Jim Patek and his 42-foot sailboat, Let's Go!

I went to a dinner at a friends church last evening and the guest speaker was non-other that Jim Patek. Jim had a PowerPoint presentation that he shared with us. It was a story of 10 years and multi trips around the globe in his special built, aluminum allow 44 foot sailboat “OVI 435” named Lets Go!

                It was designed and built to withstand the rigors of offshore sailing. Fascinating stuff. I was in awe of this man and humbled by his trip through life. I wish I had that kind of gumption and money! They only gave a few minutes for questions, what a shame!  I could have asked questions to way into the night and still needed more of his counsel.  

                He told of his trip around the Atlantic basin, through the middle- east, through the South China Sea, through the Caribbean, through the Panama channel, through the straits of Gibraltar,through the suez canal and on and on and on!!! I was absolute going nuts. I think I smiled the whole way through his presentation.  He gave some detail on his journeys of pirates, and palm tree lined beaches of finch polonaise. Of big waves as he passed all three capes, cape of Good Hope, Cape of Leewin  and Cape Horn. From my research the three are similar the conditions but  are completely different.  Passing all three is in itself an incredible but to do this while completing a lap of the planet just blows my mind. 

THE ATLANTIC AND THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE – “THE STORMY CAPE”

the low pressure systems that hang out over the Bay of Biscay, and the wind-less Doldrums, a particularly frustrating area with an unbearably high level of humidity and searing temperatures that put every sailor’s skills to the test.

Flying Dutchman ***side note***

To those who don't know the legend, the Captain of the Dutchman, Vanderdecken was forcing his ship around the cape of Good Hope in 1641. As a storm ensued, his crew said it was the will of God that they don't proceed, Vanderdecken Cursed God causing a curse on his own ruined ship. The Captain and ship was doomed to sail the waters of the world until judgment day. It has been seen often in earlier Centuries and is often seen as a bad omen.

CAPE LEEUWIN- THROUGH THE INDIAN OCEAN AND INTO THE SOUTHERN OCEAN

Famous as being the most inhospitable place on the planet, and with the exception of a few islands almost entirely uninhabited, the Southern Ocean is the dream of any offshore sailor

THE GREATLY RESPECTED CAPE HORN: “GOING HOME UP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC”

Cape Horn is possibly one of the places on the planet most feared by sailors; where the waves are bigger than you can possibly imagine, and home to constant storms. When reaching the lighthouse at ‘the end of the world’ you know when to turn the corner to head home.

“THREE CAPES, THREE OCEANS… AN EXTREME CHALLENGE”

If you have time to google the capes and just imagine how difficult a passage in a 44 foot boat would be. I am amazed that they made some of these trips. I learned a lot from Jim last night; however I could pick his brain for days. He is a modern day explorer and a new hero of mine. I hope to get to know him and learn of his travels in detail.

 

 I was so impressed with Debbie last night, as well. She was so interested in Jim’s travels. It’s good to see my wife wanting to know of his trips and how Jim’s wife patty handled the constant travels. It gives me hope that we will actually untie the lines one day.

God speed, See ya’ll on the water.