Kirsten GGR July Newsletter

It has been a busy last couple of months and Kirsten’s media team has had to crack the whip to get Kirsten off the boat, out of the bilges and the boat shed, to put the tools down and just sit down for a moment in front of her laptop and provide a refit update, but they finally succeeded, and herewith June and July’s newsletter in one:

“A lot has happened since the last newsletter.

One of the first and very prominent events of the last couple of months, that I would like to mention, is the incredible fundraising dinner that took place in Summerside at the Credit Union Place, and organized by Bill Martin.

It was an unforgettable evening! The amount of detail that went into the food, the decoration and the entertainment cannot be overstated! Much gratitude to Bill Martin, Glenna Lohnes and all the volunteers, who spent their time and effort making this such a special event! Chef Emily and her team did an amazing job with the food, and the musical entertainment, with Claire Gallant on the piano, Fred Martin, playing guitar and singing nautical songs – and even a tune by Lennie Gallant – was absolutely great! A very big thank you to everyone who attended, for their support and enthusiasm! It was another of many wonderful examples of the immense support and enthusiasm of the Prince Edward Islanders! The funds have already all gone into the ongoing refit of “Minnehaha”.

While we are on the topic of fundraising: We are still actively seeking corporate sponsors for the race. If you or your company are interested in learning more about the partnership opportunities available, please reach out directly at kirstenggr@gmail.com.

“In terms of the refit, we have made great progress.

It would not be exaggerated to say that I am very particular in how I like things done, which often results in my redoing a lot of my own work, until I am happy with it, but also making tall demands on anyone else working on the boat, which would be Eddie. Fortunately, Eddie and I see eye to eye in 99% of everything, with Eddie being that 1% more particular than me. So, Eddie spent a lot of time and effort installing the external chainplates and their backing plates. It was no small task: some of the cabinetry in the interior needed to be removed, in order to access the area where the backing plates would be.

Then, as much of the Cape George 36 has been built with a second insulation layer of glass separated by foam, bits of the second layer had to be cut away, so that the backing plates would sit flush up against the hull, and not on the thinner insulaton layer, compressing the foam. So, Eddie cut out what needed to be cut out of the insulation, and replaced it with a solid spacer of probably 10 or more layers of glass and epoxy. And only then was it ready for the backing plates. However, the backing plates, as well as chainplates still needed to be bent to fit the hull - and in the interior, the backing plates had to be given some angles, to accommodate the beam shelf.

Needless to say, all these steps amounted to a lot of work for Eddie – but he soldiered through all of the 10 chainplates – and the result is that the chainplates with their backing plates and in the entirety of their installation, are as rock-solid as one could ever wish for. In fact, it would not be surprising if one could lift the boat by the chainplates, and that they would be able to carry the load (not that we intend trying that). Certainly, to hold the rig, they are very, very much more than adequate!

“Other than that, Eddie has machined the mounting brackets for the hydrovane self-steering unit, and it is strong and rugged! Initially we were intending to install 2 more winches in the cockpit, but in the end, we opted for a center winch, aft, and Eddie, genius that he is, combined the mounting bracket for the hydrovane, with a winch pedestal. Although at a first glance, and before it was mounted, it looked like a very bling and over-engineered toilet seat, mounted for its intended purpose, it becomes apparent that it is a masterpiece: a highly functional, technical, structural work of art!

“Another important topic of discussion between Eddie and me, has been the placement and mounting of the life-raft and solar panels. The life-raft is a Plastimo 4-man liferaft, model ISAF réf. 54561, which will be serviced again just before the race, and will have the extras added to it by Plastimo, to turn it into the Plastimo GGR model réf. 66516. It is a good, compact, hard-container life-raft – but, as always, deck space is limited, and the last thing anyone wants is a cluttered deck.

Eventually we came up with a plan of how to combine the life-raft mounting bracket with the solar panel mounting brackets, without the life-raft’s release being impeded in any way by the solar panels. Eddie refined the idea and with the help of CNC machine operator, Brent Cousins, from Baltic Creek Woodworks, produced a mounting bracket. We are now just waiting to paint on the Kiwigrip non-skid onto the coach roof, before we get the liferaft and panels mounted.

“From the topic of the life-raft, to another topic pertaining to safety: bilge pumps!

