By Dave Proctor & Global Solo Challenge
Image: Imagine @Peter Bourke
American skipper and Global Solo Challenge (GSC) entrant, Peter Bourke, had originally planned to use his old yacht ‘Rubicon’ to enter the challenge but all changed a few months after entering the event.
‘Rubicon” was a robust cutter, an Outbound 44, that was set up for long-distance cruising, and given that Peter knew her so well, having sailed her for many nautical miles over many years, including racing her in an edition of the OSTAR and a Bermuda 1-2 entry, he was confident that she could readily complete the circumnavigation.
He then weighed up the amount of work she would require to get her to comply with the rules of the GSC. This included the rather invasive installation of watertight bulkheads which could prove tricky on a cruising boat, so Peter decided that rather than using ‘Rubicon’ he would look to buy a boat that was purpose-built and complied with these regulations.
Opting for a yacht already equipped for the challenge, Bourke purchased the second-hand Open 40 that he named ‘Imagine’, previously ‘Anasazi Girl’. Despite being built by Finot-Conq and having completed two circumnavigations, including the 2003/4 Around Alone Race, ‘Imagine’ was far from ready for the GSC. Having been out of water for several years, she was in poor condition, most notably the mast installed by the previous owner after a dismasting in the South Atlantic.
Choosing not to shy away from this daunting task, Bourke embarked on the journey of a complete refit of this beautiful carbon racer. After ensuring its basic seaworthiness, he sailed ‘Imagine’ 1,600 nautical miles from Trinidad to Charleston, South Carolina, for an extensive refit.
One of the initial steps was to replace the old mainsail and jib, both of which were in disrepair. Problems with the water ballast system were addressed by replacing the old engine-driven pump with a more reliable 12-volt power pump. A full engine replacement, sail drive installation, and repaint were also on the to-do list, followed by numerous inspections.
Bourke installed six solar panels capable of producing 690 watts of electricity, supplemented by a new alternator. The energy storage saw an upgrade with the latest Lithium batteries. Peter also bought a hydro-generator and is contemplating installing this on the rear of the boat, although he is still unsure whether it is essential for him given the large capacity of his solar installation.
Peter’s choice of systems differs from many of the other entrants. He is anticipating that the solar power system feeding into the new state-of-the-art Lithium batteries, supplemented by the engine alternator, will be sufficient to maintain the power to all electronic instruments.
Additional upgrades included new NKE instrumentation compatible with a powerful Raymarine Linear Drive, a water maker, and replacement perspex viewports in the hard dodge. Je will rely on a simple ‘Jet Boil’ for water heating, to rehydrate the freeze-dried foods that will sustain him, and to prepare hot drinks.
One noteworthy challenge was the mast refurbishment. The prior owner had replaced the original mast with a shorter version, attempting to compensate for this change by extending the boom. While this adjustment preserved the overall sail area, it posed problems when ordering new sails. However, given that an Open 40 like ‘Imagine’ spends much of its time with reefed mainsails, Bourke didn’t foresee this modification impacting her speed or sailing behaviour significantly.
Like many other entrants with racing boats, Bourke decided to rely on an electric autopilot, opting out of a wind vane system, possibly influenced by an incident during the OSTAR where he lost his vane rudder.
The exhaustive refit, which has blown past both budget and schedule, has raised questions on whether refurbishing ‘Rubicon’ to meet GSC regulations might have been a more prudent choice. Despite this, the camaraderie with fellow sailor Tim Kent, a Charleston resident who circumnavigated the globe in a previous Around Alone race, has provided essential support, encouragement, and advice.
As Bourke awaits the arrival of his new set of sails, he’s wrapping up his to-do list and planning sea trials, a trip to Bermuda, and a 2,000-mile qualifying sail to La Coruña, Spain. The sails Peter will have with him will be a Main, a Staysail, a Storm Jib, a Code Zero, A2, A3 and A4 asymmetrics.
He’s determined to reach Spain by the end of the summer, leaving time for a trip to England for medical training, last-minute preparations, and hopefully, some Spanish fiestas.
While Bourke has completed numerous medical and first-aid courses in his lifetime, he’s hoping the upcoming course in England will be more pertinent to his situation, unlike his American course that advised calling emergency services post-first-aid—a piece of advice of little help when in the middle of the Southern Ocean.