[Evan Fullerton]

I mean, guys sail single handed non stop around the world on 60ft boats in the Vendée Globe but that’s all offshore sailing in highly optimized purpose built boats.

Pure and Wild is a custom built 44ft cruiser racer owned by an Olympic sailor and crewed by a former R2AK winner and an experienced 22 year old. They will be fine but their paddle wheel pedal setup and oars looks to be one of the least developed in the fleet on the biggest heaviest boat and with only 3, you won’t be doing as many sail changes and constant trimming of the sails as the Kootenay guys who have 6 on board with 2 thoroughly tested bicycle powered propellers on a boat that weighs less then half as much with much lower windage. Based on the start, the Kootenay boat is the fastest sailboat under human power.


But the Kootenay’s boat is 11ft shorter (never a good thing for speed) and while quite quick for what it is, it’s still a production Chinese built trailerable boat…… loaded with 6 guys in their 50s and a lot of food.

It’s anyones race on the outside of the island.

As to why pick 3 or 6, I can’t say but having done a lot of sailing, I have never had the problem of too many people wanting to crew. It’s hard to find people you trust that enjoy the sport and can take the time off work that these longer races require.