When does the southern oceans adventure start?
@globalsolochallenge The tagline of the Global Solo Challenge, simple and descriptive, comprising just four sentences, captures the attention and interest of seafarers, especially participating skippers, but also those passionate about ocean sailing, who no doubt will follow with enthusiasm the regatta and all skippers involved. These four sentences immediately, concisely, and clearly explain what this […]
Tristán da Cunha, the door to the Southern Oceans
Photo Credit @rscpb The participants of the Global Solo Challenge (GSC) will have faced diverse conditions after having sailed approximately 5,000 nautical miles since their start in A Coruña. They will continue with their meteorological tactics through the South Atlantic as they approach Tristán da Cunha. Their objective will be to find as quickly as […]
What winds can Global Solo Challenge participants expect?
Photo Credit: @globalsolochallenge Wind, a sailors’ best friend, pleasant on so many occasions, feared, powerful, and unpredictable in others, is no doubt the greatest ally of any sailing boat. Its absence makes sailors feel frustrated and helpless for lack of progress. In the case of a race like the Global Solo Challenge skippers will have to sail […]
How to get past the St Helena High?
Once participants in the Global Solo Challenge (GSC) reach the latitude of Fernando de Noronha, they will set course to approximately 155º, heading in the direction of the island of Tristan da Cunha, located at a distance of around 2200 miles at 37 06’S and 012 18’W. During this long journey, GSC skippers will have […]
Change of course in Fernando de Noronha
From Cape Toriñana, approximately 50 miles from the start of the Global Solo Challenge (GSC) in La Coruña, to the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, off the coast of Brazil, the True heading is about 207º with a distance of about 3000 Nautical Miles. GSC boats will most likely leave the island of Madeira to […]
What are the route restrictions in the Global Solo Challenge?
When we talk about single-handed round-the-world races by the three great capes sailing towards the East, like the Global Solo Challenge (GSC), we tend to think of the total freedom participants will enjoy once they set off on their adventure. In a way, this is true because, one of the feelings you get from sailing […]
What damage can an orca “attack” cause?
The sea can always surprise us with unexpected situations that would not even cross our minds before casting off. Before setting sail, all sailors gain knowledge of the possible adverse circumstances that they may encounter on their voyage, preparing themselves and their yachts for the difficult situations that they believe could occur during their navigation. […]
What are the characteristics of the trade winds?
With the boats and skippers immersed in the South Atlantic having left the equator behind and with Fernando de Noronha at the bow, there will be many miles ahead to sail with the South East trade winds, with time to think – on the boat, at sea, in themselves: in this world they want to […]
What is the most dangerous sector in a low pressure system?
Perhaps one of the worst circumstances that a sailboat can face on the high seas is to find itself immersed in a tropical cyclone. These phenomena normally have fairly defined seasons; occur in latitudes or areas that are well marked in the nautical bibliography, and their evolutions and directions are usually marked by relatively well-known […]
What do you have to do when crossing the equator?
Crossing the equator per se is not a difficult task, stable trade winds make the moment joyful. Tradition has it that an alcoholic drink is offered to Neptune to secure a safe journey ahead. The rite of passage is celebrated both for vessels on their first crossing as well as for sailors having never crossed […]
