The Polish Szymon Kuczy?ski is on the verge of achieving a feat: to circumnavigate the world without stopovers on a Maxus 22 ...a 6.36-metre sailboat.
We introduced you this slightly crazy sailor who set off on his second circumnavigation of the world on his Maxus 22.. . During his previous circumnavigation, he had sailed around the world with stopovers, but already on the same boat "Atlantic Puffin". This time he set off from Plymouth on August 19th 2017 to sail around the world via the 3 capes WITHOUT stopovers. Today, she has reached the North of Spain and is heading back to her port of arrival Plymouth (with about 1500 miles to go).
As Szymon writes in his summary of his 32nd week at sea: "It gives a glimmer of hope for improving Alessandro di Benedetto's weather. In 2010, this sailor circumnavigated the globe in 268 days on a modified Mini 650. He dismasted at Cape Horn and ended up with a makeshift rig. So far, our stories have been very similar. I've set myself the deadline for arrival at the breakwater in Plymouth: May 14, 2018. That will be exactly 268 days of my cruise!" A gamble that will be hard for our Polish, but it doesn't detract from the achievement.
Since the end of February, Szymon Kuczy?ski has been forced to slow down the pace with a very weakened mast. Following a capsize near Cape Horn, the spar folded and asked the sailor for makeshift repairs. It was while sailing up the coast of Brazil that he encountered calmer sailing conditions and warmer temperatures to enable him to consider repairs. The tropical temperatures allowed him to laminate a sleeve which he riveted to the weakened section of the mast. In addition, he secured his boom at deck level to prevent compression on the gooseneck. By also adding stiffeners, a kind of low-hauban, at the weak point, he was able to sail with almost all the canvas.
But unfortunately, the search for the calm to tinker with did not help his progress. For three weeks, Szymon complained about the sun, the calm winds and the shells under the hull. Mid-March was the worst period of the entire voyage: in one week, the Maxus had only covered 320 nm... This slow progress negatively affected the sailor's morale, but fortunately these difficult weeks finally came to an end. Since 22nd March, the Maxus 22 has been sailing with the tradewinds at a speed of over 4 knots. The distance she covers is improving every day.
To carry out this round the world voyage on the smallest boat, the Northman shipyard, which produces the Maxus range, got behind the sailor and supported him by helping him prepare his boat. A great recognition for this shipyard which shows that it believes in its products.
