Sven Yrvin, alone around the world at 73
Sven Yrvind, a 73-year-old retiree, plans to cross the high seas in a sailboat only slightly larger than a bathtub.
When Sven Yrvind sets out on his mission to go around the world, he will not be in a big ship full of food, comforts and communications.
His rather ambitious purpose is to sail nonstop around the world for a year and a half on a ship only three meters long.
Yrvind is one of the most respected boat builders in the world.
When facing the fiercest waves, most would seek protection in a bigger and stronger boat.
“People have told me that it is a suicide mission. But a large ship is more dangerous than a small one. You have bigger forces throwing you: a bigger engine, a bigger sleeve, and a bigger platform ”
“My little boat is like a small capsule: nothing can happen to you. It’s like throwing a bottle into the water: it will tip over, tumble over, but it will always rise again. ”
Sven Yrvind will sail the smallest ship in the world without touching land, making history !!!
Sven Yrvind, a native of Vastervik in southeastern Sweden, started building the boat in March, and it is now half complete.
The vessel, named Yrvind Ten for its 10 feet in length, is a miniature ship 1.8 meters wide, two six-meter high masts, and a weight of 1.5 tons, made of composite material of foam and fiberglass, excellent for insulation and flotation.
With wind power, solar panels, gel batteries and a crank, the Yrvind Ten will set sail from Ireland on a 30,000-mile round-trip around the world.
Currently the Italian Alessandro di Benedetto, who in 2010 went around the world in a 6.5 meter boat, more than double the size, holds the record.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who was the first person to sail around the world in a 30-foot boat in 1969, said that there was a real chance that Yrvind would complete the voyage.
“The biggest challenge he will face is when he faces these 25-meter waves in the Southern Ocean, which will make him roll and tumble like he’s in a washing machine. He might find that he’s using a lot more energy, and he will need a lot of food by being shaken that way. ”
The Swede will collect the rainwater in sails to a tank. Without heating equipment, he will depend on 400 kilograms of muesli and sardines, supplemented with vitamin tablets and fish from the sea.
“I only need half a kilogram of food a day and this will give me enough food for 800 days. At first I will have fruit, but it will run out. Also a friend from Melbourne will come with provisions on a boat.”
Sven plans to spend his days swimming, philosophizing, and reading more than 400 books.
“On land, people watch TV, drive cars in traffic, smoke, drink, and it is not healthy. At sea it is a cleaner environment, mentally and physically. When I return I will be a younger and healthier person. This will prolong my life. life“.
In his 50-year career building boats, Yrvind has received awards from around the world. In 1980 the Royal Cruising Club Sailing Medal for single-handedly navigating a twenty-foot boat around the stormy waters of Cape Horn.
He was inducted into the Newport Navigation Museum Hall of Fame for his solo expeditions, and there is one of Yrvind’s twenty-foot boats on display, which he built in his mother’s basement and which he sailed with. from Sweden to Newport in 1983.
In 1989, Yrvind built and sailed a 15-foot ship from France to Newfoundland.
He has lectured to kings and received awards from the Royal Cruising Club in Great Britain
Last year he sailed in a small 4.5 meter long boat from Ireland to the Caribbean.
Yrvind, who is seeking sponsorship, hopes that his ship will not only break the record books, but pave the way for a new green living design.
“If I can show that I can live on a 10 foot long boat for more than a year, with all the food I need, I think it could benefit humanity.”
If he succeeds, it would be a great achievement in sailing history.
