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Setting off around the world again without assistance or modern electronics requires more than just intact motivation. For Damien Guillou, this second Golden Globe Race is being played out first and foremost on land, in the technical choices made, the renunciations accepted and the patient preparation of the Rustler 36.
Coming back after quitting
In the 2022 edition, Damien Guillou's race came to an end after 70 days at sea, when his windvane gear broke. This is classic damage for this type of event, but it is prohibitive in a race where assistance is forbidden. The stop in Cape Town marked the premature end of his round-the-world voyage.
But the idea of setting off again quickly took hold. Not to make up for the abandonment, but to get to the bottom of what the Golden Globe Race really offers. Damien Guillou sums it up simply, " I want to do this race because it brings together everything I love about sailing" explains the sailor. The adventure dimension, the competition, the preparation of old boats and the acceptance of slowness make up a coherent, demanding whole, with no possible shortcuts.
The Rustler 36, an old boat that demands rigor and anticipation
The choice of the Rustler 36 - a model selected from among the sailboats authorized for this race - is fully in keeping with the spirit of the race. With its heavy hull, simple deck layout and large displacement, this yacht is a demanding and unforgiving sailor. This is also what makes it so well-suited to the long southern seas, provided that preparation is uncompromising.
After a single-handed return trip from South Africa, the boat was put into extended winter storage. At the end of the summer of 2025, Damien Guillou will launch the boat again and set off on a qualifying voyage of around 2,000 miles. This phase enables us to identify weak points and details which, over six and a half months at sea, quickly become unbearable.
Slight water ingress. Nothing spectacular, but enough to justify a complete dismantling of the deck fittings. On such a long race, the slightest permanent dampness becomes a problem not only for comfort, but also for structure and reliability.
An extensively redesigned pacemaker
On a boat without a modern autopilot, the windvane gear is the main crew member. Damien Guillou has kept the same manufacturer he used for his first participation, a conscious choice despite past problems. He opts for a Hydrovane system, without fletching, to limit the complex mechanics of the steering lines.
As the Rustler 36 is reputed to be a little hard on the helm, the layout of the governor was the subject of many hours of observation and reflection. The height of the tubes was modified, and the reinforcements reviewed, notably on the transom, to better distribute the forces. This invisible work directly affects the boat's ability to stay on course for weeks on end, without permanent skipper intervention.
Deck layout and sails: adjustments dictated by use
Preparation is not limited to the major elements. The deck layout evolves in small steps, always guided by experience at sea. The staysail is modified and installed on a roller furler, to simplify maneuvering over time and limit fatigue.
Every change is weighed up. It's not a question of transforming the boat, but of adapting it to single-handed sailing, in cold, damp conditions and repetitive movements. Damien Guillou insists on this point, " The success of a Golden Globe Race is largely determined before the start, by the accumulation of modest but coherent decisions. "
Interior, paint and energy
Inside, the work begins with a thankless task. The varnished wood has aged, the atmosphere is darker and retains moisture. Damien Guillou sands down the entire surface, allowing the boat to dry thoroughly before resuming the finishing touches. The aim is simple: to create a healthier, more pleasant environment over the long term.
This phase is accompanied by a major paint job, including the reworking of the hull cap, a hull lacquer and the hull. Here again, the choice was not purely aesthetic, but rather to protect the boat and ensure its ability to cross the southern seas without premature deterioration.
As far as energy is concerned, the skipper has deliberately limited the on-board electronics to the bare essentials authorized by the regulations. A VHF, an AIS, an Iridium reserved for communications with the race directors, and few modifications to the weight distribution. Solarem's support is in line with this logic of energy autonomy, without calling into question the spirit of the race.
Largely solitary preparation, just like the race itself
Much of this work is carried out alone, in a hangar in Quimper, close to his home, with the occasional help of Julien Le Nahour. This choice is not insignificant. Knowing every bolt, every reinforcement, every potential weakness in the boat is an integral part of mental preparation.
The Golden Globe Race limits the number of participants to around 25. The field is already complete. Damien Guillou is moving forward with a clear objective: to stay on course and aim for a time close to 200 days, with a margin. It's not a quest for a record, but for controlled navigation, in keeping with the spirit of a race where slow progress is part of the game.
