Is it difficult to get used to the changes of hours?

by Rich Wilson | Dec 23, 2016 | Q&A, Q&A - RichWilson, Q&A-RW-wk7

Dear Valentin: That is an astute question, and the answer is yes, it is very difficult to get used to the changes of hours as we go so fast from west to east through time zones. 360 degrees of longitude in the world divided by 24 hours means a time zone every 15...

How far away do you stay if you see another boat in front of you?

by Rich Wilson | Dec 23, 2016 | Q&A, Q&A - RichWilson, Q&A-RW-wk7

In fact we had an episode recently of Enda O’Coineen passing close to us. See Ship’s Log 12/20 for the details. The essence is that you do not want to be close to another boat since that skipper might be sleeping, or if the wind shifts the autopilot will...

Did you have to learn another language to speak to the other skippers?

by Rich Wilson | Dec 23, 2016 | Q&A, Q&A - RichWilson, Q&A-RW-wk7

Dear Aiden: When I was in high school I studied French for 3 years. But I never went to France until preparing for Vendée Globe 2008, and that was 40 years later! But it is simply amazing how much your brain retains, and although my French was not very good, I always...

How hard, or how dangerous, would it be to head up into the wind to put in the 4th reef? Alternatively, could you take the main down completely and sail with only a storm jib?

by Rich Wilson | Dec 23, 2016 | Q&A, Q&A - RichWilson, Q&A-RW-wk7

Dear Robert: In fact, if we’re sailing downwind, we do have to sail back upwind to be able to put a reef in, whether it’s the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th reef. If it’s the 4th reef, it means it is very, very windy and stormy out, so that will be more...

Are there any coping strategies you use that you could share?

by Rich Wilson | Dec 23, 2016 | Q&A, Q&A - RichWilson, Q&A-RW-wk7

Dear Kim and Aurora students: With modern communications by satellite telephone, I can call anyone, anywhere, anytime and talk with them, so I am not as isolated as I would have been being alone at sea in the past. And my friends back home, as well as my friends out...

What would you do if there was no wind?

by Rich Wilson | Dec 21, 2016 | Q&A, Q&A - RichWilson, Q&A-RW-wk7

Dear Ethan, If there is very light wind, we have sails that will work in those conditions, and so we just keep going. If there is actually no wind at all, then the sails can’t do anything with that, so the boat stops, the autopilot alarm goes off because it...