Membership to the Cape Horner’s Club – the International Association of Cape Horners (IACH), has been swelled by more illustrious names, thanks to the increasing number of round the world races.
First round the infamous Cape marking the divide between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans was Golden Globe Race heroine Kirsten Neuschäfer aboard her Cape George 36 yacht Minnehaha on February 16 who went on to become the first women in history to win a round-the-world race. She was followed by fellow solo sailors Indian Abhilash Tomy, Austrian Michael Guggenberger (who has yet to complete his circumnavigation) and Simon Curwen from Britain.
A month later came a rush of The Ocean Race sailors creaming across the Pacific at 30knots+ in their remarkable foil-born IMOCA 60 racers led by Boris Herrmann and his 4-man crew aboard Team Malizia on March 27, setting a new Cape of Good Hope to Cape Horn record of 27 days, 17 hours and 31 minutes – that’s an average speed of 18.37knots!
Team Malizia rounded the Horn just 20 miles ahead of Team Holcim-PRB (skipper Keven Escoffier) followed by Biotherm (skipper Paul Meilhat) and 11th Hour Racing Team (skipper Charlie Enright) 250miles behind.
September sees the start of two more round the world races: The Global Solo Challenge from la Corunna with staggered starts according to handicap from September 2, and The Ocean Globe Race from Southampton on September 10.
With 16 fully crewed yachts expected to start in the Ocean Globe Race, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Whitbread round the World Race in1973, and 30 more entered in the Global Solo Challenge, Cape Horn could be even busier this time next year?
The International Association of Cape Horners maintains a register of circumnavigations, both solo and multi-crewed – Click here
Full Membership of IACH is exclusive to those who have rounded Cape Horn under sail as part of a non-stop passage of at least 3,000 nautical miles which passes above the latitude of 52° South in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and is completed without the use of engines for propulsion.
Latest Cape Horners
Golden Globe Race
Kirsten Neuschäfer (RSA) Cape George 36 yacht Minnehaha
Abhilash Tomy (IND) Rustler 36 yacht Bayanat
Michael Guggenberger (AUT) Biscay 36 yacht Nuri
Simon Curwen (GBR) Biscay 36 yacht Clara
Jeremy Bagshaw RSA) OE 32 yacht Olleanna
The Ocean Race
Team Malizia (GER) IMOCA 60
Boris Herrmann (GER) Skipper
Will Harris (GBR) Reserve Skipper
Rosalin Kuiper (NED) Crew
Nicolas Lunven (FRA) Crew
Antoine Auriol (FRA) Onboard Reporter
Team Holcim – PRB (SUI) IMOCA 60
Kevin Escoffier (FRA) Skipper
Sam Goodchild (GBR) Reserve Skipper
Tom Laperche (FRA) Crew
Abby Ehler (GBR) Crew
Julien Champolion (FRA) Onboard Reporter
Biotherm (FRA) IMOCA 60
Paul Meilhat (FRA) Skipper
Anthony Marchand (FRA) Reserve Skipper
Sam Davies (GBR) Crew
Damien Seguin (FRA) Crew
Ronan Gladu (FRA) Onboard Reporter
11th Hour Racing Team (USA) IMOCA 60
Charlie Enright (USA)Skipper
Simon Fisher (GBR) Reserve Skipper
Jack Bouttell (AUS / GBR) Crew
Justine Mettraux (SUI) Crew
Amory Ross (USA) Onboard Reporter
By Barry Pickthall for the International Association of Cape Horners.
