I've enjoyed reading several books telling the stories of single-handed sailors who set out to sail around the world. Likely the most famous of all the solo circumnavigator is Joshua Slocum. Most famous because he was the first to do it and did so in a wooden boat using traditional navigation. He sailed a world which had been discovered but certainly not tamed. Then there's the famous sailing tale of nine solo sailors who set out to race around the world in 1968. Unlike Joshua they could not resupply or port for repairs or recuperation. This of course took place prior to advent of GPS and modern day weather forecasting systems.
After reading these tales of seamanship long past, I wondered if these types of sailors still exist or has modern technology and an earth mapped to that last inch has render them extinct. I was pleased to learn they do still exist.
One, is
Zac Sunderland. Zac, as you may know, is the young man from Southern California who hopes to be the youngest sailor to solo navigate the earth. Yes, he has a motor, modern electronics, resupply and more but I believe he possesses that same heart and spirit of adventure of his predecessors.
The other is the modern day version of the first solo navigation race called the
Vendee Globe. I just learned of this race the other day. I know where have I been right? Well, I'm new to the sailing world so something that has existed for just fifteen years is nothing. I'm learning sailing things that have been known for centuries if not longer. So, fifteen years makes me feel like I'm making progress! Anyway, I was fascinated by the sophistication of the technology used and the fact that even with this technology not all entrants are expected to finish and each year many do not.
This race is the stuff of sailing legends. Or perhaps better said, this race creates sailing legends. They race in 60 foot monohulls, solo with no resupply. They take the southern route leaving from Les Sables d'Olonne, France and returning to the same.
Among the records held by Vendee Globe finishers is Ellen MacArthur of Britain. In 2001 she set the following records:
- The youngest Vendee Globe finisher
- The fastest woman around the globe
- The second solo sailor to sail around the world in less than 100 days
Sailing legends still exist and their stories are still being written.
The Ella Pink Lady is the boat Jessica Watson hangs her hopes on for a solo round the world record sail. She's 16 years old and left yesterday from Sydney, Australia. Ella is a 34' S&S specially fitted for a single-handed circumnavigation. Oh yeah, and it's pink...very pink!
On September 9th, she was out on a shakeout sail when her radar system, around 1:00am warned her of traffic in the area. 
She got up to look at the situation and noting other traffic determined no collision danger existed. She reset the radar guard-rings and went back to bed. Unfortunately, she didn't notice 63,800 ton cargo ship Silver Yang.
Twenty five minutes later Ella's Pink Lady's bow collided with Silver Yang's port side mid section. Fortunately Jessica was not injured and was able to motor back to port for repairs.
