Rowing Record Attempt on Course for Success
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Skipper Harald Sedlacek - Cape Finisterre © YCC
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FIPOFIX © Félix González Muñiz
Sedlacek rounds Cape Finisterre, approximately 4,200 nautical miles left to St. Augustine, U.S.
Thursday 23.01.2014, at 16.36 UTC Harald Sedlacek and his volcanic-miniboat FIPOFIX have passed Cape Finisterre, a key waypoint for his record run.
Almost one week Sedlacek had a long battle against the storm cells, breaking sea and treacherous flow labyrinth in the wintery Bay of Biscay. During few hours the FIPOFIX runs on SSW-course parallel to the Portuguese Atlantic coast.
“I am incredibly relieved to have made the Bay of Biscay despite to the recent problems with the board electronics. Due to the bad weather, the salt water came inside the FIPOFIX and penetrated the boarding hatch. Therefore I had to wear my survival suit for about 50 hours, which keeps me reasonably warm. Because of the electronic problems, I had to control the entire time manually. This means practically to stay unprotected in the cockpit against the wind and the sea.”
The next days should be however more relaxed. This time Sedlacek will use to organize the little FIPOFIX as well as himself for the long battle across the North Atlantic.
Project “Proof of Principle” Open16 FIPOFIX
From continent to continent, “Proof of Principle” stands for the world first attempt to cross the North Atlantic in an only 16 foot (4.90 meters length) sailing boat, which is entirely built out of volcanic fibers, singlehanded, nonstop and without any external assistance from east to west and subsequently from west to east by the dreadful northern route.
The challenges of the wintry north Atlantic, coldness, stormy sea and loneliness are waiting for skipper Sedlacek. During the estimated sailing time of 40 days, he will sail approximately 4,400 nautical miles in a sailing boat which provides only 1.5 m² of “protected” area.
This is an extreme-sailing adventure in a class of its own, which shall proof that with the synergies of innovative product and material technology and resolute power of endurance everything is nearly possible.