Bilge pumps are obviously incredibly important safety feature – and furthermore, the Golden Globe Race has its own requirements around these: firstly, there must be two places from which the bilges can be manually pumped out – one from inside the boat, and one from the cockpit. In addition to this, the cockpit lazarette must be water-tight, and needs to have a mechanism for emptying it, that does not allow it to empty into the boat’s bilges. I was not willing to take any shortcuts with the bilge pumps, and therefore decided that the only manual pumps that I would settle for, would be Whale. Upon announcing this on a previous Facebook post, Whale very kindly reached out, and offered to supply us with the pumps we needed. They sent us some outstanding pumps: two very rugged pumps for the cockpit and inside pump, as well as a sink pump, with all the associated through-deck kits and service kits. A very big thank you, Whale!

It took a bit of thought and debating between Eddie and me, to determine where best to install the pumps, and also where to install a selector valve, that would allow you to select between pumping out the bilge or pumping out the lazarette. Of course, for Eddie there is no such thing as a tall order or a problem that does not have a practical solution - and the pumps have now been installed and tested. To see a video clip walkthrough of the pumps and locations of installations CLICK HERE.

And for those of you who would like to check out the specs, these are the pumps that have been installed and associated service kits will be on board:

Gusher Urchin Manual Pump

Gusher Titan Manual Pump

Gusher 10 Manual Bilge Pump

“Another great moment recently, was the arrival of Alan Burland from Bermuda. Alan is not only our foremost advisor on the KGGR team, but thanks to his generosity and efforts, it became possible for me to come to Prince Edward Island, when the winter weather and boat problems had made any further passage on Minnehaha impossible - and thanks to whom I had the privilege of living at Green Island Getaways all throughout the winter and the spring! It has been great to catch up with Alan, and have him here at the refit, giving us a hand and good advice!

Alan is also the perfect host, and he very kindly and generously hosted a dinner at Green Island Getaways, to get together with everyone here on Prince Edward Island, who has been involved with the refit and with all who have been enthusiastic and supportive of the project! Thank you, Alan, for a lovely evening in a charming venue with outstanding food and unlimited flow of refreshments! What an honour!

“For the rest, we have been re-installing all sorts of deck fittings, stanchions, pushpit and pulpit, cabinetry on the interior, refining on plumbing, electrical, lighting etc., while awaiting the arrival of the new mast.

It was a momentous morning last Tuesday, when the mast finally arrived on Prince Edward Island from Gainesville, Florida, from US Spars. The crew at US Spars have worked together with Eddie and me, as well as naval architect Thomas Degremont from Langan Design Partners LLC, in optimizing this rig for the purposes of the Golden Globe Race – with the main focus on strength, stability and practicality. The mast arrived in perfect condition after its long transit – meticulously packed, carefully shipped, and with all the details and pieces that go along with it – like the boom, two spinnaker poles, the standing rigging, nav lights, VHF antenna, windex, spinlocks etc.

We’re thrilled with it, and very happy to have it here – and a very big thank you to Matthias Klemm, Michael Wukotich and the whole crew at US Spars, for all your effort and detail – it really has been a pleasure working with you on this, and I look very forward to sailing with the new rig!

Also a big thank you to Darren Cousins, who rounded up a whole lot of his enthusiastic crew from Baltic Creek Woodworks and Twin Shores to help with the offloading of the mast. It was a sight to behold: a dozen people all working perfectly in sync to get the mast off the flatbed truck and into the shed!

Thanks also goes to Gregory Dexter in East Port, Maine and to Matthew Lacasse from Deep Cove Marine Services, who helped with the transfer of the mast from the US Spars truck to the flatbed truck of McConchies Trucking, who promptly and safely transported the mast for the last leg onto Prince Edward Island. Evidently, there was quite a bit of logistics involved, and many people and components were needed to make this happen, to all of whom I am very grateful!

“The work is ongoing – but the summer is also here in all its glory, and it is good for the body and mind to be spending some time outdoors and in the sun! I was very fortunate to be able to spend 3 weeks in one of the Park Model cottages at Twin Shores – which boasts a spectacular view of the bay, as well as the ocean off the north shore of PEI – and is located ideally to see the stunning sunsets that PEI has to offer! It was a real treat being so close to the ocean, and it got me back into swimming and running and keeping fit, in between working on the boat. I hope to still go to the beach there as much as possible, and whenever I have a moment to spare!

This past Sunday was the ideal opportunity again to be on, in and near the water at Twin Shores – this time together with Alan, Arleigh Hudson and her two kids, Elias and Reggie. All 5 of us (with the little people, Elias and Reggie only accounting for two thirds of the ballast of one of us adults), piled onto Alan’s trimaran Hobie, and went out for a leisurely sail in light airs – we spent a couple of hours out there, sailing, swimming, and trying out the super-cool pedal rig on this cool Hobie! On a previous occasion Alan entrusted his Hobie to me, and in breezier conditions it became apparent just how fast this rig can move, and just how much fun it is to sail!”

“And lastly, some people have been curious as to what became of the old, and indeed, very beautiful wooden (Sitka Spruce) mast, that was Minnehaha’s original mast from 1988: It was restored by Baltic Creek Woodworks, and just last Friday we erected it at Twin Shores as a flag-post! I could not have wished for a better and more meaningful place to leave behind this mast – on Prince Edward Island – a place that has offered me so much kindness, generosity and support – and at Twin Shores, a place I have grown very fond of, and which has been an access to a beautiful beach and a place where I can truly re-energize myself! It is really an honour to see the mast there, flying the Canadian flag, together with the Prince Edward Island and Twin Shores flag!

“As always, much gratitude for being on this incredible journey, with all the amazing people who continue to support and assist me on my way to the start-line,

Kirsten

If you would like to be added to Kirsten’s monthly newsletter, please add your contact info HERE.

Thanks again to Scipio SA for their partnership. Their financial assistance helped make much of the work mentioned in this newsletter possible!

Recent Press:

Kirsten was featured in an episode of Offshore Sailing and Cruising with Paul Trammell. The full podcast can be found HERE.

Melissa Payne, Media CEO of the Golden Globe Race recently edited a video clip showing Kirsten and Eddie’s progress on Minnehaha. Go to Kirsten’s Facebook page to check out the update!

Over the course of the next few newsletters we will be introducing the full team behind Kirsten’s campaign. Team KirstenGGR is comprised entirely of friends, former co-workers and people in the sailing industry, who believe whole-heartedly in Kirsten’s journey.

Team KirstenGGR Refit and Media:

EDDIE ARSENAULT - SHIPWRIGHT/TECHNICAL/REFIT:

Although Eddie is very low-key and stays out of the lime-light of social media and of advertising himself; his superior workmanship, skills, perfectionism and talent have earned him a wide-spread reputation of the "can-do-anything" machinist and fabricator of Prince Edward Island. In addition to this, he is exceptionally adept at boat-building, mechanics, electrics, plumbing - in short - at anything he wishes to be and that interests him. He is also extremely hard-working, and people marvel at how much work experience in how many different fields he has been able to accumulate in the mere 36 years that he has been on the planet.

There simply could not be a better person than Eddie Arsenault to be refitting and preparing a boat for one of the toughest sailing challenges on the planet, and some of the toughest conditions a sailboat could ever expect.

ALICIA BIGGART - MEDIA:

After accompanying Kirsten for a leg of a trip around Newfoundland, Alicia quickly signed on to help support Kirsten’s dream of being in the Golden Globe Race. After a 15 year career in TV production and advertising, Alicia currently puts her skills to use working for USHarbors.com and helping with Kirsten’s social media, newsletter and partnership outreach.

ERIN RANNEY - MEDIA AND FILM:

Erin is a freelance wildlife camerawoman and ocean exploration video engineer. Erin sailed aboard Pelagic with Kirsten as a client in 2018 for a National Geographic shoot and again with Kirsten as crew in 2018/2019. She’s filmed for companies such as National Geographic, BBC, Smithsonian and PBS. Erin’s work can be viewed HERE.

This month we are hoping to install some more electronics: transponder/radar detector, radar reflector, handheld VHF, etc., for which we need to raise $2000.

If you would like support Kirsten’s journey please visit her GoFundMe account or contribute directly via PayPal.

You can also contribute by heading to the Kirsten GGR merch store. All profits from the shirts and hoodies go to funding Kirsten’s race preparation.

Kirsten is one of two South Africans participating in the Golden Globe 2022, and currently the only female entrant. Kirsten has been sailing dinghies since her childhood, but sailing since 2006 as a profession. From sailing training to sailboat deliveries, she built a diverse set of skills and experience. In 2015, she began working for Skip Novak on his Pelagic Expeditions to South Georgia, The Antarctic Peninsula, Patagonia and the Falklands. She currently skippers “Pelagic” a fifty-foot sail boat owned by the legendary Skip Novak.

About the race: The Golden Globe Race 2022 is a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation. This retro race is based on the first solo circumnavigation race that took place in 1968. In order to stay true to the original circumnavigation, boats are all older designs, no bigger than 36 foot- and modern navigational technology, like GPS, is not permitted. Instead Kirsten need to depend on her skills in celestial navigation and dead reckoning. The route for the race is France, down the Atlantic, east-about the Southern Ocean, and back up the Atlantic to France- an approximate distance of 30,000 nautical miles and anywhere from 7 to 9 months or more at sea.