The Wrong Way: Solo, nonstop, Westbound in 2026
Button Tehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hsnXjIhf64&t=23sxt
My 1st solo circumnavigation completely unassisted
A seemingly unattainable dream was put into words in my childhood: to sail around the globe solo. With only one stop. And in only one year. How could I even think [...]
Istvan Kopar Retells His Record-Setting Ocean Voyage via His Book, Which Gets Displayed at LibLearnX 2023
Originally written in Hungarian, “Kihivas” tells the story of world-famous sailor Istvan Kopar as he took on the ultimate sailing challenge: solo circumnavigation. Now fully translated into English, boating enthusiasts will find much inspiration in [...]
GGR 2018 Part 11 The Finish and My Take on it…
The ill-famed Bay of Biscay showed her true self on March 16th. But this wasn’t Puffin’s first rodeo, and we wouldn’t have noticed the heavy weather if the replaced Windpilot had been the right size. [...]
GGR 2018/19 Part 10 From Cape Horn to Bay of Biscay
My father and friends cheered for me remotely while I rounded Cape Horn for the first time back on March 5th, 1991. This time two of my friends, and my father, were close by. Not [...]
GGR 2018 Part 9 Cape Horn-bound through the Pacific and almost rudderless
This leg became very long, but its related comments in Puffin’s logbook are extremely brief. First, the exhausting struggle to stay in the race left neither time nor energy for detailed notes. Second, the frustration [...]
GGR 2018 Part 8 Aiming the 4th Southernmost Cape…
The gorgeous Tasmanian coastline faded, and we lost view of land by November 5th. We hoped to see land again at Christmas, with some luck at Cape Horn. We [...]
GGR 2018 Part 7 Hobart Check Point
November greeted Puffin above Tasmania’s continental shelf—and almost on the rocks of Maatsuyker Islands. A strong storm was Tasmania-bound. Don urged me to accelerate my progress, hoping for better shelter in the coastal area. I [...]
GGR 2018/19 Part 6: The Indian Ocean
the Indian Ocean is the smallest, therefore, the most unpredictable (due to the closely surrounding continents.) And she didn’t let her image of being the most feared of all oceans be tarnished this time, either. [...]
GGR 2018/19 Part 5: From the Cape Verde Islands to the South Indian Ocean
After 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep and a rich brunch, the world didn't turn rosy, but I could finally think straight. I have sailed between and near the Cape Verde Islands several times but never set [...]
GGR Part 4–Hungarian Language Version
Below is the Hungarian version of Part 4. For the English version, please click here. Suhaili ágyúja pontosan délben dördült el (2018 július 1) és Puffin a rajtvonal Északi oldalán, a GGR mezőny első negyedében szelte [...]
GGR 2018-19, Part 4: The First Leg of the Race—France to Cape Verde
Below is the English version of Part 4. For the Hungarian version, please click here. Sir Robin shot his gun aboard Suhaili at noon sharp. Puffin crossed the north side of the starting line, in the [...]
GGR 2018, Part 3: Start of the Super Quarantine of a Lifetime—Les Sables-d’Olonne, France
Group photo before the SITraN start The ideal wind at the start of the SITraN charity race did not last long, and the fleet slowed down in the light breeze with an increasing number [...]
Golden Globe Race 2018 Part 2: Bermuda-Hamble-Falmouth Ocean Crossing
Solo Atlantic crossing UK-bound Puffin left Bermuda on May 7 at 08.30 in an 18- to 22-knot southerly breeze. I could expect a real solo ocean crossing in splendid isolation due to my inoperative [...]
Puffin in the GGR, Part 1a: The Chaotic Final Prep Months
As I write this I am sitting behind Puffin’s salon table, not in the boat but in our new (downsized) home. Golden Globe Race rules allowed the entrants to leave the salon table behind, so it [...]
Reflections from Back on Dry Land
Today is June 21, 2019, and Puffin crossed the GGR finish line just 3 months ago, but the events of the 263-day nonstop ocean marathon are fading in my memory with an unexpected pace. The [...]
