Honour: The "Cape Horn Hall of Fame" has gained a few more sailing stars
Nils Leiterholt
· 26.09.2023
After the September 2022, the first 28 sailing heroes will be inducted into the Cape Horn Hall of Fame six more have now been inducted. The Hall of Famers are elected by the members after a pre-selection by IACH President Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and his deputy Jean-Luc Van den Heede. Anyone who has sailed round Cape Horn can become a member of the IACH. The circumnavigation must have been part of a non-stop leg of at least 3,000 nautical miles.
Knox-Johnston and Van den Heede are two of the most highly respected men in ocean racing. Knox-Johnston was the first single-handed sailor ever to successfully complete a non-stop circumnavigation in 1969. The Frenchman Van den Heede still holds a world record today with a total of twelve Cape Horn circumnavigations written in his wake during regattas. In addition to the IACH Executive Committee, the two also form the board of the "Cape Horn Hall of Fame".
The new names in the"Hall of Fame":
- Dame Ellen McArthur (1976-), Great Britain: Finished second in the 2000/2001 Vendée Globe, after which she was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire. In 2005, she broke the record for the non-stop solo circumnavigation of the world on the 75-foot trimaran B&Q/Castorama. (2 circumnavigations via Cape Horn)
- Grant Dalton (1957-), New Zealand: Participated in the Whitbread Round the World Race five times, 1981/1982 as sailmaker, 1985/1986 as watch leader, 1989/1990, 1993/1994 and 1997/1998 as skipper. As skipper, he came second in the Maxi Class the first time, before winning it on his second participation. However, he was unable to repeat this success. Dalton then took part in the Volvo Ocean Race in 2001/2002 as skipper of "Amer Sports One". (7 circumnavigations of the world via Cape Horn)
- Skip Novak (1952-), USA: He took part in the Whitbread Round the World Race four times between 1977/1978 and 1989/1990, the first time as navigator, after which he took responsibility for his crew himself and skippered three times. In The Race 2001, he was co-skipper of "Innovation Explorer", a catamaran, and came second. (5 circumnavigations of the world via Cape Horn)
- Jeanne Socrates (1942-), Great Britain: From 2009 to 2012, she sailed around the world one and a half times via Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope (twice) and Cape Leeuwin (twice). With her circumnavigation in 2019, she became the oldest person at the age of 77 to complete a non-stop circumnavigation of the five great capes alone. (3 circumnavigations via Cape Horn)
- Franck Cammas (1972-), France: After setting a new non-stop world record as a crew member on board the catamaran "Orange II" in the 2005 Jules Verne Trophy, he took part as skipper on the trimaran "Groupama 3" in 2010 and set a new world record. In the Volvo Ocean Race 2011/2012, he won as skipper of "Groupama 4". He won The Ocean Race 2022/2023 as a crew member. He sailed for the 11th Hour Racing Team on board "Malama 4" under the direction of skipper Charlie Enright. (4 circumnavigations of the world via Cape Horn)
- Michel Desjoyeaux (1956-), France: In 1985/1986, he took fourth place in the Whitbread Round the World Race on board the Belgian "Côte d'Or". He then successfully focussed on single-handed sailing: He managed to win the Vendée Globe in both 2000/2001 and 2008/2009. (3 circumnavigations of the world via Cape Horn)
Together, the newly appointed sailors have completed 24 circumnavigations and also set nine world records.
Several of the sailors who were inducted into the "Cape Horn Hall of Fame" began their ocean-going careers on the 6.5 metre boats in the Mini-Transat class. During the ceremony in Les Sables-d'Olonne, 90 Mini-Transat sailors were waiting there for the start of this year's edition. In his speech, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston therefore referred to this event and emphasised its importance for the careers of the mostly young participants: "Some of this year's Mini Transat sailors will be the sailing superstars of tomorrow."
