A huge turnout is assured when solo sailor Vinny Lauwers arrives at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Williamstown, Australia today, becoming the first paraplegic to circumnavigate the globe. Lauwers, who lost the use of his legs in an automobile accident in 1990, has held a passion for the sea from an early age, and by age 16, had sailed several ocean passages. Since becoming a paraplegic he has compiled an impressive sailing resume, sailing in two Sydney to Hobart races, several Australian ocean races, and undertaking 18 Bass strait crossings for a total of 42,000 nautical miles of blue-water experience.
The voyage has been made to promote awareness of the capabilities of people with disabilities, and to encourage disabled and disadvantaged kids to follow their dreams. Once shoreside, Lauwers will begin a business venture devoted to raising funds to help kids with disabilities.
Lauwer’s vehicle of choice for the circumnavigation has been the 47-foot Van de Stadt–designed Vision Quest, a boat he had built to the structural stage in 1995, and which he finished with the help of friends and family. He set off in December for the 21,600-mile non-stop journey around the world, with 11 months of food on board, just in case. Eight months later, he is making landfall.
The route held all the travails one associates with sailing around the world alone, and these were relayed to Internet viewers worldwide from the website http://www.parasail.com.au/index.htm. There was no shortage of material to write about, as heavy weather had the sailor running under bare poles with breaking waves on numerous occasions, one of which he likened to sailing in a whirlpool brought on by strong ocean currents around the Cape of Good Hope. The elements took a steady toll on the vessel and its equipment. The radar started smoking and gave up the ghost right out of port. The autopilot also proved cantankerous before it could be repaired. A spare compass was pressed into service as was a spare toilet seat. The wind generator disintegrated, rigging needed replacing, and for several weeks in the Indian Ocean, Lauwers was out of satellite phone coverage areas, making the solo endeavor a truly solitary one, save for dodging ships here and there. Steering problems also plagued the latter part of the voyage. Ironically light airs posed the biggest danger last week as Vision Quest came close to a grounding just off the coast of Australia. Despite the adversity, Lauwer’s determination, conviction, and vision in the ‘round-the-world sail will doubtlessly launch the seafaring dreams of many, serve as an inspiration for the disabled and able-bodied alike, and stand as a record that can never be broken.
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