Onetime member of the SVYC, Simon Curwen, Leading in the Golden Globe Race

Published 12:18 on 17 Jan 2023

Around 250 days sailing alone around the World on a 36 foot yacht, navigating with a sextant and paper charts. No outside assistance, not taking on fuel, water or food. No contact with the outside world except via radio and the odd mail exchange points along the way.... sounds like something out of the 1960's!! Well it is, but that is exactly what onetime member of SVYC, Simon Curwen is doing, and doing very well. Having started the Golden Globe Race on 4th September, Simon is now half way across the Pacific Ocean and 900 miles in the lead! 

The race is a re-run of the race that Sir Robin Knox Johnston won in 1968/69 and, apart from trackers and other emergency safety equipment, the specification for the boats is the same. 32 to 36 foot long, pre 1988 design with long keel and skeg rudders attached to the keel. 

Simon was a member of SVYC from 1997 to 2006, although his family had a house on Bluett Avenue until it was sold last year, and many of us remember him and his brother sailing a fireball in the 1970's and 80's. 

His daughters Carolyn and Nikki did the opi courses in the 90's and early 0's and Nikki has gone on to be a world class solo and short handed sailor in her own right. 

Simon's progress can be tracked on here or on the YB tracker app on a mobile phone.

In addition to Caroline's resume of Simon Curwen's progress , you can also listen his weekly radio chat with Don of GGR here

Caroline Simonds