Gate named after Jon Sanders in Antarctica Cup

by Event media on 6 Nov 2007 Australian Jon Sanders, the first man to circumnavigate Antarctica back in 1981/2 - has been honoured with a Gate named after him within the Antarctica Cup Racetrack.

The Gate, marking one of 18 gates to sectors within the circular race track bounded by the Roaring Forty and Screaming Sixty latitudes, is positioned mid-way round the Indian Ocean zone, close to where Sanders suffered an 180 degree knockdown nearly three decades ago.

The remarkable double circumnavigation by Sanders aboard his S&S 34 monohull Perie Banou, saw him pass south of the three great capes - Horn, Good Hope and Leeuwin - before continuing on around Cape Horn a second time and turning north to Plymouth, UK and returning south around Good Hope and returning to Fremantle.

His voyage was recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as:

- The first single-handed sailor to remain continuously at sea twice around the world
- First single-handed sailor to round the five southern most Capes twice on one voyage
- First single-handed sailor to round the five southern most Capes twice
- Longest distance continuously sailed by any yacht: 48,510 miles.
- Longest period alone at sea during a continuous voyage: 419 days: 22 hours: 10 minutes
- In 1986 Sanders set out again from Fremantle, and this time completed three solo non-stop circumnavigations aboard his yacht Parry Endeavour, rounding St Peter & St Paul Rocks just north of the Equator each time to ensure that his course covered both hemispheres.

Bob Williams, the Chairman of Antarctica Cup Management and the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race, says: 'What Jon achieved during his double circumnavigation in 1981/2 was truly remarkable, given the technology available at the time and size of his yacht. I have had the greatest respect for Jon ever since watching him set off in a full gale off Plymouth at the start of the Parmelia Race in 1979 and was very pleased to be a contributing sponsor for his next yacht Parrry Endeavour in 1986/7. His achievement is an inspiration to all long distance ocean racing sailors and we are very happy to honour Jon now by naming this Gate 17 Sanders Gate and Sector 17 after his yacht Perie Banou'

First to test himself around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack will be Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov and his 86ft monohull Trading Network Alye Parusa. Fedor crossed the 10N latitude into the Doldrums on Monday bound for Albany, West Australia and the start of his solo non-stop attempt around the ACRacetrack. The 56 year old Russian adventurer reported that all was well and expects to reach the famous Australian port in December.

www.antarcticacup.com