This interview was arranged by Seaworthy Books publishers of Mr. Roth's books.  Seaworthy has a presence on the web, including several pages deadicated to Hal Roth and his books.  You can also purchase his books through Seaworthy, or via the Torresen Marine bookstore. 

Torresen Sailing Site:  In the beginning what caused you to want to sail around the world ?

Hal Roth:  I had already sailed around the world in a small vessel with my wife. Iwanted to see if I had the skills, drive, and determination to do it myself.

Torresen Sailing Site:When you decided to sail in the BOC Challenge what was more important--adventure or winning?

Hal Roth: Winning, by all means.

Torresen Sailing Site: Comment on the difference between leading a fully crewed boat and the discipline and leadership you must have to be a successful singlehander.

Hal Roth: Whether the captain is head of a Whitbread boat or a BOC singlehander,he must be able to do all jobs. With a crewed ship you delegate jobs and hope and pray they're done properly. In many ways it's much easier to do them all yourself. Then you know they're done right. Also I could never live for long periods with a large group of men and/or women in theconfines of a small vessel.

Torresen Sailing Site:  What are your views on the seaworthiness of the new Open 50 and Open 60's ?

Hal Roth: If you mean the types of yachts that competed in the last BOC race andthe Vendée Globe race, I think they're very unsuitable because they're more stable upside down than right side up. There's too much beam. The yachts are speedy, but dangerous. In the 1990-91 BOC, my vessel was tossed upside down in the southeastern Indian ocean, but because of the narrow beam (12 feet) the vessel quickly righted herself. Not so with other recent capsizes.

Torresen Sailing Site:  Comment on this description of the Around Alone course While Legs 1 and 4 are important they are essentially a delivery voyage to and from the site of the real racing, the Southern ocean.

Hal Roth:  This is absolute rubbish. All the legs are important. Tactically Leg 1is the most difficult. I don't know who wrote this question, but I doubt that he ever sailed the race.

Torresen Sailing Site: What would be your advice to a prospective offshore solo sailor?

Hal Roth:  To win you need lots of money, a team manager, a first-rate mechanic, astart two years in advance, and you must make many long trips in the vessel you intend to race.

Torresen Sailing Site: Any feelings about who might win this edition of Around Alone?

Hal Roth:  Any feelings about who might win this edition of Around Alone?

Torresen Sailing Site:There has been some controversy in the Whitbread race about outsideassistance. For instance during the last leg "Cessie Racing" was able toanchor while getting spare parts. Merit Cup Skipper Grant Dalton feels thisalters the purity of the race and suggests there should be a point penalty for stopping. Do you agree or disagree? How do you feel this applies to Around Alone?

Hal Roth:  Within limits stopping is O.K. The rules used in the 1990-91 BOC werefine. I had to return to Cape Town because of severe rigging problems. I sailed a very long way against the westerlies, made repairs, and re-started five days later.

Torresen Sailing Site:  What's your best memory and your worst memory of your two BOC races?

Hal Roth:  It's impossible to answer this briefly. I wrote a book about my experiences in the 1986-87 race ("Chasing the Long Rainbow") and another book about what happened in the 1990-91 race ("Chasing the Wind"). Read these books if you want my stories. In a sentence or two, however, I think the capsize in the southeastern Indian ocean was both the high and low point during the 1990-91 race. To see the keel pointing straight up when I was alongside in the water was something I won't forget. And when the yacht rolled back up and the mast appeared unbroken with the water streaming off, seemed like a biblical experience.