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Who: 19 Sailors from France, United Kingdom, Russia, Canada, Italy, Australia, South Africa, USA
What: Around Alone (formerly the BOC Challenge) is a 27,000 mile single- handed sailing race. Around Alone is the longest race on Earth for an individual in any sport.
When: The Around Alone Race Start is September 26 in Charleston South Carolina USA.
Where: The fleet then sails the following course: Cape Town South Africa/Auckland New Zealand/Punta del Este Uruguay/Charleston.
Why ? Obviously one does not attempt to sail around the world for no good reason. Some of the skippers have participated in crewed cicumnavigations and want to see if they have the skills to do it on their own. Some know that their boats are not of the quality to win, but just want to finish an accomplishment in itself. Some want to sail the race to make a child hood dream come true. Some want to sail to set an example and inspire. Some are very plain about it, they are very competitive and want to win.
It is the winners who will gain fame. Such sailors as Jeanot, Plant and Augin have been class and race winners and are certianaly remembered today. Realistically only the racers we call formula 1 and boy racers can come home as winners of the competition.
In Class I Autissier, Golding Hall, Thiercelin and Soldini all sail current Finot designs. Reidl's boat is perhaps the most unique in the race, and Konioukhov is a man of tremendous experience, but I don't look for either as a winner.
Autissier's boat is not as new as the other Finot 60's. She had a good, but not winning showing in the New York to San Fransisco Gold Race. In the past she has been brilliantly fast, but has had tragic luck on the course.
Thiercelin has the nescessary experience and ability to finish the race. Still, he has not had the time in the boat of the other sailors.
Hall's boat is a sistership to Golding. He has a simpler keel and rig, because he believes this to be faster. He has completed 1 Around Alone.
Golding's boat is fully as radical as Soldini and Fila. He did not match the Italian's tactical wit in the Atlantic Alone and was beaten.
Soldini has shown that his boat is fast. He has shown tactical genius in the Atlantic Alone race. He has an Around Alone class 2nd place (1994-95 Class II). This combination of boat speed, and tactical ability make him the Class I favorite and therefore the favorite to win the race.
Class II has a larger number of entries, (12 compared to 7 in Class I). The boats range from new Finot 50's to home built boats.
Again, Class II has several fast new boats that are favored for on water victory. One such boat is Cray Valley a Finot 50 to be sailed by J.P. Mouligne. He has several years of prepatory sailing in and posted an Atlantic Alone victory. Close on his heals in that race was Mike Garside, a middle aged advernturer who admitted to never really having raced before. So, he has room to improve and looks to have a very fast boat.
From California is Brad Van Liew with a boat that has been almost completely redesigned from it's 1994-95 form. He could threaten. Another Class II contender is Andy Hindley. He will sail the Thompson deisnged boat that Pete Goss sailed to 5th in the Vendee Globe. Hindley has around the world miles on him. Another British boat is Heart of England with Andy Darwent on board. It's a home built, but very current in design. Design, construction and talent are the strengths while funding is not.
If Robin Davie can get his boat to the starting line its speed and his experience gained in 2 Around Alone's could prove potent. George Stricker has a potentuially fast boat and many good results in trans atlantic racing. Minoru Saito will sail in his 3rd Around Alone. Saito may not be a threat to win, but will likely enjoy the race as much as anyone.
Finally their are 4 boats in Class II that are right at the 40 foot minimum length. In effect these boats form a Class III. It is not likely that these 40 footers can stay with the 50 footers over the course of 27,000 miles. Still, they should put forth some interesting racing. 2 of these are identical. They are Black Sea 40's. Skippers will be Bob Adams, and Viktor Yazykov. These 2 skippers were parterners, but no more. These boats should be fast. However, they will carry a time penalty as they will not make the September 12th deadline to be in Charleston. Also, at the 40 foot length are the 'two Neal's'. Neal Petersen will sail his home built 40 footer. He admits it is not the fastest boat. Still, he has many years pushing no barriers across the ocean and will sail the boat to its maximum potential. Neil Hunter is in Charleston having sailed his Farr 40 Paladin to Charelston from Australia. Neil says that Paladin is the perfect yacht, because it is his only yacht. Look for the 2 Neil's to engage in a spiritied if slightly slower race.
I think the that there are several types of boats to match the several motives that have caused the sailors to take on the challenge of sailing Around Alone. More so than other around the world races, the Around Alone has a wide variety of people and boats that enter.
Torresen Sailing Site will travel to Charleston for the start of the race. Is there a question you would like us to ask ? Or a question you would like us to answer ? If your answer is yes in either case please e-mail us and tell us what you want to know.