Istvan Kopar Retells His Record-Setting Ocean Voyage via His Book, Which Gets Displayed at LibLearnX 2023

February 21st, 2023|Comments Off on 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 2018/19 Part 10 From Cape Horn to Bay of Biscay

February 17th, 2023|Comments Off on 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 7 Hobart Check Point

February 5th, 2023|Comments Off on 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

February 4th, 2023|Comments Off on 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 Part 4–Hungarian Language Version

April 25th, 2021|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Istvan with father's photo and ashes

Puffin in the GGR, Part 1a: The Chaotic Final Prep Months

January 8th, 2020|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Annapolis Training Weekend

Puffin Restoration Part 16: Annapolis Detour

April 13th, 2018|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Toasting Puffin's Launch

Photos from Puffin’s Launch

November 19th, 2017|Comments Off on 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 officially launched

Puffin Restoration Part 13: Race for My Life

November 19th, 2017|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Les Sables d'Olonne, France

2018 Golden Globe Race moves to Les Sables d’Olonne, France

October 4th, 2017|Comments Off on 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!”

August 23rd, 2017|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Another access point to plumbing in the galley

Puffin Restoration Part 11: “Going with the Flow”

July 4th, 2017|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • 365 Days to Plymouth Start

2018 Golden Globe Race – 365 days to Plymouth start

June 29th, 2017|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Another installation is in progress

Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Ten

June 15th, 2017|Comments Off on 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

Susie Goodall secures DHL as primary sponsor for 2018 GGR entry

June 2nd, 2017|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Capt Pete caulking restored teak

Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Nine

April 9th, 2017|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Kihivas Audiobook Image

Istvan Kopar’s Book Kihivas Now Available as Audiobook

March 19th, 2017|Comments Off on 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 after February snowstorm

Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Eight

March 7th, 2017|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • 34-36ft Cruiser Article Image

Istvan Kopar Featured in Practical Boat Owner Magazine

February 19th, 2017|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Image from Page 1 of Puffin Refit Article

Puffin Refit Featured in Sailing Magazine

January 19th, 2017|Comments Off on 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 Logo Overlay

Windpilot to Sponsor Istvan Kopar

December 1st, 2016|Comments Off on 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 Front View and Deck

Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Six

October 24th, 2016|Comments Off on 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 vertical with grey primer

Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Four

September 7th, 2016|Comments Off on 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 on starboard side in tires

Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Three

August 23rd, 2016|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Istvan Puffin Work 2

Puffin Yacht Restoration: Part Two

July 31st, 2016|Comments Off on 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

July 18th, 2016|2 Comments

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 [...]

  • US Sailing Instructor Trainer Istvan Kopar

Entries from a (Landlocked) Ship’s Log

July 12th, 2016|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Alex seal Yacht Coatings Logo with Sailboat Image

Alexseal Yacht Coatings to Sponsor Istvan Kopar

June 29th, 2016|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Istvan working on Puffin

Restoration of Puffin: Part One

June 8th, 2016|1 Comment

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 Logo Simple

Sea Hawk Paints Sponsoring Istvan Kopar

June 2nd, 2016|Comments Off on 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. […]

  • Byers Donation for Golden Globe Race

Largest Private Donation Yet

May 31st, 2016|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Sailing Magazine Screenshot

Kihivas Reviewed in Sailing Magazine

May 4th, 2016|Comments Off on 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 Logo 500

Harken to Sponsor Istvan Kopar

February 1st, 2016|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Robin Knox Johnston in 1969

Istvan Kopar Chosen as 2018 Golden Globe Race Entrant

January 15th, 2016|Comments Off on 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 [...]

  • Salammbo Roaring Forties Post Image

Kihivas: A Story 25 Years in the Making

December 1st, 2015|Comments Off on 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 [...]