The days of skippers engaged in their adventure at the GSC are punctuated by intermittent sleep, and the perception of time at sea expands. Each awakening is like the start of a new mini-day, sometimes brightened by breathtaking landscapes and fast navigation, other times complicated by technical problems and delays. In this constantly evolving environment, which surpasses our “fluid modern times” in variability and uncertainty, sailors try to establish small comforting routines, evoking smells, tastes, and memories of home. Pavlin Nadvorni and Louis Robein, for example, have spoken of baking bread on board to recreate a familiar atmosphere and indulge in a special meal. Cole Brauer remembered the importance of hot water to recreate a moment of pleasure and intimacy, either by preparing a good tea or washing with a small towel as her mother used to do when she was a child. Communicating with land, even just to reassure loved ones, thus becomes for some a habit to recreate and the antidote to the voluntary solitude that the skippers have chosen as part of their challenge.
In everyday life, we are constantly connected with others, sending and receiving messages continuously. At sea, communication methods are evolving and adapting to this speed. Many skippers, including Riccardo Tosetto and William MacBrien, believe we are witnessing a real revolution with the advent of the new fast, broadband satellite network offered by Starlink, which has been added to the two main satellite networks with global coverage, Iridium and Inmarsat, which are more reliable in terms of security and established in the market but slower and more costly. How do these networks work? Various companies with space launches deploy satellites into low Earth orbit, forming “constellations” at various levels, and transmitting a signal to boats and ships around the world. This signal is then transmitted to a ground station, which provides the Internet connection.
Inmarsat is a historic network in the field of satellite communications, having been the first to offer individual satellite telephone connections. It uses satellites positioned in geostationary orbit. The coverage of these satellites excludes the poles but is more than sufficient for any yacht race. Iridium has global coverage and uses 66 “Low Orbit” satellites, allowing data connections ranging from just 2.4Kbps for dial-up connections via satellite phone or Iridium GO! to just 22Kbps upload and 88Kbps download for the Iridium GO! Exec. Moving up the range, there are services like Iridium Certus that reach 352/704 Kbps upload and download speed respectively. The costs for using Iridium GO! are low, around $150 per month, but the speed only allows sending and receiving emails and some small files attached, in the order of tens of kb. With Certus, larger files can be sent, but the costs are prohibitive, around $5 per Mb sold in data packages costing thousands of dollars per month.
Starlink Maritime, on the other hand, represents a true revolution that has only recently become available for an event like the Global Solo Challenge with the new ‘Mobile Global Data’ contracts launched last summer. Before the event started, there was little information available on the actual coverage and performance once at sea, especially when sailing in rough seas and in remote areas of the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The surprise of seeing it work so far incredibly reliably has been shared by all, especially considering that it reaches broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps! This network relies on thousands, not dozens, of satellites. The cost of the antenna is about $3000, a third compared to a very expensive Certus system. The monthly subscription cost is just $250 per month for 50 gigs, making the comparison with any other system meaningless. It’s clear that in the future this system will become the standard for all boats involved in events like these. The only observation made by competitors is related to the high power consumption of the antenna, but certainly seems a negligible flaw compared to what it allows to do.
On-board electronics and telecommunications have become indispensable for decades to receive and analyze meteorological data, choose routes, automatically send location, transmit distress signals in emergencies, and more recently, share photos and videos on social media for the public. Technology allows sharing these unique experiences with the outside world, thus extending the impact of these sea adventures. For instance, François Gouin and Philippe Delamare have committed to developing educational projects, organizing calls and video conferences to share their navigation with schoolchildren following them from land. Others, like Ronnie Simpson and Kevin Le Poidevin, have brought drones to capture their vessels in favorable weather conditions, offering splendid images and videos.
