An epic sailing race starts soon.

[RoadKingLarry]

50th anniversary Golden Globe Race starts July 1st.

http://goldengloberace.com/

In a nutshell:
single handed, non-stop, circumnavigation in classic sailboats with no modern electronics (GPS, Sat hookups, etc.)

[Hawkmoon]

50th anniversary Golden Globe Race starts July 1st.

http://goldengloberace.com/

In a nutshell:
single handed, non-stop, circumnavigation in classic sailboats with no modern electronics (GPS, Sat hookups, etc.)

Ummm ...

From the page your link took me to:

As the GGR boats make their way from Falmouth to Les Sables d'Olonne in the SITraN challenge, they're performing communications tests via satellite phone and tracking units - we're now starting to upload these audio clips onto our Soundcloud page for each skipper - more added every few hours - follow along at soundcloud.com/goldengloberace

I think you mean no satellite-based navigation.

[makattak]

Ummm ...

From the page your link took me to:

I'm glad to see that. I'd be excited to watch the race, and I'm all for the eschewing of GPS and instead using manual navigation, but there is no reason for the increased risk from being unable to contact anyone for assistance.

It'd be like touting a cross-country road race that requires no seatbelts.

Edit: Clicked the link.  No Americans competing, so I hope they all lose.  

[RoadKingLarry]

It's my understanding that they will carry GPS, EPIRB and sat coms but they must be locked and sealed. use it if you need it but it results in a DQ for the race.
Seeing as I have a boat that would qualify for the race all I need is a few well heeled $ponsor$ and a few generous donor$ to properly outfit the boat and get it transported to the coast  and I'd be game to try it.

[Hawkmoon]

My former Alberg 30 meets all the requirements, other than being two feet too short. Larry, does your new boat have a full keel? I know your old one was a fin keel. I don't remember if you discussed that when describing your new boat.

[French G.]

Interesting way to die.

[lee n. field]

Interesting way to die.

Thread drift

[RoadKingLarry]

My former Alberg 30 meets all the requirements, other than being two feet too short. Larry, does your new boat have a full keel? I know your old one was a fin keel. I don't remember if you discussed that when describing your new boat.

"New" boat is a 1977 Allied Seawind MKII, 32' full keel, masthead ketch rig.

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=2954

I like Carl Alberg designed boats. A little too much exterior teak to maintain for my tastes but a pleasure to look at and a joy to sail. There is an Alberg designed Cape Dory 30 at the marina that I fell in lust with a couple of years ago and would have bought but a friend of mine beat me to the draw.

[MechAg94]

I'm glad to see that. I'd be excited to watch the race, and I'm all for the eschewing of GPS and instead using manual navigation, but there is no reason for the increased risk from being unable to contact anyone for assistance.

It'd be like touting a cross-country road race that requires no seatbelts.

Edit: Clicked the link.  No Americans competing, so I hope they all lose.  

To me, it is more like a race across the US with no maps and no GPS navigation.  It appears they still have the safety equipment available. 

[Hawkmoon]

To me, it is more like a race across the US with no maps and no GPS navigation.  It appears they still have the safety equipment available. 

They can have maps. And they have the original GPS -- a sextant. After all, a sextant gives you your global position based on references to "satellites" -- in the sense of things in the sky. You could do the same thing in a car, using either a road atlas or a stack of USGS maps, and the aforementioned sextant. In fact, a sextant is a LOT easier to use when the deck under your feet isn't heaving around.