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Mark Sinclair: Ocean Globe Race skipper on the Swan 57, Explorer | Practical Boat Owner

23 October 2023 · 20 min · 2K views · Peaks Marine, Trinidad

What this video covers

Skipper Mark Sinclair prepares the Swan 57 Explorer for the Ocean Globe Race, a retro-style circumnavigation requiring celestial navigation and manual steering. To meet race requirements, the crew installed a crash bulkhead, a new forward hatch, and a Cape Horn Extreme desalinator capable of producing 35 litres of water per hour.3:43 The boat retains its original Perkins 72-horsepower engine and Yanmar generator, while the electrical system relies on a 24-volt battery bank for general power and a separate 12-volt system for communications.11:09 Because the race prohibits autopilots and wind vanes, the crew installed a Hydrovane solely as an emergency rudder system.12:59 The sail inventory includes a mix of new and older sails, featuring a Genoa staysail and a specialised staysail for upwind performance.14:57 With a crew of ten, the boat operates on a one-in-three watch system, utilising a modified saloon table to accommodate additional bunks.5:47 The team manages water consumption strictly, planning for 40-day legs with 900 litres of total capacity.4:18

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Boats in this video

Swan 57 RSToured

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