I though this might be of interest as they are sailing a 20' one design plywood boat.
https://minigloberace.com/
Those adventure have grown.
Once it was just crossing the Atlantic or Pacific
god's tear.jpg
God's Tear
8' 11" fiberglass, Atlantic west to east 142 days, many of them drifting and finally crushed on Irish rocks.
Then there was an 1866 26' galvanized rowboat in 37 days. But it was crew of two.
The last half of 1800's was full of competitive crossings most in lifeboats or other row boats.
Now the world in self-constructed wooden sailboats. Amazing. With a touch on insaneing?
Interesting follow-up:
https://bandbyachtdesigns.substack.com/p/a-skookum-new-year
That is pretty cool. I almost went sailing yesterday, now I wish I had as I would have seen the boat in action.
the opposite of racing, but he made a round-the-world trip on a 13' minimalist plywood boat that he himself built ... a singular character
https://voilesetvoiliers.ouest-france.fr/croisiere/grande-croisiere/expedition/yann-quenet-rentre-en-bretagne-sur-son-minuscule-voilier-pas-presse-de-finir-mon-tour-du-monde-526b3b42-7980-11ec-9401-ff60eafba62b
https://taveacbaluchon.blogspot.com/search/label/Baluchon%20II
Quote from: plecotus on Jan 16, 2025, 08:17 AMthe opposite of racing, but he made a round-the-world trip on a 13' minimalist plywood boat that he himself built ... a singular character
https://voilesetvoiliers.ouest-france.fr/croisiere/grande-croisiere/expedition/yann-quenet-rentre-en-bretagne-sur-son-minuscule-voilier-pas-presse-de-finir-mon-tour-du-monde-526b3b42-7980-11ec-9401-ff60eafba62b
https://taveacbaluchon.blogspot.com/search/label/Baluchon%20II
Now that is amazing!!
I read this book some years ago...500 Days - Around the World in a 12 Foot Yacht. If memory serves me, he worked at his parents marina as a welder and designed and built the boat out of aluminum.
https://www.amazon.com/500-Days-Around-World-Yacht/dp/1439263027/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DXRZ5MXG682T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m1JV5vy1lFCXOqi-nMaZ6A.1QgKtZNqerkugEb10inxIV6LN5gcPPmQbzKNHAUv7gU&dib_tag=se&keywords=500+days+around+the+world+on+a+12+foot+yacht&qid=1737041964&sprefix=500+days+around+the+world+in+a%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1 (https://www.amazon.com/500-Days-Around-World-Yacht/dp/1439263027/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DXRZ5MXG682T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m1JV5vy1lFCXOqi-nMaZ6A.1QgKtZNqerkugEb10inxIV6LN5gcPPmQbzKNHAUv7gU&dib_tag=se&keywords=500+days+around+the+world+on+a+12+foot+yacht&qid=1737041964&sprefix=500+days+around+the+world+in+a%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1)
Quote from: Wolverine on Jan 16, 2025, 10:47 AMI read this book some years ago...500 Days - Around the World in a 12 Foot Yacht. If memory serves me, he worked at his parents marina as a welder and designed and built the boat out of aluminum.
https://www.amazon.com/500-Days-Around-World-Yacht/dp/1439263027/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DXRZ5MXG682T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m1JV5vy1lFCXOqi-nMaZ6A.1QgKtZNqerkugEb10inxIV6LN5gcPPmQbzKNHAUv7gU&dib_tag=se&keywords=500+days+around+the+world+on+a+12+foot+yacht&qid=1737041964&sprefix=500+days+around+the+world+in+a%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1 (https://www.amazon.com/500-Days-Around-World-Yacht/dp/1439263027/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DXRZ5MXG682T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m1JV5vy1lFCXOqi-nMaZ6A.1QgKtZNqerkugEb10inxIV6LN5gcPPmQbzKNHAUv7gU&dib_tag=se&keywords=500+days+around+the+world+on+a+12+foot+yacht&qid=1737041964&sprefix=500+days+around+the+world+in+a%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1)
A 13 footer and now a 12 footer!!!!!!
Quote from: Doug SC on Jan 05, 2025, 04:53 PMI though this might be of interest as they are sailing a 20' one design plywood boat.
https://minigloberace.com/
Here is a link to an article from "Towndock.net", our local "news" outlet.
https://towndock.net/shippingnews/sv-skookum-takes-on-the-world (https://towndock.net/shippingnews/sv-skookum-takes-on-the-world)
Skookum is a great story and will get better.
I would be interested in the story of him trailing this boat across the country. Spending $56k and all his time I'm expecting a 25-year-old pickup truck and a used trailer
Skookum and it's captain Josh Kali will be at the town dock today at noon answering questions. I'll be there with camera in hand.
