practicalboatownervideo
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
Boats in this video
More from practicalboatowner
From practicalboatowner — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.



