Finnish skipper Ari Känsäkoski took the start on the Owen Clarke design Class40 ZEROchallenge. Just before Christmas he dismasted in the Roaring Forties north of the Kerguelen islands, more than a thousand two hundred miles from land, putting him in a very delicate situation. He remained cool headed and began making plans to reach the African continent. Following the dismasting he spent 25 days nursing the boat under jury rig and engine, including a mid-ocean refuelling from the Japanese fishing vessel Tomi Maru and one from the Finnlines ferry Finncanopus. Ari eventually reached Durban where he was forced to retire from the event. His incredible journey back to land is a lesson to all who sail and today we’d like to celebrate his ordeal with the Global Solo Challenge “Seamanship” award.
GSC 2023-2024 – Ari Känsäkoski – ZEROchallenge
