Earth, Wind & Fire - or Wind, Hydro & Solar?

While the Golden Globe Race does hark back to a different time, it doesn’t turn the clock back to BC - and competitors still need to ensure they have reliable sources of electricity while they are completing their circumnavigations similarly to modern yacht races. Their energy consumption ranges from important technical equipment such as navigation lights and VHF & HF radio sets to GGR-specific equipment such as the Live Window system - which you can read about here.

As explained in the Notice of Race, competitors must carry at least 210 watts of solar panels - with at least 160W permanently installed. Power generation can be supplemented by wind and/or hydrogenerators, equipment chosen by all skippers bar one - Matt Woodside, who has opted solely for solar panels for his electricity generation.

Most GGR competitors have opted for hydrogenerators mounted to the stern - only three GGR entrants have opted to set sail without. While brands varied, many opted for Watt&Sea cruising models -  half of all GGR entrants had done so - though Ocean Power and Remoran systems are also being used. Mike, part of Ertan Beskardes’ team preparing his Rustler 36, Miss Beagle, explained why many of the fleet had chosen hydrogenerators over wind generators.

“[Most circumnavigators] still need the power when they get to an island and anchor. GGR sailors aren’t going to go to an island, they’re just going to be sailing non-stop, so a hydrogenerator is more beneficial for them.”

That isn’t to say hydrogenators were unanimously chosen by the fleet. Daniel Pinsky and Pär Nyman have installed wind generators for their circumnavigations; Pär explained the simple decision for a wind generator aboard his Rustler 36, Lazy Otter.

“Well, the boat came with a wind generator, and I couldn't afford a hydrogenerator. That's the simple reason.”

Indeed, hydrogenerators command incredibly high prices - the least expensive Watt&Sea model costs almost €4000, an astronomical amount of money, especially when the GGR requires plenty of other expensive kit, such as self-steering systems and so on.

However, despite the huge cost associated with hydrogenerators, that wasn’t the primary reason Matt Woodside chose solely solar power for his circumnavigation, as he explained.

“Over the years I've made the electrical draw on this boat practically nothing. So I can get away with 200 watts of solar power and have some nice spares on the side.”

Indeed, Matt no longer even has shore power installed, so efficient is his boat - in his words, “LEDs are a wonderful thing!”

That said, Matt and his Cape George 36, Tipi Haere, are outliers - plenty of skippers remain nervous about their energy consumption, even with their solar and hydro/wind generators working away. Pär explained his anxiety regarding energy consumption.

“I've been quite concerned with having too little electricity, and I've heard other skippers in the past struggling with electricity.”

However, with just four days until the fleet set off from Les Sables d’Olonne, the time for preparation is rapidly diminishing. What each skipper has currently equipped on their boat ‘will have to do’ for their upcoming thirty-thousand mile circumnavigation of the globe.