Puffin in the GGR, Part 1: Shakedown Cruise to Bermuda
Istvan and Ian preparing to depart for Bermuda Saturday, May 5, 2018, 1740 hrs NEW YORK Hello to all of our supporters and followers! I just landed at JFK. The trip took 5 days, [...]
Puffin Restoration Part 16: Annapolis Detour
I have been working on Puffin’s race prep around the clock for almost three years now. It has taken far more time and labor than my first circumnavigator boatbuilding, because I have less money and professional [...]
Puffin Restoration Part 15: No Time For Winter Hibernation
The start of the race is only 164 days away, and there is no time for winter hibernation now! Speaking at the GGR Presentation at the 2017 Paris Boat Show Gathered with [...]
Puffin Restoration Part 14: Becoming a Seabird Again
Puffin in Willsboro Bay Marina, late summer 2015 Puffin finally looks like a puffin again! Puffin’s launch on October 10 was an exciting milestone, but the celebration was literally short-lived since Puffin [...]
Photos from Puffin’s Launch
On October 10, 2017, after over two years of extensive refurbishing, Puffin was finally relaunched. This marked the first time the yacht had touched water in a decade. Johanna and Matt Nally--the widow and son of [...]
Puffin Restoration Part 13: Race for My Life
Piroska, my older daughter, was 12 years old when she christened Salammbo, my first solo circumnavigator boat. It's a good omen for me to see her with Puffin... The race of my life has [...]
2018 Golden Globe Race moves to Les Sables d’Olonne, France
Dateline: Les Sables d’Olonne, France. The 2018 Golden Globe Race, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the original event back in 1968/9 which led to the first solo non-stop circumnavigation, will now start from Les Sables d’Olonne [...]
Puffin Restoration Part 12: “Hold On!”
If— “…If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to [...]
Puffin Restoration Part 11: “Going with the Flow”
Don Casey has a chapter with this title in one of his books, This Old Boat, which has served as my bible in Puffin's restoration. But it somehow skips the most serious difficulty in the hose [...]
2018 Golden Globe Race – 365 days to Plymouth start
Dateline: Plymouth 30th June 2017. One year from today, up to 30 sailors will set out from Plymouth UK to recreate history at the start of a solo circumnavigation in small traditional long keeled yachts using [...]
Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Ten
I have decided not to wear my wristwatch during this race prep period. I do a lot of manual work in confined areas of the boat where it's an obstacle, but more importantly I check off [...]
Susie Goodall secures DHL as primary sponsor for 2018 GGR entry
British yachtswoman Susie Goodall has secured DHL Express as her primary sponsor for her 2018 Golden Globe Race entry. Goodall (27) from Bournheath, Worcestershire, is the youngest among a 30-strong entry list and one of two [...]
PRESS RELEASE: 2018 Golden Globe Race to start from Plymouth UK on Saturday June 30…
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AS OF 22 APRIL 2017-- 2018 Golden Globe Race to start from Plymouth UK on Saturday June 30… 3 new entrants… 5 vacancies on entry list The 2018 Golden Globe Race [...]
Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Nine
The Rules of the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race—the first ever solo circumnavigation race—were quite simple for both the sailors and organizers. But the 50th Anniversary Race next year is a heavily loaded obstacle course [...]
Istvan Kopar’s Book Kihivas Now Available as Audiobook
Captain Istvan Kopar is proud to announce that his memoir Kihivas: Alone at the Ends of the Earth has been produced as an audiobook. Originally published in Hungarian over 25 years ago, Istvan’s book was published [...]
Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Eight
“You don’t win the race at sea. You lose it at sea. You win the race during the preparation…” Conrad Colman said this recently, after his impressive Vendée Globe finish under jury rig. He had all [...]
Sign Up Now for Charter Boats at GGR Start
Early signups are now underway to see the Golden Globe Race start from professionally-manned charter boats! Contact [email protected]. Click to Enlarge
Istvan Kopar Featured in Practical Boat Owner Magazine
In Practical Boat Owner's March 2017 issue, author Peter K. Poland has published a 5-page article on the various 34-36ft cruisers that will sail in the 2018 Golden Globe Race. Captain Istvan Kopar is featured in [...]