In the GSC regulations, numerous communication systems essential for safety are mandatory, including two portable satellite phones and tracking devices like YB Tracking using the Iridium network, which provides mapped positions to monitor skippers’ routes. The choice of additional devices depends on each project’s budget and each sailor’s personal approach to maintaining contact with land. However, thanks to a partnership with Range Global Services, all skippers had access to discounted rates for essential safety equipment. In some cases, like Kevin Le Poidevin, they chose a package to ensure basic voice and data communications, including an unlimited data Iridium GO!, a mobile satellite phone with unlimited calls, and a second emergency-only phone, all for $450 per month, including the rental of all equipment. This is an affordable sum considering the traditionally high costs of these technologies. Nine out of the 16 skippers who started in the GSC chose to add Starlink on their boat to stay continuously connected, as if they were on land. Of these, Philippe Delamare immersed the antenna in water during a knockdown, damaging it, and now 8 of the 14 at sea have this revolutionary technology. Counting Andrea Mura’s Certus, only 5 skippers do not have the ability to send photos and videos, a situation that until recently was only possible in professional races with significant budgets.
Cole Brauer, the American skipper aboard First Light, who mainly uses Starlink with Iridium GO! as a backup, is an enthusiastic supporter of fast communications with land. Before her departure, her team had installed cameras both outside and inside her boat to continuously monitor the sailor’s safety, 24 hours a day. These cameras captured impressive images, like her knockdown and the wave that slammed her against the side of the boat, videos that were then shared on her social channels. Cole recounts how incredible and reassuring it is to be able to communicate daily with her mother, her team, and her meteorologist, Chelsea Freas. According to her, being in constant contact has significantly reduced the risks associated with the venture. “Initially I thought it would be limiting, but it’s actually really great! If I were to sail around the world again, I would definitely want to have the opportunity to communicate in this way again.”
Andrea Mura on Vento di Sardegna, who started his journey less than a month ago, does not yet feel the weight of solitude, but believes communication with land is fundamental. He equipped his boat with an Iridium Certus and also Iridium GO! as a backup. For him, it is essential to maintain contact with his wife and his young children. Also, he wishes to share his adventure with the public, following the advice of a friend who says, “It’s pointless to do beautiful things without communicating them to others.” Indeed, when he can, he sends beautiful photos and videos to land. Currently, he is heading towards Tristan da Cunha, hoping to find favorable winds to enter the Great South.
For David Linger, aboard Koloa Maoli who describes himself as “a very sociable introvert,” being able to call his partner and family is crucial. The need to be in touch with them is a priority. In addition to numerous backup systems, such as Iridium satellite phones and Iridium GO! for email and weather forecasts, he mainly uses Starlink and Garmin InReach. The latter is a portable GPS that also allows sending short messages. “Information about weather and safety is extremely important to me, as well as keeping in touch with my family and friends and exchanging information with my adventure companions as we sail around the world for five months at the GSC.” During a medical emergency, when he had to pass a kidney stone in the middle of the ocean, he further appreciated the ability to be in contact with his medical team on land.”
William McBrien aboard Phoenix, like other skippers, is very pleased with Starlink despite its high energy consumption, which stands at around 9 amperes. He also has Iridium Certus on board as a backup. William shares that, although he is an independent person and comfortable alone, “after a tough day at sea, being able to make a video call with my partner Stephanie and see her smile is really nice.” Normally, he is not a big user of social networks or messaging, but at sea, he finds himself being contacted by friends he hadn’t spoken to in years, and the time dedicated to communication is longer than he had anticipated. From a navigation perspective, for him, having fast internet access means being able to consult online manuals for repairs and constantly monitor weather conditions.
Alessandro Tosetti aboard Aspra, who in the past week faced problems with the generator and the mainsail halyard, also considers the connection with Starlink a valuable support for onboard repairs, which are a daily occurrence, and for accessing detailed and updated weather information. In his previous crossings, Tosetti was used to isolation and as a backup has equipped his boat with Iridium GO! and other “old” but reliable traditional maritime tools, such as SSB radio. Moreover, the ability to communicate with land makes everything simpler and provides great comfort for those following him from home, alleviating the apprehension of his loved ones.
