Off to the second attempt: Stanley Paris with the "Kiwi Spirit" designed by Farr
Stanley Paris has been at sea again since last Sunday. As with the first attempt in 2013, it started from St. Augustine in Florida, but the time will only start to run when it will pass the St. David's lighthouse on the east side of Bermuda in the next few hours. If he is successful, Paris will be the oldest person who has ever sailed around the world alone and without stopping (see YACHT 10/2013).
This time it is decidedly quieter than eleven months ago when Paris set out for the first time to break the age-old record of the American Dodge Morgan, who in 1986 set the absolute record for one-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the world with 150 days. Of course, this has long since been undercut several times, but for Paris, which is already 77 years old, it would be a splendid achievement to undercut this time.
His first attempt failed after just a few weeks due to numerous technical defects on his 63-foot Farr design "Kiwi Spirit", a modern, powerful, fast, but also very complex ship (see YACHT 3/2014). Paris was also difficult injured while sails and was forced to approach Cape Town and stop the attempt.
Fit in old age: Stanley Paris
In his blog, the constantly optimistic physiotherapist and university founder confesses his iron will to go through with the adventure so as not to disappoint himself and his followers. However, he no longer speaks of 120 days, as in the first attempt, but only of undercutting Morgan's time. Still, many question marks remain, especially with regard to the boat, which was refurbished last summer at the Lyman-Morse shipyard in Maine. Because even on the 1200-mile transfer to Floridgingen, rows of things were broken that should not give up on a non-stop circumnavigation of the world:
One of the electric winches failed and the self-hauler loosened on a second. The protection of the radar antenna also came loose and almost came from above. And then two of the four hydro-generators that Paris relies on to generate electricity on board failed. (It does not use fossil fuels, only renewable energy from wind, sun and water.) One collided with floating debris, the second fell victim to an incorrectly installed switch. "I have to be able to rely completely. But I don't think that many who make the equipment and work in this industry have a clue. There is not enough reliability in the system," wrote Paris.
Susceptible to defects: "Kiwi Spirit"
Paris is supported in his endeavor by his son Alan, who successfully sailed in the around-alone race, and the well-known American ocean sailor Steve Pettengill.
If Paris wants to break Morgan's record, he would have to pass the St. David's lighthouse in Bermuda again on April 12th. His journey can be followed on the tracker.