January – April 2020: Refitting and getting seaworthy.
Reconditioning of motor
Repairs to and re-building of interior modules
Sourcing and fitting of equipment permitted for the GGR 2022, SSB Radio, weatherfax etc
Sourcing and fitting of windvane
Sourcing and fitting additional charging systems
Sourcing all safety equipment necessary for the GGR 2022
May – December 2020:
Time on the water!
Testing of sail combinations
Waiting for lousy weather to test best storm sailing configurations and tactics
Practising celestial navigation
December 26, 2020: Sail the race to St Helena Island with my Team Manager and long time sailing crewmate, Frans Loots.
January 2021: Sail return from St Helena to Cape Town, solo, via Tristan da Cunha to complete the requirements of a 2000 mile passage in the race entry boat, using celestial navigation.
February 2021 – February 2022: Re-configure any elements of the boat setup that need to be improved based on the experiences of the previous passages.
Order race sails based on experience gained in the previous year.
Complete all courses required by the race organizers, like STCW sea survival, medical course etc.
March 2022: head inland to the depths of the Great Karoo and get as far away from the sea as possible for a few weeks to remind myself what I will be coming back to!
April 2022: Set sail for the start line in Les Sables d’Olonne.