I arrived at the coffee shop across rom the harbor at 11:30 and sat there until 12:40 with no sight of Skookum or it's skipper. I drove to the dinghy dock and wildlife ramp, but nothing, so I returned home. Checking the harbor cam just now I see it's at the town dock. Photos are taken ever 5 minutes so I went back in time and until their arrival at 1:20. The live cam shows they're still there with a small contingency of fans.
https://towndock.net/harborcam (https://towndock.net/harborcam)
Is that it in water on the far side of the dock?
It's on the right side with blue sail covers.
So you didn't get to see them live? Too bad. That would have been interesting.
They'll be there again tomorrow. I'll try then.
I was able to meet with Josh and get a tour of Skookum. Josh is a very friendly young man who feels confident of his and his boat's abilities. If I didn't already know the boat is constructed on marine plywood, I would have sworn it was fiberglass. Josh's fairing skills are second to none. Josh arrived at the town dock under the power of the required electric outboard. After traveling less than 2 miles from the marina, the batteries were at 50%. Because of this, Josh has a gas outboard along with him until he reaches Antigua, where the races starts and finishes. The stern carries the rudder, a self steering wind vane, and 2 stabilizing "rudders". The boat was constructed without thru-hulls, sealed ports, and using a large hatch as it's companionway. Rules allow only 1 set of sails, but a total of 7 different sails. With swept back spreaders there is no need for a back stay, however the boat is equipped with 2 adjustable dyneema stays attached at either side of the transom. Their angle will impede any attempt to tack, so they are easily removable. Their real purpose is extra support when flying the large spinnaker on down wind runs. Josh told me the race committee recently changed the rules concerning self steering. Because of this, some of the skippers removed their rudders and will rely solely on their wind vanes. The 4 1/2' keel weighs 250 pounds with another 250 pounds in a bulb attached at the bottom. The boat's interior is basic, but it allows access to everything. Keel bolts, bilge pumps, electronics/wires, plumbing and stores.
Josh leaves tomorrow about noonish. He'll use the gas o/b to cross the Neuse River, traverse Adams Creek to Core Creek, and into Beaufort were he'll spend the night before heading out with the tide toward Antigua on Tuesday.
edit: I failed to mention the mast is 2 pieces. One of the requirements is the boat must be able to fit into a 20' container.
DSCN4355.JPGSkookum1.JPGcardback.jpgve included Josh's card with a CQR connecting to his site.
Super cool!!!!
I've been following Josh on his quest to arrive in Antigua for the race. Here is the latest from him.
Cruising along on SV Skookum! Unfortunately all of the weather models are showing that I will not arrive in Antigua in time for the start of the race. The lower rudder hinge is clanking and loose and giving much concern. The south Atlantic wind vane needs tightening every couple of hours. Considering diverting to Florida for safety. Sorry.
It really is too bad. Everything that I built for a working perfectly and the boat sails beautifully and seems to be tough as nails. Had 25kts gusting 35kts on the nose for the first two days in the Gulf Stream and she took it like a champ.
I wish I had been allowed to make my own hinges for the rudder. Sigh alas ces't la vie.
What!? How awful. He's got to be so disappointed.
Is he not able to start the race late? I mean, going around the world he has plenty of time to make up the distance.
This was posted yesterday...
Not sure what the rudder issue is?..as long as all Builders updates were followed they are bullet proof, way stronger than original design, CNC machined from solid Block and should not fail in a few days 200 miles.
so hope all is well? good luck sail safe....all the best...you still have 22 days to arrive in Antigua.
then you do not need to depart with the fleet... just cross the start line..then stay, sort the boat and leave a week later... 2nd March?
This afternoon's post...
Greetings from SV Skookum. Calm day at sea today after a solid 24hrs pounding to windward in 30kts.
Took a page from Dan Turk of Lil Bea and used my GoPro on a stick to get a shot of the rudder hinge. Despite the noise it makes it appears to be in fine shape. Tightened up various nuts on the wind vane and solved the loosening problem. The little unit steers like a champ and I've named it Chappy after Chappy Sinclair from Iron Eagle.
Made a real meal with peppers and onions and potatoes and eggs on tortillas so morale improved considerably. Decided to carry on towards Antigua and see what I can do. Thanks for all of your support. Cheers!
Thanks for keeping us posted.
It is great to hear an underway sailing problem get solved, and nice weather to allow it.
As of today, Josh has traveled 457 nautical miles in 7 days. He has another 1100+- miles to go. If he keeps this average speed, he'll reach Antigua with 4 days to spare.
Josh and Skookum have sailed 999.7 miles with 429 (straight line) miles to reach Antigua. Averaging 71.4 miles a day, he should make it there on the 16th. The race starts on the 17th.
We hope he makes it, although not rested.
Josh and Skookum are currently 100 miles north of Antigua on a 26 mph beam reach today with slightly increasing winds tomorrow. They should make it to port tomorrow about nightfall. The race is scheduled to start on Monday, so he should arrive in time to start with the other participants.
As of 2200 hours UTC, Josh and Skookum are 26 miles due east of Antigua and WindFinder is showing 22mph winds straight out of the east. I would think being dark now, he would slow down to make port at sun up. Since the start of his adventure I had it in my head the race starts on the 17th, Josh had told me he intended to arrive by the 17th and it looks as if he will be spot on. The race starts on the 23rd, giving him almost a week to check in with customs and get some rest before heading out again.
Good news
Although the other racers were ready to assist Josh last night, he stayed out until sun up and arrived this morning 45 minutes before the safety meeting from the race organizers.
The beginning
This is his arrival in Antigua...
Docking up in Antigua...
If you are on Facebook, search the Mini Globe page and you'll find lots of info, pics etc. Here are a few from a recent post.
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there are huge waves no matter how large the boat is.
Man!! :-X Guy builds him a 19-foot boat, drives it 4000 miles across the U.S. and then sails it to Antigua!
Why? ???
So he can sail around the WORLD!! :P
Skookum.jpg
Meantime:
I'm trying to finish building a 12-footer, so I can sail 1.25 miles from Cedar Key to Atsena Otie Key!! :(
Maybe the FL 120 too, (if I get done in time) and will consider it a major achievement.
20250130_141420 1024X768.jpg
Lessee here . . . . . 24,901 miles for Josh vs 120 miles for me . . . is about .005% of Josh's distance! :'(
So, Yeah.
WAY TO MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A PIKER, GUYS!! >:(
Ah, well. We all have our own goals.
Charles Brennan
Yep, a sail around the globe, especially on a 19' boat, is certainly daunting!!!!
My longest sail to date is my ICW trip with Norman. We covered close to 150 miles. I didn't track with a GPS but calculate that figure from the ICW mile markers and charts.
I like land too much to spend that much time at sea! However, I do love following exploits like this. This one is impressive. Why I love backpacking, canoeing, and sea kayaking is the exploration of an area and developing the skill sets to be good at it. That is the same way I feel about sailing. I have come to enjoy the racing at the sailing club, but it was developing my skill set that drew me to it. Just turned 74 and realizing that my body isn't in sync with what my mind thinks it should do. If my mind insists my body has been known to punish it. I certainly don't compare myself to extreme athletes. I happen to think adrenaline can be highly overrated.
Having been in a minor storm in the North Atlantic, with breaking waves 30+ feet tall, I can assure you that the waves tall enough to hide the hull of that 19 footer are not large.
We were taking them at a 30 degree angle, and reduced speed, 12 knots, and the waves came all the way aft, and cascaded off the stern. All water tight doors secured, external ones dogged down. :o
B deck portholes went black deep in the water, then rolled up, and a great view of the stormy sky. :o
Plenty of sea sick guys on that troop ship, the Alexander M. Patch. Yes, I crossed the Atlantic in a ship called the Patch!
There are going to be some days and nights when Skookum will be similarly dogged tight, and the crashing waves making fearful sounds. Hopefully, the equipment on deck survives, or he has replacements.
Every trip can have its own story.
Japan Sea on a dark midnight approaching Osaka with the area filled with dozens of small Japanese fishing boats with varied lighting.
Thirty days New Orleans to Cape Town with 25 days without a sight of anything but water. Headed southeast in the South Atlantic I saw the first ship headed Southwest probably to somewhere in South America as it was too small to be one that has to round the Cape. One ship in 25 days and it was a collision course, and I had to come to port and cross its stern. So strange it's still a memory.
Talk about interesting excursions, have you read about "Peter's Voyage" (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1238476683274973/)? He's canoeing the great loop "backwards" (clockwise). Moving down the east coast right now. Left Charleston a day or two ago.
I read an article some years back about a solo sail from San Diego to Hawaii in an 17' aluminum canoe. If I remember correctly, it took him 63 days. May have been in Small Craft Advisor. I did a quick Google search, but couldn't anything.
The race started this morning.
https://towndock.net/ (https://towndock.net/)
Quote from: Wolverine on Feb 23, 2025, 03:27 PMThe race started this morning.
https://towndock.net/ (https://towndock.net/)
I wasn't able to watch it this morning, but plan to catch some of it later tonight/tomorrow night.
Looing without measuring, they appear to be about half way to Panama City on the 1st leg. Not bad for 19' boats in just 7 days.