The focus of Francois Gouin‘s project on Kawan 3 in the GSC concerns communication, both in his role as an ambassador for Unicancer and as a promoter of educational projects and activities with young people. Thanks to the association APPEL, which assists children undergoing cancer treatment in Rhone-Alpes, he managed to install Starlink a week before departure. This allowed him to have weekly video conference exchanges with these children, regularly sending them news and photos to lighten their long hospital stays, often in isolated wards. In addition, he holds weekly video conferences with two middle school classes, friends Muriel and Mireille, and with Moevai in Tahiti. “Exchanging emails with my family and some friends is essential for me; having the possibility to talk in video conference and share my adventure is extraordinary. Psychologically, it would have been much more difficult without the ability to talk and see each other.” François on board, in addition to the Starlink he uses for a couple of hours a day, also has the Iridium GO! and the Iridium Certus 100, which he uses with prepaid cards, used for text emails and to send some photos (Certus).
Riccardo Tosetto on Obportus 3 shares that despite not being fond of technology used to compensate for laziness, he believes that communication is indispensable nowadays for exchanging information as quickly as possible in all fields, including the world of sailing. He too has decided to use Starlink, equipped with Iridium GO! and two mobile satellite phones, rented from Range Global Services. “Having continuous communication with the mainland makes everything simpler, and you feel less alone. For instance, I talk to my partner Valeria twice a day and alternate days with my parents. Additionally, I manage to send various contents to Worldappeal, the company that handles all communication aspects.” Riccardo observes that while he is circumnavigating the globe, his loved ones are doing so too, with all associated fears. Therefore, he prefers to discuss a problem only once it’s resolved.
Kevin Le Poidevin on Roaring Forty, after a complicated start, is managing the transition through the intertropical convergence zone. Since his departure, he had already expressed how comforting it was to communicate with his family in Australia, from whom he had been separated for months due to the preparation of his project. On Roaring Forty, Kevin has an array of tools offering different solutions with built-in redundancies: two Iridium GO! with unlimited data, two portable Iridium 9555 satellite phones, one with unlimited calls, and the Predictwind Data Hub (router/tracker) which can also be used to create a blog. The creative Australian skipper, who also has a drone on board, still keeps the traditional handwritten logbook. He loves sharing his story and wants to keep his supporters updated in real-time on his activities, observations, and insights regarding navigation decisions. He also commits to sending updates to his suppliers who support him, providing technical feedback to the Zhik sail development team. “I’m quite happy here in the middle of the ocean, but I am aware of the impact my adventure has on my loved ones and friends, so I like to stay in touch with them. Receiving support messages from people I don’t know is always something special to me.”
Pavlin Nadvorni, on Espresso Martini, despite having to give up fast connectivity due to additional work on the rudder damaged by an orca attack off Portugal before departure, is a strong advocate of communication, as evidenced by the numerous blogs he sends from the ocean. Onboard, he has the Iridium GO! and Garmin InReach. Pavlin shares that in his “other” land-based life, he is very sociable and maintains constant contact with people. The transition to the solitude of sea life after departure was the most difficult change to manage, and he says he is still in a process of adaptation. “Communicating with my family and my land team has definitely helped me stay in the race.” Pavlin considers the ability to have updated weather forecasts of invaluable worth. On relatively fast boats, receiving timely forecasts for a potential dangerous weather system is essential for taking evasive actions and, ideally, avoiding a depression entirely.
Not all sailors desire or need a fast connection and constant contact with the mainland, even though they have all the basic equipment onboard. Some, like Edouard de Keyser aboard Solarwind, believe that the connection with nature and the experience of isolation at sea are invaluable. With a background as a telecom entrepreneur for 30 years, he participated in the founding of the first Internet and VoIP (ISP) companies. Initially, his work related to technological innovation was exciting and everything was to be invented. However, when companies like AOL and Warner began merging in 2000, Édouard feared that the freedom of the internet was disappearing, and today realizes how dependent we have become on technology, making it hard to do without. “In 2022, I decided to leave my job in the sector to return to my passion, sailing, trying to make it a profession and finding meaning in it.” Onboard, he chose slower but reliable communication with devices like Iridium GO! and Garmin Inreach. “I believe that our time on Earth, infinitely small in the universe, is relative to the way we live it and that trying to do everything too quickly is a way to not go far. On a sailboat, one rediscovers the time to live and the pleasure of essential things. One moves away from the world of media and their tendency to inundate us with negative news, which, as you can imagine, are very harmful for a solo sailor.”
