LEARNING THE HARD WAY
The Golden Globe Race is like no other yacht race. It has been held only twice – in 1968-69 and in 2018-19. In the first edition, nine skippers crossed the start line, with only Sir Robin Knox-Johnston finishing the race. Fifty years later, just 18 skippers were willing to circumnavigate the world in long-keeled boats of 36ft or less and without the use of modern technology and equipment.
Southern Ocean storms left four of the entrants dismasted, with three needing rescue. Others experienced multiple knockdowns or pitch-poling in heavy weather, while some were forced to end their race due to injury or equipment failure, including a dismasting. All lived to tell their stories.
As cruising sailors, we may never sail the Southern Ocean, but what these skippers learned from the 2018-19 Golden Globe Race is gold dust for us. They have withstood extreme conditions for such prolonged periods that they were able to try every tactic and strategy available, and draw firm conclusions about what really worked for them and their boats. We hope never to encounter such conditions, but we can stash these lessons away for use in heavy weather closer to home.
JEAN-LUC VAN DEN HEEDE
RUSTLER 36
Masthead sloop, Matmut, with modified keel-stepped mast, 1.5m shorter than standard.
Previous solo circumnavigations: 5
Position in race: 1st
211 days, 23 hours 12 minutes.
‘If I hadn’t shortened my mast by 1.5m and I had started with the longer mast then I would have been dismasted. I am the only one to have capsized completely and still have his mast,’ reflects Jean-Luc Van Den Heede when asked about his end-over-end pitch-pole in the Southern Ocean.
The 73-year-old veteran, who initially considered competing in a Gaia, deciding to shorten the mast by 1.5m after sailing her in Biscay over the winter season. He used no warps or drogue in the race, instead favouring Bernard Moitessier’s philosophy of going as fast as possible in heavy weather, and running with the breaking waves at a shallow angle.
