Golden Globe race - the finish

Jean-Luc Van den Heede in the finish, expected arrival at Les Sables next Tuesday morning, winter weather with strong winds and rough sea with crossed waves in Biscay bay for this final :
https://voilesetvoiliers.ouest-fran...pour-vdh-4d4d3c0c-2251-11e9-9e72-efa09fb3f343

 

Yes Jean-Luc has held the lead and, barring some misfortune, appears he will win the GGR 2018-19 race. What is truly ironic: There is not a single British vessel to be found for miles, and the one UK vessel that happens to be rounding Cape Horn soon is....yours truly Sir Robin Knox-Johnston! I wonder if he is scratching his head and thinking..."I waited 50 years to do this race again...and not one fellow Brit showed me up!" All other UK boats are retired so like it or not he will remain the GGR champ for his country! He will surely be laughing about that for years to come.

 

You are right for the skippers, but for the boats : 3 UK Rustler 36 in the top 3, we can called that a proof of concept !

 

Indeed. Despite the barnacle infestations these boats endured, the Rustler 36 will go down in history as a great bluewater boat.

Note to self: Pack scuba kit and barnacle scraper before next passage.

 

Jean-Luc can finished this morning just before the forecasted big storm called Gabriel, all west coast of France are in alert, that forces Mark Slats to search for a shelter in Spain , La Corogne probably.

 

It's proof that the design that best fitted within the 2018 GGR limitations would do best, so ⅓ of all registrations chose for a Rustler 36 to begin with.

Wikipedia: 2018 Golden Globe Race → Retro sailing

So I'll think the Rustler 36 proved itself as the best 32' to 36' heavy long keeler from the 1980's and before, since better was ruled out....

 

Most equipment needed to be retro, maybe including scuba gear. But a GGR 2018 long keeler is easier and much quicker dried out supported by beach legs and then scraped off, and go on on the next tide. Don't know though if this still would count as non stop, even if it was done without any goods supplied and without any assistance, but I think it would be alright.

 

Matt Rutherford's 27' Albin Vega was fouled too after circumnavigating the Americas, but it didn't stop him....

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Mark John Sinclair retired in December with his Lello 34 from the GGR 2018 for a bottom clean haul out in Oz mostly due to concerns at that point in time he would reach Cape Horn too late in the season anyway.

 

Done for Jean-Luc :
L'Amiénois Jean-Luc Van den Heede termine vainqueur de la Golden Globe Race https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/hauts-de-france/somme/amiens/amienois-jean-luc-van-den-heede-termine-vainqueur-golden-globe-race-1615199.html

 

... and the video of his arrival :
Golden Globe Race https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=310056279621209&id=1751709878415736&_rdr

 

The original 1968 GGR race and the books written by Sir Robin & Bernard are what influenced me to get into offshore sailing. I had a chance to meet Sir Robin in Australia after a race. He was as gracious and friendly as you've read about. We talked for a couple of hours about...wooden boats! Suhaili was thoroughly re-worked before this race and Sir Robin did most of the work himself. Tough wooden boats are a labor of love.

 

Thanks Joseph for sharing your story about the encounter, Sir Robin is great . . ​

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He wears his heart on his sleeve. RKJ is a good man.

 

Below is from the thread: Dismasted! Susie Goodall — post #10

Jean Luc's shorter mast did very well . .

 

Indeed...he continued on and won the race!