GGR Skipper Stories – Episode 05 - Ertan Beskardes | McIntyre Golden Globe Race 2022/23
September 6, 2025 · 27 min · 5K views · Bay of Biscay
What this video covers
Ertan Beskardes, a participant in the 2022/23 McIntyre Golden Globe Race, details the psychological and physical challenges of solo, non-stop circumnavigation. During the passage, Beskardes managed a 25-knot squall, electrical smoke, and a concussion sustained after being thrown across the cockpit by a large wave.8:18 He reports relying on a Hydrovane for self-steering and a Fortress anchor for ground tackle, though he lost his primary anchor and chain during an attempted stop.9:56 Beskardes describes the intense isolation of the race, noting that the inability to communicate with family via satellite phone—which allows only outgoing messages—became his primary struggle, eventually leading to his decision to withdraw from the race in Cape Town.18:20 He emphasizes that while the boat and equipment remained functional, the mental toll of prolonged separation from family outweighed the desire to complete the circumnavigation.20:54 The experience highlights the disparity between the logistical preparation for a long-distance solo race and the unpredictable emotional reality of extended isolation at sea.
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