Jakub Ziemkiewicz from Aghada has reached Antigua in the Caribbean Islands sailing BIBI of Cork in the race around the world for the smallest yachts attempting this daunting challenge. In the 5.8 Mini Globe Race, the boats are home-made by the sailors and just 19 feet long. Not a lot of space to spend a year aboard, the estimated race duration. As I’ve already reported, Jakub built BIBI at his home on the eastern side of Cork Harbour. We’re following his voyage.
He phoned from Antigua to tell me he had finished 10th of the 12 plywood boats that raced 2,700 nautical miles from Lanzarote on January 11, to qualify to sail another 24,700 nautical miles over the next year. “I’ve never raced offshore before. My aim was to finish and not be last. It is testing, but I’m learning more every day.”
The mini boat solo sailors are resting-up in Antigua until Sunday, February 23, when they will start the first leg of the full race. This is to Panama, where they will be lifted out and transported by road through the canalway from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, then race via Tahiti and Tonga to Fiji.“I’ll be through there before President Trump threatens to take it over. There were very big seas on the way down from Lanzarote. I had a problem and some damage to my headsail. I managed to deal with it, though going forward to the bow on a small boat needs care. My determination when a problem arose was to get over it and survive by relying on myself. It was a huge experience, which has helped me and I know more now and will get better at racing. I am staying on BIBI in the small marina where the fleet is moored and rafted up and will be getting my sail repaired and preparing for the next leg to Panama.”
That is 1,300 miles nautical miles which, depending on weather, could take three weeks or more. Ireland’s only entrant in the race, says he is fulfilling his dream and is determined to continue in the race and “do better in every part of it.”