Puffin Refit Featured in Sailing Magazine
Hot off the press! Sailing Magazine's January 2017 issue features a 5-page article Istvan wrote about his refit of Puffin. Special thanks to Sailing Magazine. Click below to read full article. (Copyright Sailing Magazine, reprinted with [...]
Windpilot to Sponsor Istvan Kopar
Istvan Kopar will be using Windpilot's Pacific model windvane in the 2018 Golden Globe Race Windpilot is the latest sponsor to join Istvan Kopar’s 2018 Golden Globe Race team. Windpilot is giving Istvan one [...]
Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Seven
Hard to believe it, but we already got the first snow of the season a few days ago in New York, and Puffin is still not fully dressed. There has been steady progress, of course, but [...]
Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Six
You might think the heavy lifting would be over once the hull has been reinforced and most of the paint job finished… Well, that is actually a misconception comparable to thinking your house would be complete [...]
Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Five
My biggest sponsor, my wife Eva, supervising Puffin's refit Well, summer passed by and Puffin has gotten her seaworthy boat look back. And the fall is about changing colors, right? Grey was the last [...]
Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Four
Puffin after "tacking" onto her port side in the paint shop On August 23 Puffin changed her tack in the paint shop as if under sail. The travel lift crew and I flipped the [...]
Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Three
At long last, after three brutal weeks of work, Puffin got “naked” (stripped of her bottom paint, gelcoat, etc.), and headed inside to the paint shop. Puffin "naked" heading into the paint shop I [...]
Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Two
Our work on Puffin in July was challenging and intense and involved some serious heavy lifting. Fortunately, one of my friends from Florida, Janos Szalas, volunteered to join me in this "sport.” His dream is to [...]
Deck Work on Puffin
This was a hot, humid, and very dusty weekend working on Puffin… It may not look like much in the photos, but it was hard work in the heat under the shrink-wrapped boat. It felt like [...]
Entries from a (Landlocked) Ship’s Log
Hello everyone, this is Istvan’s team manager writing to update you on recent events. We have been busy on many fronts as we prepare for the 2018 Golden Globe Race. We have already experienced our fair [...]
Alexseal Yacht Coatings to Sponsor Istvan Kopar
Istvan Kopar and his race management team are pleased to announce that Alexseal Yacht Coatings has signed on as the latest product sponsor of Istvan's 2018 Golden Globe Race effort. Mankiewicz Coatings, LLC, is a global [...]
Restoration of Puffin: Part One
I purchased the yacht Puffin in July 2015 in upstate New York. There was no way to sail her to my destination (Oyster Bay, NY), due to various conditions in need of repair(see page on Puffin). [...]
Sea Hawk Paints Sponsoring Istvan Kopar
Capt. Istvan Kopar and his race management team are pleased to announce that Sea Hawk Paints, manufactured by New Nautical Coatings, Inc., is the latest sponsor to join his 2018 Golden Globe Race venture. […]
Largest Private Donation Yet
Capt. Istvan Kopar and his race management team would like to extend a special thank you to Russell Byers, Jr., who has made the largest donation to date from an individual contributor to Istvan's Golden Globe [...]
Kihivas Reviewed in Sailing Magazine
We are very excited to announce that Sailing Magazine has become the first major publication to review Istvan Kopar's latest book, Kihivas: Alone at the Ends of the Earth. Entitled "A fresh take on an around-the-world saga," [...]
Harken to Sponsor Istvan Kopar
Harken, Inc. has signed on as the first high-profile sponsor of Istvan Kopar’s 2018 Golden Globe Race endeavor. A major manufacturer of performance sailboat hardware and accessories since 1967, Harken has had its products featured in such prestigious [...]
Istvan Kopar Chosen as 2018 Golden Globe Race Entrant
In 1968, the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race set up the ultimate challenge: the winner would become the first person ever to sail solo around the world without a single stop. Of the nine skippers who [...]
Kihivas: A Story 25 Years in the Making
I first met Istvan Kopar in 2009. I had just graduated college and was preparing for another summer as the waterfront director at a local day camp. We wanted to start offering our campers the chance [...]