Guy deBoer’s Accident in GGR 2022

BY MAGGIE OLIVE KLEIN
KONKLIFE STAFF WRITER 

As we all know, our favorite sailor, Guy deBoer, had been an entrant in the Golden Globe Race 2022. The race departed from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, on September 4th, 2022, and is a sail solo, non-stop race around the world, via the five Great Capes. The race concludes in Les Sables-d’Olonne. The sailing is done without modern technology, and all competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall designed prior to 1988. 

Our Guy was doing impressively well during the beginning of the race, having reported that his boat, Spirit, was on average the fastest boat. He said, “Everything I thought about the boat, why I chose and bought her, has proven to be true. She’s the fastest in the race.” The sailing was relatively smooth, up until Guy had run onto rocks on the north coast of Fuerteventura, Las Palmas in the Canaries. Guy detailed the events that led to the tragic accident he and Spirit endured early on Friday morning, September 16th. He said, “I was awake for over 30 hours until the checkpoint, and then a couple more past that. I got tired, and then I sat down and fell asleep. By this point, the breeze changed not in direction, but in velocity. It got lighter, which changed the boats course and had it aiming for the rocks. I only woke up from being thrown across a cockpit, and I was almost thrown overboard. I went below and made the mayday call, and the rescue team was wonderful.” 

Guy was rescued and taken off the boat after about an hour and a half of being pounded in the surf. He is now residing in a beautiful resort during this unforeseen situation. During our conversation, Guy maintained a positive outlook on his situation, which was nice to hear. He said, “There’s not much choice in the matter of how to feel. The race is very important to me, but I’m glad I wasn’t hurt during the accident, or die. The boat is also repairable, and she will come out of the water soon to be repaired.” Guy is planning to get Spirit off the beach, repair it, and then evaluate what to do from there. He is contemplating whether to sail it back to Florida, or back to Europe. He also noted that he can’t even leave his current location until about January or February, because that’s the season to sail back across the Atlantic in that direction, as it is now hurricane season. I doubt our Guy will have too much trouble making some new friends. 

Guy mentioned that the last decision he must make, the toughest of all, is whether he will do the race in 2026 or not. He said, “I entered the race because I wanted to win it, I still want to win it, I can win the next one, but it’s too early to make that decision right now.” When asked about what the hardest aspect of the race was, Guy said it was starting. Getting to the startling line, he said, was the hardest challenge. A four-year effort that he said many believed he wouldn’t be able to do. 

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