Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts X4.0

Norbert Sedlacek Koch's record challenge on ANT ARCTIC LAB begins

by Innovation Yachts 16 Aug 2022 08:25 AEST 15 August 2022
IY Open60AAL after crossed the starting line - ANT ARCTIC LAB © Innovation Yachts

Skipper Norbert Sedlacek Koch has set sails to accomplish his ANT ARCTIC LAB record challenge, to sail around the world nonstop, single-handed, without assistance through all five oceans including the most dangerous oceans on the planet: the Arctic Ocean and Southern Ocean.

Today, at 10 AM UTC+2 Skipper Norbert Sedlacek Koch has waved goodbye to all fans, partners, friends, family and the whole Innovation Yachts team to fulfill his lifetime mission to set the world record of sailing around the world nonstop, single-handed, without assistance through all five oceans including the most dangerous oceans on the planet: the Arctic Ocean and Southern Ocean.

Norbert who is also Founder and Managing Director of Innovation Yachts took off from the Vendée Globe pontoon, Les Sables d'Olonne, France which he associates with great memories about his successful Vendée Globe participation in 2009. After he left the channel, he set sails and crossed the starting line, which also will be the finish line, at 11h07'13 UTC+2. Norbert started off on long light waves with a gentle breeze under a scattered sky accompanied by many people, who wished him "fair winds".

The adventure continues online. Click here to follow Norbert's progress and to be up to date.

The challenge will cover at least 32.000 nautical miles and will take around 200 days at sea. The purpose of this project is to ultimately confirm the quality and safety of the Innovation Yachts' new yacht building concept and to promote environmentally friendly sailing.

The sailing yacht "Innovation Yachts Open60AAL", built by Innovation Yachts is fully electric and will be powered only by renewable energy like wind, hydro generators and solar power. This 60ft boat was built out of fully sustainable and recyclable materials like volcanic fiber, balsa wood and biocompatible epoxy.

The entire Innovation Yachts - ANT ARCTIC LAB team would like to thank everyone who came and wished Norbert "fair winds".

The departure video can be found on Facebook: Norbert Sedlacek Ant-Arctic-Lab.

Related Articles

2025 is going to be a huge season for IMOCA
Antoine Mermod talks about the season ahead Over the next four years the most exciting monohull class in world offshore ocean racing will take on no less than 17 races, covering tens of thousands of miles of the world's oceans. Posted on 28 May
The Ocean's Logbook amplifies global voices
A digital survey that looks beyond cold statistics to capture real stories A powerful new campaign designed to capture the world's emotional connection to the ocean is being launched today ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France in June. Posted on 27 May
Francesca Clapcich names Will Harris as co-skipper
For Transat Café L'OR double-handed race across the Atlantic Italian-American pro offshore sailor, Francesca Clapcich, has chosen Will Harris (GBR) to join her as co-skipper for the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandie, the double-handed bi-annual race from Le Havre, France, to Martinique. Posted on 21 May
A new IMOCA for Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia
Three teams have joined forces to build three new boats Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia announces the build of a new IMOCA racing yacht and with it, an unprecedented collaboration. Posted on 20 May
Team Holcim-PRB partners with Hatch Systems
Studying human performance in extreme offshore sailing In an exciting new collaboration, Team Holcim-PRB has partnered with Hatch Systems, Inc. to study the physical and mental effects of one of the world's most demanding sports: offshore ocean racing. Posted on 18 May
New study in Vendée Globe could be a game changer
Research is being carried out by a bio-engineering specialist into human performance What effect does racing alone around the world on a high performance IMOCA yacht have on the human body and mind? Posted on 14 May
Team Malizia unveilsThe Ocean Race Europe crew
Gearing up for the next big challenge Building on their successful round-the-world experience in 2023, the team led by German skipper Boris Herrmann has gathered a talented group of sailors and onboard reporters to take on the short-format, crewed race starting in Kiel this summer. Posted on 13 May
Touching base with Francesca Clapcich
Francesca Clapcich on her 2028-2029 Vendee Globe campaign In late March, Italian-American sailor Francesca “Frankie” Clapcich announced that her Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing will campaign for the 2028-2029 edition of the Vendee Globe race. Posted on 13 May
Francesca Clapcich joins Team Malizia
Sail four legs of The Ocean Race Europe Francesca Clapcich is joining Team Malizia as a co-skipper for the second edition of The Ocean Race Europe, the six-stopover tour around the continent, which sets off from Kiel, Germany and finishes six weeks later in Montenegro. Posted on 13 May
An emotional evening in Les Sables d'Olonne
Les Sables d'Olonne lit up to celebrate the heroes of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 On Saturday 10 May, Les Sables d'Olonne lit up to celebrate the heroes of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025. An exceptional evening brought together tens of thousands of people, with strong emotions and unforgettable memories, despite the driving rain. Posted on 11 May
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignPantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTER