Photo by Photomer.com
U.S. short-handed sailor, Joe Harris is attempting to break the non-stop solo Around the World Record for 40-foot monohulls. Harris will make the attempt in his Class 40, GryphonSolo2.
11/14 Update: This Sunday morning (November 15th) at 9am – GryphonSolo2’s Joe Harris is set to depart at 9am on his solo non-stop around the world record attempt! The start line is Castle Hill Light so if you’re in Newport come down to Castle Hill and give Joe a good send off! We’ll keep you updated if the time changes. You can sign up for Joe’s news updates here and you’ll be able to track his attempt here.
The attempt will be made in accordance with the rules of the World Sailing Speed Record Council, who will time the start and finish in Newport, RI. Chinese sailor Guo Chuan set the existing record of 137 days, 20 hours, 01 minute, 57 seconds in 2013.
Joe intends to leave Newport on a favorable weather window during the week of November 9th. To qualify for an Around the World record, Joe will sail from Castle Hill Light in Newport, returning to Newport, leaving Antarctica to starboard. The attempt is an approximate distance of 26,700 nautical miles. To beat the current record, Joe will need to average 195 miles per day, or roughly 8.2 knots/hour.
There will be an event on Saturday, November 7th at 3:00 p.m. at Newport Shipyard;
From Joe Harris:
“I am writing today with an update on the plans for an “Open House” to check out the good ship GryphonSolo2 prior to my upcoming solo circumnavigation record attempt. The gathering will take place at Newport Shipyard on Saturday November 7th between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. From 1:00 to 3:00, folks are invited to come aboard the boat for a tour, and we will have a few demonstrations going on of the sails going in and out and up and down, the electronics and communications and possibly Skipper Joe going up the mast solo…. which should be interesting (picture a large earthworm progressing slowly and awkwardly vertical). Fellow Class 40 sailors are welcome to jump aboard to help demonstrate how these machines work!”
For more information, visit the Facebook Event: Joe Harris/Gryphon Solo 2 round the world send off party