Yachting Monthly – May 2018

RULES OF THE RACE

Unlike the original race, the 2018 competitors are

limited to sailing production monohulls between

32ft and 36ft overall designed prior to 1988. Each

yacht must have a full-length keel with rudder

attached to their trailing edge, and be similar in

concept to Knox-Johnston’s yacht Suhaili.

All skippers must have prior ocean sailing

experience of at least 8,000 miles and another 2,000

miles solo, in any boat. They must begin racing within

five days of the race start on 1330, 1 July 2018, or will

be deemed to have withdrawn. There is no time limit

to complete the race. At no point can they enter port

or receive material or physical assistance during the

race, although they can seek shelter and anchor

(using an engine if necessary) to make repairs.

Entrants can speak to media, family, friends and

sponsors via radio during the race, but receiving

weather routing is forbidden. Every seven days,

the skippers must make a mandatory position

report to Race Control.

ELECTRONICS BAN

Apart from safety gear, the skippers must only

use equipment that was on Suhaili, as listed

in Knox-Johnston’s book A World of My Own

(Bloomsbury, £10.99). There are a few exceptions

such as LED lights, self-tailing winches and headsail

A NAVIGATOR’S VIEW

Sailing weather expert Chris

Tibbs looks at what lies ahead

for the skippers...

The first challenge will be

getting out of Biscay and into

the trade winds. Once into the

trade winds, options are limited

as there is a requirement to

pass close to the Canary Islands

and Cape Verde Islands; finding

the strongest wind band is key.

Once past the Cape Verde

Islands, a choice has to be

made as to where to transit the

doldrums (ITCZ). West is usually

best but the requirement to

pass close to the Cape Verde

Islands makes it tricky. An

easterly passage is generally

more difficult with a wider band

of doldrums to negotiate before

breaking into the SE trades

of the Southern Hemisphere.

Although it is possible to beat

into the SE trades, it is faster

skirting west of the Saint Helena

high in a race to the roaring

forties and strong westerly

winds. Once there, the further

south navigators go, the shorter

the distance but the wilder the

ride. Keeping on the north side

of depressions will maximise

progress before passing the

pinnacle of the race which is

Cape Horn. Turning left at this

iconic landmark brings relief

from storms, although high

and low pressure makes for

a nautical game of snakes

and ladders on the way north

to the doldrums. Once into

the northern hemisphere,

a long starboard tack will

eventually get the fleet into

the mid-latitude westerlies

and a run to the finish.

All the boats taking
part in the race
have to be pre-
1988 production
yachts, like Istvan
Kopar’s Tradewind
35, Puffin

ADVENTURE