Jochen Rieker. If you want to familiarise yourself with the sailing instructions, racing rules, class rules and all the other regulations that apply to the biggest solo race in the world, you need time. A very, very, very long time! Alone the official documents provided by the organisers including appendices and cross-references already add up to 17 so far!
The next version will follow the day after tomorrow at the Skipper's Briefing. All in all, that's well over pages of hard stuff. Here are just a few of the most relevant for skippers and fans, plus a few for regatta nerds. So let's get in - and through! One person, one boat, once around the world without stopping, from Les Sables to Les Sables, from west to east.
This is a bold, archaic project, a formula that is as catchy as it is awe-inspiring. Mount Everest without Sherpas, without oxygen. But what if skippers have to stop due to injury or breakage? What if you need advice to continue sailing? In fact, there are a number of exceptions. Except for one thing: alone really does mean all alone. So that nobody gets the wrong idea, point 4. The other regulations are more detailed than the requirement to sail single-handed.
Point 4. The skippers must declare "by signature and word of honour" on a special form Annex 1 that they themselves, as well as their teams, sponsors, families and friends, will comply with these regulations. This is intended to keep the sport clean, which in times of broadband networking via Inmarsat and Starlink does not seem so trivial.
The index contains everything that could influence the performance of the boats or skippers: Weather routing from shore, tactical advice or practical tips on sail choice and trim. This explicitly includes mental coaching and psychological counselling by professionals in this field; talking to your partner for encouragement, on the other hand, is not covered by the bans.
