Sailors in the Spotlight

YachtPals is very privileged to have some of the world's greatest sailors among our readers and members. So many so, that recently we've been mulling over the idea of creating a “Sailor in the Spotlight” here at YachtPals.

Hilary Lister, the first quadriplegic person ever to sail across the English Channel alone, is about to set a new world sailing record. She will set off in just a few weeks on her solo sail around the British Isles, a feat for any sailor, but especially impressive as Hilary can only move her head, eyes and mouth.

Ask the world's top sailors who they think is the best, and you often hear the name Franck Cammas. In France, Franck Cammas's position on the fame scale lies somewhere between Rock Star and Religious Icon. Young, handsome, and very skilled, Cammas is enjoying a record-breaking career at the helm of Groupama's mighty multis, while still popping off to race everything else that floats - taking second on the f-18's a couple weeks ago, for instance.

We spoke with Loïck Peyron today, fresh from his multi-record-making win of the Artemis Transat, where he has further secured his place as one of the top sailors in the world. If there's anyone with salt water in his veins, it's Loïck.

In a few weeks, a second group of world-class athletes will take to the Olympic venues in Beijing, and the water at Qingdao, to compete in the 2008 Paralymic games.  Only accepted as a Paralympic medal sport since the 2000 games, sailing has bounded onto the scene with a record total of 80 competitors sailing for 25 countries this year.  The rest of the world is learning what we all know:  These folks can out-sail most 'Able Hands' any day!

Forty years ago, nine men set out to be the first to sail around the world without stopping. The craft ranged from suicidal to merely questionable, as did most of the sailors themselves. One man, however - a merchant marine with a small, heavy, hand-built teak boat - decided to give it a shot. He sailed out of Falmouth with what some called a pipe-dream, and sailed back a Legend.

Imagine choosing the most difficult route around the world possible, finding a boat capable of the trip, and then sailing off solo just to see if you can make it. Adrian Flanagan did all those things, and a few weeks ago he did one more: On May 21, 2008, Adrian tied the knot on the most difficult route imaginable - over Russia, under the Horn (the hard way), and all the way around the Earth's axis - he made it!

One of the top sailors in the world, Sam Davies is infectiously buoyant, remarkably skilled, and well on her way to achieving rock-star status. She's become a darling of the press, the sponsors, and even her competitors. She looks like a swimsuit model, sure, but that doesn't change the fact that she's a solid, world-class competitor. And maybe more than anything else, her exuberance shows that she clearly loves every minute on the water, and truly enjoys racing.

In High School, a Jersey Girl named Sarah Mergenthaler lettered in five varsity sports, none of which were sailing. Sarah has been working toward her goal of becoming a world class sailor for most of her life, but that didn't get in the way of all the other sports at which she excelled. These include soccer, track, basketball, cross-country, and (American) football, where this first-string record-setter was the only girl on the varsity team.

What would you do to help conserve natural resources? Switch to fluorescent lighting? Drive an economy car? Cross the Western Pacific alone in a prototype, wave-powered boat? While most of us would consider carpooling effort enough, Japan's most famous sailor Kenichi Horie is not a man with average limits, and he is slowly but steadily progressing across the big blue to prove the value of an untapped renewable resource: wave power.

We've been talking to some of the most famous sailors in the world in our Sailor in the Spotlight Interviews, and while we know how popular these articles have been, the one question our readers have been asking is: "What about the people like me?" So today, we're focusing our spotlight on someone who is just an average guy - an ocean sailor who is heading out on his first ever solo ocean race, the Singlehanded Transpac - and discussing with him what it feels like to be taking this giant step.

Qingdao, China - The greatest amateur sailors in the world are gathering to compete in the 2008 Olympics this week. These are the best of the best, the people whose dedication to sailing is similar to others' dedication to eating and breathing. The training, the devotion, the sacrifices, the out before dawn and in after dusk schedules are about to pay off.

How does one go from working on classic cars to becoming a world-class ocean racer in under a decade? If Steve White from the UK is any indication, you do it with a combination of hard work, sacrifice, and a truck load of gumption. Steve attracted the attention of the world in May, when he brought his self-funded open 60 sailboat across the line of the Artemis Transat, qualifying for the Vendée Globe.

They laughed when we called them “Cruising Royalty,” but with around 200,000 ocean miles under their keels (most on their self-built, engineless cutters Seraffyn and Taleisin), Lin and Larry Pardey are without doubt the first couple of cruising

At 28 years old, Ellen MacArthur became the fastest person to sail solo around the world. Suddenly, the playing field became a lot more even. While the record was later reclaimed by Francis Joyon, the fact remained: The little lady from Derbyshire had proven that the Southern Oceans route was no longer a boy's club, and solo yacht racing will never be the same.

Many people seek adventure in their lives, but few fit the title “Adventurer.” Fewer still can claim “Explorer” on a resume. After all, what's left to explore?

Tom Slingsby is both the Laser World Champion, and the top ISAF rated Laser sailor in the world - two distinct measures by which to say that he is the very best. In just a few hours, Tom will be sailing for Australia in the 2008 Olympics - his first Olympics - and clearly his own standard for excellence is the gold medal. All of his training, all of his other accomplishments, all of his sacrifices for the last eight years are about to be put to to the test in this ultimate world championship, and nobody is expecting more of Tom Slingsby than Tom himself.