Point Nemo: Middle of Nowhere

This gave us a good chuckle: If you buy a sailboat, maybe you should tell your wife. If you buy a sailboat and don’t tell you wife, maybe don’t beach it in a storm, abandon it, and go on the run when the Coast Guard tells you to remove it. That’s what Michael Grimes did back in November on New Smyrna beach, and he hasn’t been seen since. This week the Sheriff issued a nationwide arrest warrant for him for felony littering of a wrecked sailboat. His wife is also looking for Michael, and has some civil papers for him…

Anyways, on to the weekly roundup.

In today’s letter:

• CCA Annual Awards: Determination & young adventure recognized.

• Race Updates: Chance encounters in the middle of nowhere.

• Sailing Snippets: Jellyfish Outboard, Gulf Rescues, & an Ice Pirate.

CCA Annual Awards

Prestigious awards for determination and exceptional voyages.

The Blue Water Medal is an annual award, first given 100 years ago, to “reward examples of meritorious seamanship and adventure upon the sea, displayed by amateur sailors of all nationalities…” 

Kirsten Neuschäfer was given the Blue Water Medal in this years prestigious Cruising Club of America awards for her determination and seamanship in the 2023 Golden Globes Race. She played a vital role in rescuing fellow racer Tapio Lehtinen after his boat sunk, and notably spent hours in the sea scraping barnacles off her hull.

Max Campbell was awarded the Young Voyagers award, which recognizes “a young sailor who has made one or more exceptional voyages.” Max set out when he was 20 years old aboard a 22’ wooden sailboat, and now eight years later is half way around the world on his 37-foot Swan Elixir.

Race Updates

Remote encounters in the middle of nowhere. 

Ocean Globe Race: The fleet has passed Point Nemo, a pinpoint in the Southern Ocean furthest from land in any direction. So far the Furious Fifties have been uncharacteristically calm, with balmy 30 knots winds. Pen Duick VI (FR) holds the lead, with Cape Horn 1500 miles away.

ARKEA Ultim Challenge: Speaking of Point Nemo, race leader Charles Caudrelier’s AIS sounded off in the middle of the night while going 30 knots near the most lonely place in the ocean. It turns out, it was the South African Sterna, competing in the OGR. What a beautiful coincidence that the most low tech and high tech ocean races should cross paths in such a spot.

Global Solo Challenge: Not to be outdone in coincidences, yesterday Andrea Mura on Vento di Sardegna made visual contact with Translated 9, skippered by Simon Curwen. It’s been a busy week on the high seas!

Snippets

The best clicks & clicks from around the sailing world.

🐙Jellyfish Outboard: French startup FinX has designed an electric outboard motor for dinghies that doesn’t use a propeller. Instead, thrust comes from an undulating membrane based on Jellyfish and Dolphins.

⛵️Refugee Rescue: A Norwegian cruise line encountered a makeshift sailboat in the Gulf with 9 refugees on January 29th. The cruise line captain turned the ship around, and sent out a rescue boat to retrieve them. A passenger caught the whole thing, and posted it on TikTok. Impressively, the sailboat looks like it was made of plywood, and even appeared to have standing rigging, a mainsail, and a jib.

🛳️ Carnival Coincidence: The same day, a Carnival cruise ship encountered two men in a kayak in the Gulf, who said their sailboat had sunk. Talk about a week full of chance encounters.

🧊 Ice Pirate: This guy built a fully floating boat entirely out of ice, and yes, here’s the video. 

That’s it for today, stay safe out there and we’ll ketch ya next week.