CIRCUMNAVIGATING IN A 10' BOAT

10-foot Boats to Sail Around the World !
It is hard to imagine, but a race has now been announced for single-handed sailors in ten foot boats around-the-world. Yes, 10-foot long boats. They would be the smallest ever to circumnavigate the globe. 'Around In Ten' is the name of the race, the organisers of which say it will start from the Bahamas next January. They are looking for sponsors and entries, but the boats will be so small they will not be able to carry liferafts. One wonders about the safety of that.

Can't wait to see this one!

Two boat designers from opposite sides of the globe, including one from the UK, are designing very different cruisers for the Around In Ten race, a single handed race around the world in 10 foot boats.

Britain's Paul Fisher is completing his design of the Micro 10; marrying a full length keel with a single sail Delta Rig (she could also take junk rig). The boat also uses water as ballast. This clever idea facilitates longer times at sea; as the fresh water ballast is consumed it is replaced with sea water.

New Zealander John Welsford's design, the Gimli carries a sloop rig with a high tech canting keel. She is designed to be built from composite materials and sleeps two.

Although very different in their approach both boats are designed to be built by amateurs intent on ocean transits.

Circumnavigating the globe in a 10 foot boat might not be every body's idea of an enjoyable sail, but both designers are thinking of safety. They have both incorporated a feature not normally available on larger boats; they can be sailed completely from inside the enclosed cabin. This reduces the need and risk of going on deck during bad weather. www.aroundinten.com

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