GGR skipper Mark Sinclair retires: 13 left in race

Mark Sinclair, the sole Australian skipper in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, has decided to retire to Lanzarote.

He was one of 16 sailors to cross the start line in Les Sables d’Olonne less than three weeks ago.

Speaking of his Lello 34 masthead sloop, Coconut, he revealed he had always planned to stop by the second race photo drop in Cape Town in order to attend his son’s wedding. That would have put it in the Chichester class for participants making a stop.

However, strong south-westerly headwinds in the Bay of Biscay meant his start was much slower than expected.

‘This [was] a slow start, much slower than expected and I need to get a week ahead of my last trip to make an appointment in Cape Town for my son’s wedding [..] I’m a week late [so getting to Cape Town on time] won’t happen,’ said Sinclair, who added that he also hadn’t seen his family in almost a year and had some outstanding health issues that he needed to take care of.

“Biscay was a tough outing – I messed it up last time and I messed it up this time,” he noted.

Mark Sinclair chose an Aries vane steering system for his Lello 34. Credit: Katy Stickland

The 63-year-old completed his 2018 Golden Globe Race 100 days before the start of the 2022 event, having originally sailed from France to Adelaide in 2018, stopping over due to barnacles growing on the hull and d lack of water.

He waited three years to return to racing in the Chichester class.

Continued below…

Coconut suffered rollovers around Cape Horn and arrived in Les Sables d’Olonne after 174 days with a damaged forestay, inner staysail forestay and problems with her aging Berryman engine, which has now been replaced by a lighter Yanmar engine and more powerful. He also acquired a staysail and genoa used by 2018 Golden Globe Race winner Jean-Luc Van den Heede, which increased the Lello 34’s sail area by 30%.

Sinclair said the lack of prep time meant little work on the boat still needed to be done.

Wilson [left] was given to Mark Sinclair by his son for good luck. Credit: Katy Stickland

“The 2018 GGR was a fantastic thing and allowed me to sail around the world and sail around Cape Horn and get my Sir Robin Knox-Johnston burgee. Attending this one was fantastic. But , i haven’t had a day off in the last 100 days and that’s part of it too. Lots of little things to do on the boat like servicing the winches. They’re all minor things , but when you put it all together when it comes to a marriage, a family, a surgery that I have to have, I think, let’s put our cards on the table and let’s make the best of it, ”said Sinclair, who is affectionately known as name of Captain Coconut.

“I am saddened to leave the race but delighted to have a boat that can go almost anywhere full of food and shops, I just have to decide which route to choose to return to Australia.” The downwind leg to Panama passes through New Caledonia and Tahiti, it’s tempting.

Mark Sinclair is the third 2022 GGR skipper to retire from racing. Credit: Katy Stickland

He said retiring from the GGR was “a very difficult decision” and he thanked all of his supporters around the world.

“I feel like I let down all the people who helped me,” he said. “I’m quitting with no regrets and looking forward to the next non-GGR element of my life, getting Coconut home with no surprises.’

Mark Sinclair is a hydrographic consultant and former member of the Australian Navy, and has extensive solo sailing experience. Credit: Bernard Gergaud

Current positions of the 2022 Golden Globe Race skippers as of September 23, 2022 at 1000 UTC

Simon Curwen, (United Kingdom), Vizcaya 36 years old, Clear
Tapio Lehtinen, (Finland), Gaia 36 years old, Starfish
Pat Lawless, (Ireland), Saltram Saga 36, green rebel
Kirsten Neuschafer, (South Africa), cutter for the Cape George 36, Minnehaha
Abhilash Tomy, (India), Rustler 36 years old, bayanat
Jeremy Bagshaw, (South Africa), OE32, Olleanna
Michael Guggenberger, (Austria), Vizcaya 36, Fed
Guy Waites (UK), Tradewind 35, Sagarmatha
Ertan Beskardes, (United Kingdom), Rustler 36 years old, lazy otter
Elliot Smith, (USA), Gale Force 34, Second breath
Ian Herbert-Jones (UK), Tradewind 35, Puffin
Damien Guillou, (France), Rustler 36 years old, PRB
Arnaud Gaist, (France), Barbican 33 Mk 2, Hermes phone

Retired:

Edward Walentynowicz, (Canada), Rustler 36, Noah’s joke
Guy de Boer, (United States), Tashiba 36 years old, Spirit
Mark Sinclair (Australia), Lello 34 years old, Coconut

Happy reading GGR skipper Mark Sinclair retires: 13 left in the race?

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