Louis Robein, aboard Le souffle de la mer III, is a private person who loves solitude. Moreover, since his project is self-financed with the support of a few donors, he is equipped only with essential communication means such as Iridium GO! and an Iridium satellite phone. Louis can send emails and some updates to land. He checks the weather forecasts twice a day and consults his emails less frequently. He doesn’t receive many messages, but for him, it is always pleasant to receive news from known people and encouragement. When encountering a problem, Louis prefers to solve it himself first, to avoid too many questions that might not help in resolving it. Only if necessary, he communicates with the person who could potentially help him. Mainly, he relies on the knowledge acquired in the past by attending race preparators like the Solitaire du Figaro.
Among the skippers who appreciate communication but do not consider it essential are Philippe Delamare, Ronnie Simpson, and Ari Kansakoski. These sailors appreciate the opportunity to share experiences, but sailing remains a deeply personal and independent experience.
Philippe Delamare, aboard Mowgli, lost his high-speed internet connection in the South Atlantic after a knockdown that flooded his Starlink antenna. On one hand, he was probably disappointed to lose continuous connection with the mainland, no longer being able to have video conferences with the children of Anne Sylvestre school but only sending emails narrating his adventures. We also miss his videos with his plush travel companions Ouistiti and Poulpe, and the fun videos he loved to post on social media. On the other hand, he is happy to dive back into his sailor’s life, focusing on the route and weather forecasts, which he consults through his Iridium GO! exec, to best face the depressions of the southern oceans.
Ronnie Simpson aboard Shipyard Brewing and Ari Känsäkoski on ZEROchallenge have access to a fast Starlink internet connection. Ronnie also has Iridium GO! as a backup, and Ari, the Iridium GO! Exec. Due to their reserved nature, they prefer to communicate about the projects that animate their ventures. Ronnie, in particular, focuses on his support for US Sailing Patriot, which he will continue to collaborate with even after the GSC. Ari, who is also an architect with a strong inclination towards green, dedicates himself to raising awareness about more sustainable and environmentally respectful architecture.
In conclusion, speaking of communication, the skipper who has inspired many with his journey and adventure is Dafydd Hughesaboard Bendigedig. Onboard his S&S34’ Dafydd has the Iridium GO! Exec, and the Predictwind Data Hub with which he shared his blog. The Welsh skipper navigated skillfully for 12,500 miles, covering half the world, before having to stop in Hobart, after more than three months at sea, due to an autopilot failure. Two days ago, Dafydd announced his withdrawal from the GSC, satisfied with his incredible journey and achievements, but aware that continuing would not have been a prudent choice, exposing himself to unnecessary risks and stress that would have compromised the rest of the trip. With his difficult decision, Dafydd once again demonstrated great courage, knowing when to choose the right moment to stop.
Communication plays a crucial role not only for sailors at sea but also for us on land who receive and are inspired by their stories. The need for contact with the mainland, often perceived in the words of the skippers, turns out to be mainly a need to share their extraordinary adventures. Their communication becomes a fundamental means to convey stories of resilience, courage, and overcoming limits. As Dafydd Hughes emphasized, even before starting his journey, “I’m not special; I’m just an ordinary person trying to accomplish something extraordinary. The difference is that I took the first step. It’s important to dare. By sharing my journey, I hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter how big or small they are.” Their voices, through communication, reach a wide and diverse audience: from children in hospitals and schools to sailing enthusiasts, from families to distant friends. The skippers’ need to communicate their exceptional experiences thus becomes a bridge connecting different worlds, transforming their adventures into sources of inspiration and teaching for all of us. In this reciprocal exchange, communication takes on inestimable value, showing how challenges faced at sea can resonate deeply in our daily lives too.
To read about the adventures of each skipper, read the Skippers’ blog page: https://globalsolochallenge.com/blogs/
Moreover, if you wish to support a skipper and send them a personal message, you can do so from each skipper’s profile page on the Entries Profiles page: https://globalsolochallenge.com/entries/
To stay updated on the competitors’ positions, the tracker is available on the GSC website: https://globalsolochallenge.com/tracking/ or by downloading the “YB Races” app and adding the Global Solo Challenge to your races and be able to follow the positions of all boats from your mobile.
