The Golden Globe Race single round-the-world race on boats built before 1988 and not equipped with modern electronics, once again confirms a simple truth: to win such a race, you must first finish it. To go all the way in a character race is to win.
In the two weeks since the start of the round-the-world race on July 1 from Les Sables d'Olonne, three of the eighteen competitors have left the race, while another has retired for repairs and will not qualify for the grand prize of the non-stop regatta.
Last week the Italian Francesco Cappelletti and Briton Ertan Beskardes have withdrawn from the Golden Globe Race. Earlier this week they were joined by Australian Kevin Farebrother.
The sailors found themselves unprepared for the rigors of a long solo voyage in near complete isolation: the rules state that mobile phones and other modern equipment cannot be used on board, and the only connection with the shore is a short-wave station.
Kevin Fairbrazier admitted he had experienced severe frustration and was unable to perform his daily chores on the yacht. He is determined to sell his boat and get back to his favourite pastime: conquering peaks and mountains.
Fourth-placed Frenchman Antoine Cousot, who will not continue in the race for the top prize, had to abandon the race to have his thruster repaired.
Philippe Péché, the French skipper in charge of the fleet, made a ridiculous navigational mistake that cost him a hard-earned 3.5-hour lead over his closest rival, Mark Slats.
In the dawning sunlight, Philippe Peche for some unknown reason failed to see the lighthouse signal at the southern tip of Lanzarote and missed the obligatory rounding mark. Pesce realized his mistake only after reaching the northern tip of Fuerteventura. He had to turn around and go back. As a result of these manoeuvres the distance between Peche and Slats had been reduced to 9 miles.
Among them is 28-year-old British woman Susie Goodall. The only woman taking part in the circumnavigation of the globe is firmly in the top five.
Russian Igor Zaretsky continues racing in eighth place. He is the only GGR participant who has bypassed the compulsory mark from the inside, passing between the coast of Morocco and the Canary Islands.
Igor passed the mark 9th, then accelerated to 7.5 knots and regained 8th position.
You can follow the progress of the participants on the official website of the regatta.
