: I think the brochure was pointing out the number of people that had
: sailed solo round round the world - I just found it interesting
: that so few were competing - and of recent races - held 4 yearly
: - a number of the competitors had returned for second attempts,
: a couple of others had died, and of course there were a couple
: of dramatic saves in the southern ocean.

: So really it's a complete madman's sport! (And yet it leaves me
: deeply impressed...)

: Bohdan

Btw, there's a hint there, recreational sailors are never going to sail into the "southern ocean" (no such thing), the only reason to sail down that far on the globe is to try to go as fast around as possible since the circumference of the earth is so much smaller the further south you go. (north too but it's all ice up there) It's also wildly more stormy with a great increase in the risk of floating ice and again absolutely nothing to see but towering waves. Recreational sailors generally keep up where the people are :)

There is also no news coverage anymore for the average person that sets off on a voyage like this, so no one knows how many have gone, it's just a guess.

Bill H.