Twenty-nine-years-old at the time of writing, Kevin Delprat from Guadaloupe in the French Antilles, is the youngest entry so far in the Global Solo Challenge 2023/2024.
Despite his age, Kevin is one the most experience sailors to have signed up for the GSC so far with over 200.000 nautical miles sailed. As a teenager, when he knew nothing about sailing, he was given a 22-footer which he then crossed the Atlantic with. As organisers we are incredibly pleased with the continuing interest that the event is attracting from sailors all around the world and from different walks of life.
We are still receiving enquiries and, although we know there will certainly be a number of entries that may not manage to align finances, work and family commitments to be on the start line, we could not have hoped for a better response to this new event. Completing a circumnavigation by boat is the hidden dream of many who have a passion for the sea, the GSC is simply a framework: dreams with a departure date become projects.
Interview
Where does your passion for sailing come from?
Eleven years ago they gave me my first sailboat. I didn’t know anything about it. It was a 22-footer and I went on to do a transat with it.
What lessons have you learned from sailing?
In case of a problem, the most beautiful tool on board is you.
What brought you to like single-handed sailing?
Think, struggle, look, hope.
What prompted you to sign up for this event?
I wish to surpass myself on this race, to regain taste for life after it has been hurting me for a long time.
How do you plan to prepare for this event?
As always at the time of a departure I always get the chills as it approaches. So, I’ll prepare checklists so I don’t forget anything.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
The organisation and breakages.
Tell us about your boat or the boat you would like to have.
An old boat I’m refurbishing so she’ll be ready.
Sailing experience
200,000-plus miles sailed.
Boat name: Louis 1 er
Project: Melody
Sail number: TBA
Year: 1978
LOA: 35ft
Displacement: 7000kgs
Upwind sail area: TBA
Downwind sail area: TBA
Global Solo Challenge: a unique format
The format is unlike any other round the world solo sailing event and will make it fair and exciting for the Skippers as well as easy and engaging for the public and sponsors to follow:
- A wide range of boats can enter – 32 to 55 foot.
- Boats will be grouped by performance characteristics and set off in successive departures over 11 weeks.
- Once at sea, there are no classes. All boats will be sailing the same event. The faster boats will have to try to catch up with the slower boats, the pursuit factor creating competitive interest aboard and a fascinating event for the public and sponsors.
- The first boat to cross the finish line wins. The performance differential between the boats is taken into account in staggering the departures, eliminating the need to calculate corrected times.
By GSC
