miles before the start in September 2022. I invite you to visit my GGR web site: https://www.keysspirit.com to learn more about my quest to become the first American ever to win a solo around the world race. Till next time… cheers!

 

Guy deBoer / solo sailor

 

Guy deBoer is a US entrant in the 2022 Golden Globe Race.

Race Website: https://wwwgoldengloberace.com/

Guy deBoer Website: https://www.keysspirit.com/

Stepping back to the Golden Age of solo sailing

35 sailors…30,000 miles non-stop…Alone…With no outside assistance

To celebrate Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s historic 1968/9 world first solo non-stop circumnavigation in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Yacht Race, a new Golden Globe Race was staged to mark the 54th Anniversary of that epic, starting from Falmouth June 14th 1968. Like the original Sunday Times event, the 2022 Golden Globe Race is very simple. Depart Les Sables-d’Olonne, France on September 4, 2022 and sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables-d’Olonne. Entrants are limited to sailing similar yachts and equipment to what was available to Sir Robin in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or the benefit of satellite-based navigation aids. Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 – 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 that have a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge. These yachts are heavily built, strong, and sturdy, similar in concept to Sir Robin’s 32ft vessel Suhaili.

June 20, 2020

What an incredible day today! The new aluminum diesel fuel tank arrived several days ago and today I was able to wrap the tank in roofing material, peel n stick. It’s wrapped as a barrier to shield it from the old steel tank that still in the boat. I took the top off the old tank and the 2 baffles and designed the new tank to fit inside of it. With the help of Birch and Bobbie, the tank went in without any effort.

I have begun the final stages of the first scheduled refitting of Spirit. I an about another week or so I’ll begin the sailing her developing my skills as a solo skipper. With all my years of racing experience, I do not have the skills to race yet as a solo skipper. Those skills will come with time spent in the boat, sailing many miles. Not only do I need to learn special techniques in sail handling, but I also need to learn how to make the boat fast in all conditions. The boats allowed in the Golden Globe Race are not race boats, they are sturdy cruisers. My design, the Tashiba 36 is a design by Bob Perry. She is strong and in my opinion the fastest of the allowed designs in the race. The Tashiba 36 has never been in a around the world race before. But I’m confident she will deliver me to the finish line.

Today my sail inventory is not the sails I will be using in the race. The lessons learned in the next 12 months will give me the experience to select the right sail designs and combinations that will allow me the best fast and efficient right from the start. The sailing great, Dennis Connor, but it best in believing the there is no excuse to lose. Preparation, preparation, and more preparation will serve me best.

I’ve recently installed my Hydrovane windvane, I’ve named it after my seafaring father, Herman. I was the only family member that called him Pop’s, I guess Pop’s is it! Since removing the bowsprit I’ve moved the head-stay to the stem (bow) of the boat and our local Key West sailmaker Peter Goldsmith is recutting the sail to fit the new configuration. Additionally, I’ve moved the staysail stay back about 2′ aft of the bow. My current mainsail only has 2 reef points in her now. With the summer upon us, that’ll do until I sail across the Atlantic later this year. For that trip, I’ll add a third and fourth reef preparing for the stormy North Atlantic voyage to England and then Holland, my father’s homeland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Powering the boat systems is critical for my success. I’ve ordered a 175W solar panel that will be placed in the middle of the coachroof. Spirit has a  traditional clamshell hatch there now. I’m removing the hatch for safety reasons and placing the new panel and deck structure in its place.

Over-all with the help of my sponsors and volunteers we’ve made great progress towards making the start of the race in September 2022. There is still much work to be done, but in the 7 months of owning Spirit, it’s a great start. Thank you to all that have helped me reach this point to where I can actually begin sail training. Stay tuned to for some sailing pictures and videoes of Spirit, till then.

 

 

May 20, 2020

First I hope all are staying safe and healthy in these times. My business, KONK Life Community Newspaper, has worked hard developing a new revenue stream for our daily digital e-news blast. The early results are showing promise, so thank you to all the KONK Life supporters that understand the importance of a reliable news source and organization.

It took 2 days of grimy work in the bilge to remove the cabin sole and cut off the top of the steel fuel tank. Now a template to be made for the new aluminum fuel tank to be inserted inside of the old tank. (template made to make sure the new tank can fit through the companionway.

 

May 17, 2020

 

Work has been progressing on my GGR boat “Spirit”. As I work towards getting her ready to leave the hurricane zone and a return trip to Maryland. She will reside at a US Naval facility on Mill Creek in Annapolis with refit work continuing over the summer. My sail-training plan is still in place as long as Europe opens by the fall for a training sail across the Atlantic and return trip to Key West in February 2021, only time will tell. Final refitting will continue through the start of the race in Les Sables D’Olonne, France on September 4, 2022.

Recent work has been completed like the removal of the bowsprit, the installation of reinforced bow deck covering plate, windless, anchor rodes & chain, new head & staysail stay, relocation of the stay-sail chainplate & bulkhead, the purchase of used 3-speed primary winches, a redesign of the deck hardware & the ordering of new deck hardware, removal of salon cabin sole for the access of fuel tank and replacement. The Hydrovane autopilot has arrived and is awaiting installation. Additional equipment needed to deliver Spirit to Annapolis is a new aluminum fuel tank, a used 140% headsail, and used symmetrical spinnaker.

I’ve made an early design decision with the removal of the bow-sprit, windless, and Samson Post thereby removing over 300 lbs. off the bow. This additional weight causes excess pitching as the boat goes through the waves. The majority of the round the world course is in winds over 15 knots. In those conditions, the extra sail area carried by the extended fore-stay will not be used. Boat speed upwind in lighter conditions will be decreased. But the over-all advantage I believe is evident. The boat designer disagrees with me, but that is why I’m planning to sail over 8,000 miles this year to make those final determinations. If I’m wrong I can but a bow-spirt back on for the race.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a hold on my fund-raising. I do want to thank all my donors and volunteers for their contributions to date, over $120,000 has been raised. All of the work completed has been by myself and volunteers. Because of the pandemic, I’ve begun sourcing used equipment where I feel it will survive the race, like the new used primary winches. Again, everyone please do take care of yourselves and your family, signing off till the next update.

 

 

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]