Yep I did...... Fantastic reading

I got it for Christmas. Its very interesting... and yes it did make me want to cast off from the pontoon!

I have Ellen MacArthur and Emma Richards, had to buy them myself though, bummer!!

"running free" ? I thought he was a sailor, not a runner .. 😉

Got it for xmas from my lovely wife! Can’t wait to start reading it 📖

Thoroughly enjoying both books in preparation for sailing a leg of the 2019-20 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Thoroughly enjoying both books in preparation for sailing a leg of the 2019-20 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Thoroughly enjoying both books in preparation for sailing a leg of the 2019-20 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Happy Birthday

Fantastic reading!!! 👍

Always wanted to ask, how do you substitute fresh fruits and veggies? Do you have some Hungarian food with you?

Istvan, how did you choose your professional gears for such a long journey? Which gears could you make the most use of? What is your favorite piece?

the GGR is a tiny organisation basically Don, his wife and Christophe they funded a great portion of the cost of this initiative from their own private funds! They were able to get this race going. Everyone should recognise that this involves years of hard work and is a tremendous achievement! The idea is to create an opportunity for participants to experience this race as an adventure. Now it appears that nr 1 and nr 2 do not have a Ham radio licence while it is in the rules that they should have had one. The GGR requested information from them at the start, In my opinion the GGR cannot be held accountable for the fact that they did not do an in depth Investigation on the validity of the call signs simple because 1) the GGR does not have the ressources to do so, a ham radio is an optional device and 2) it can be expected from the participants that the respect the rules in the notice of race given the spirit of the race. So consequently since MS and VDH both made the same error there is no competitive advantage for one or the other, if both of them would have had a licence it would not have altered the end result. As far as the race is concerned it the issue should be put to bed and both MS and VDH will have to answer to the local authorities once they arrive. I would hope that the followers of the race see this issue in this light and do not overreact on this minor issue but appreciate at the same time the tremendous effort of the participants and last but not least those of the GGR team for making this race possible.

.... haven’t got a clue what any of this means - it’s a bit like Brexit !! I’m increasingly living in a world where individual words I do understand are blended into sentences that have no meaning to me whatsoever— it’s a fairly blissful dream like state.

Je suis cette course fantastique depuis le début et je trouve dommage cette polémique concernant les communications radio. N'allez pas me faire croire que l'organisation n'est pas au courant du fait que certains concurrents ont des indicatifs bidons. Certains obtenus dans des pays peu scrupuleux. Dès le début, j'ai demandé à la direction de communiquer les fréquences et heures d'appels des concurrents. J'ai eu une réponse négative, qui ne correspond pas à l'esprit radioamateur. Je ne parlerai pas du montage fait par l'URC qui a créé une polémique au sein de la communauté. Donc la direction savait et sait. Maintenant, si certains concurrents ont eu des routages météo, ils devront être disqualifiés. J'attends une réponse claire et nette de la direction de course.

C'est un peu comme si l'on organisait une compétition de chasse. Au moment de la distribution des prix, on se rend compte que le vainqueur n'a pas son permis. A t'il démérité pour autant ？Si le règlement ne précise pas qu'il faut un permis, il ne sera pas inquieté. Si le réglement précise que le permis est obligatoire, il sera disqualifié.

The main problem with the SSB radio , whether licenced or not, is that it has already allowed this race to be run on modern technology because competitors have received regular reports on their position , so they do not need to use a sextant , and they also receive detailed routeing instructions. The reality of the event is that modern SSB with the livetracker has meant a competitor with good comms and shore backup need not navigate and can be told when to change course weather wise. Perhaps an answer for the next race is to ban SSB totally , issue all competitors with Sat comms as in this race and only permit the weekly calls via race control. No one can then be told where they are, and if they ask they are DSQ . Race control could inform competitors of relative positions within the fleet , but not give out positions . Time checks could be given on weekly call , as without electric watches time would not be available if SSB receivers prohibited

Funny though, just a week ago with the JL VDH penalty issue, there was the second coming of the French Revolution in the comment section. Now it's quieter than in the Doldrums.

GGR doesn’t care about this being illegal so let’s put that aside. But that now leaves one illegal user able to use his call sign and one not. Seems somehow a competitive advantage has been created?

That's actually hilarious. a whole bunch of people with mostly French sounding names has spent the day calling for penalties. While A whole bunch of people with Dutch sounding names have been saying it doesn't matter much. Hopefully they can now find some common ground. I just think the interpretation of the rules lies well with the GGR.

found in QRZ.com (Ham radio callsigns) J6LJV Jean Luc VDH Maritime Mobile /MM LC05 201 St Lucia

This is certainly dispiriting. I guess the silver lining is that neither Jean-Luc nor Mark had an unfair advantage over the other; but both MAY have had an unfair advantage over the rest...although licensed HAMs have been getting their info anyway. It just is a little surprising for experienced offshore sailors not to have had this sorted.

1 and 2 in ggr are pirates. Not good

I eat cereal and have decided to check if all entrants have bought their cereal from shops and have a valid receipt. Investigation continues.

So much for integrity. There has been plenty of weather routing under the radar. That was obvious and now this. Sad.

Only one solution: instant disqualification Gain licence+call sign and re-enter next edition of race and make this one a learning experience 🤨👍

Breaking news...hand held gps found on competitors boat, or are they going to be thrown overboard as they approach the finish? (GPS not skipper!)

One of these days you will need a license to breath.

Interesting. This could have serious consequences and repercussions as he knowingly involved in an illegal activity right through the race to gain and obtained advantage by breaking international law. Racerules surely dont agree or allow for that ( breaking international law) even if the licence inspection was not part of the GGR procedure. Advantage is not gained only by gaining information and communicating illegaly but the huge psychological advantage has to be taken into consideration for being able to be connected to the world. Could this even develop into disqualification? I am not saying it will...just asking the question. Would be sad...but... Also..is it within the GGR spirit and sportsman like? Anyhow...Lets hope that there is some explanation.

Daily Update Log from QRZ shows this from 1/17/2018. Added: J6LJV (St Lucia) Name: Jean Luc VDH Manager: N5TD Date: 2018-01-16 22:54:52 Is the official from St. Lucia wrong? Was he on the wrong frequency?

Don't envy Don with this can of worms!

Curiouser and curiouser! Can someone please explain how someone can have a call sign registered in St Lucia, without the St Lucian licensing authority knowing about it?!

So no weather for jl also ?

GGR should re-consider that opnion. Not very helpful at all

Hope this helps. Different countries have different regulations re ham frequencies but all agreed to be bound by the International Telecommunications treaties 1934 and amendments. Weather information for safety and preservation of life (not weather routing to win a race) can be requested and by international law provided. With a boat name a made up name a cats name! Or preferably your marine ssb call sign. as below from the ITU. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any station or carrier may render free service in connection with situations involving the safety of life and property, including hydrographic reports, weather reports, reports regarding aids to navigation and medical assistance to injured or sick persons on ships and aircraft at sea. 73 Bill mmz

Golden Globe Race You said " GGR has no control over the radio activities of ENTRANTS in the GGR other than requiring all entrants to have a mandatory licensed Marine HF SSB radio and call sign and a valid Marine Radio Operators license" That is not what the NoR says! Rule 4.4 is clear "Each Entrant must hold all licences and registration certificates required by their national authority (Shown on the yachts registration papers) including but not limited to, Boat operators licence, Radio operator's license for all types equipment fitted, Radio station License, EPIRB and PLB reg. certificates and Boat registration papers." So for any skipper without a HAM license even having a HAM set on board even if not switching it on for the whole race is braking the rules.

Truth. They have sailed around the world. Through the same seas as every other competitor. Truth. There are only five still in the race out of the seventeen who started. As for winning or coming in 2nd the connections to social media via Ham operators has come into light. GGR has recognized this, after the Ham Radio community has called attention to the legalities of such unlicensed use. This is 2019 after all.

It's so obvious that Mark Slats is going to win, you "helped" it to win against Jean Luc Van Den Heede

but we're still waiting for Mark Slats satellite call today

What does this tweet mean?

Mark parle d'abandonner (aujourd'hui mardi midi) Quel est son problème ?

Hello Don. Been following the Adventure since day 2. Really enjoying it. This is the first time we have ever followed any event of any type. Question...Currently we are in the Florida Keys. We would like to catch a flight arrive at to Les Sables for the April 22 prize giving. Its a big trip for us of course and would like to know a little about what to expect? For example, would we get a chance to meet up with you to thank you, maybe even share a rum?😉 Would we be able to meet any of the entrants to congratulate all of them? Or will everyone be to busy with other things than to be bothered by a couple of old trade wind salts like us? lol Thanks again to the GGR team!! . All the best⛵🏖😎

Quelles sont les options pour un concurrent qui n'aurait plus d'eau pour boire hormis l'utilisation de sa pompe manuelle de secours ? Est-il obligé d'abandonner et de déclencher sa balise de secours pour qu'on lui vienne en aide ? Je pense évidemment à la situation de Mark Slats

quelle est la distance qui separe les leaders aujourd hui ?

Jean Luc n'a pas de licence non plus, il sera normale que lui non plus n'aura plus le droit de transmettre/communiquer, se serait une decision equitable

Bonjour, les bernacles et autres parasites se collent à la coque des voiliers. Certains concurrents ont du plonger pour s'en débarrasser et retrouver une bonne vitesse. VDH à pu nettoyer sa coque ?

Golden Globe Radio Club 46 minuten · GGRC ANNOUNCEMENT We are in radio support team of GGRC surprised by fact of illegal HAM RADIO operation by Mark Slats and resulting instruction by Golden Globe Race administration: www.facebook.com/goldengloberace/posts/2204442783142441 So, we have decided to check also validity of callsigns used by other GGR participants to make sure we do legal HAM RADIO communication to some of them. Uku Randmaa Golden Globe Race 2018 appeared to have valid Amateur License ES1UKU, issued by Estonian Telecom authorities. However, when we checked validity of callsign J6LJV, used by Jean Luc Van Den Heede – we have got following reply from St Lucia National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. CTO Mr. Alden St Clair has responded – “This call sign is not recorded in our database.” (see the copy of the correspondence attached) This response of authorities means that HAM RADIO operation using callsign J6LJV by Jean Luc Van Den Heede during whole race was illegal. Therefore, we have to share this information to HAM RADIO community and also looking now for Golden Globe Race administration reaction to discovered facts.

Philippe Martin

Bonjour et merci pour les informations sur la course. Est ce possible pour les concurrents d’utiliser le moteur (avec hélice) pour avancer ? A t on une idée de la quantité de carburant dont disposent encore les concurrents ? A-t-on des nouvelles des furoncles de mark slats ? Merci encore

Bonjour Christophe, Istvan a t-il pu soigner ses ongles ?

I’ll have to find a way to read it in english, the french translation is ....

Interesting.

If not, he soon will.....

Mark Slats had a visitor today while he was in the water cleaning his boat.......a shark😱

Uku is such a cool dude...😁

Oh I am so glad, that must have been a relief and I hope he managed clean quite a bit of those horrible barnacles off the hull.

Shark or Dolphin? That's easy.... just listen to the background music!! 👍

Saaremaal on kilu aeg. :)

Cool Uka, you state the position of your vessel with great precision, is that a fix obtained by celestial observation.

:-)

Cool uku ,👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