Yesterday evening’s television interview with solo ocean rower Mark Slats.
Mark Slats with his boat.
Mark Slats, a Dutch carpenter, is not exactly the protype yachter, on the contrary. He likes to sail around the world and now also to row solo 5000 km over the Atlantic Ocean. The reason for participating in this rowing race was to raise funds for cancer research, an illness his mother has.
Starting from the Canary Islands the Gentle Giant set foot on the island of Antiqua and set a new World Record Solo rowing over the Atlantic in 30 days 7 hours and 49 minutes that is 19 (!) days earlier then the previous previous World Record. He sometimes rowed 21 hours at a stretch. A year before the race he had never rowed a single stroke in his life but sailed solo around the world three times.
His next achievement will be the Sunday Times Golden Globe Yacht Race held to mark the 50th Anniversary of that epic race, starting from Falmouth on June 14th, 2018. The concept is simple, sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables-d’Olonne.
Entrants are limited to sailing similar yachts and equipment to what was available to Sir Robin in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or benefit of satellite based navigation aids. Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 – 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 that have a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge.