Joe Harris is no stranger to offshore ocean racing and over the last few years he has racked up some impressive mileage sailing single-handed aboard Gryphon Solo. The learning curve has been steep and a foray into international competition has pitted both boat and skipper against some of the fastest yachts and best single-handed sailors in the world. Now, for the first time, Joe will get the opportunity to race not only against the best, but with one of the best as he and his crew, Josh Hall, team up to compete in the Transat Jacques Vabre. This professional association with Josh is part of a long term strategy to "up the game" in anticipation of Joe's participation in the tough and highly competitive 2006 VELUX 5 Oceans around-the-world race. For the 4,500 mile double-handed dash to Brazil Josh will serve not only as crew, but also as mentor and coach as both sailors take on an intensely competitive fleet.
Josh Hall crept quietly onto the solo ocean racing scene in the late 1980s. He entered the 50 foot class in the 1990/91 BOC (now 5 Oceans) around-the-world race on a boat named for his home town, Ipswich, a bustling city on England's west coast. Aboard Spirit of Ipswich Josh finished a very credible third. He returned four years later with a 60 footer named Gartmore Investment Management for his British sponsor, but that race came to an abrupt and near fatal end when the boat collided with a submerged object somewhere off the coast of Brazil. The boat sank but Josh was fortunately rescued by a fellow competitor. As is often the case, the rescue garnered national media attention and Josh Hall's name became instantly recognizable. Those that follow around-the-world racing knew his story and wondered if his days as a solo sailor were over but they never estimated the grit and determination of a man intent on following his dreams.
The publicity from the sinking did not hurt his sponsor, Gartmore Investment Management, and for the first time they truly understood the marketing value of backing Josh. They rewarded his courage by funding a brand new boat. The new Gartmore was a state-of-the-art racing machine boldly emblazoned with stunning graphics that quickly became a favorite for photographers. Josh entered the 1998/99 Around Alone (the BOC became known as the Around Alone which is now called the 5 Oceans) set on claiming victory in Class 1. Unfortunately while hurtling through the Southern Ocean the mast buckled and came crashing down. The dismayed skipper cleared the wreckage and hobbled to the Chatham Islands to ponder his future. One would not have blamed him had he decided to hang up his sea boots, but a second solo circumnavigation was very much on his mind and in 2000 he entered the Vendee Globe, perhaps the toughest single-handed around-the-world race because it goes non-stop from France to France. In a revamped Gartmore Josh finished the grueling event in ninth place finally quenching his desire for a second successful circumnavigation.
Like many sailors with vast open ocean experience and an intimate knowledge of the inner workings of this type of machine, Josh turned his attention to project management and coaching. The fact that he is an excellent crew mate and all round good guy will go a long way as he works with Joe to hone his skills as a solo sailor. Josh will help decipher and analyze the all-important weather information and teach Joe to understand the nuances of an otherwise complicated set of isobars and numbers. He will also work with him on sail trim and perhaps more importantly, sail handling especially in a time of crisis. Josh, for his part, has already taken the time to get to know the boat. He and one of his long-time team mates sailed Gryphon Solo from Rhode Island to France for the start of the TJV. The transatlantic trip helped Josh understand the boat and it's strong points and that knowledge, combined with Joe's intimate feel for the boat should prove very valuable as the duo duke it out against the other highly experienced sailors in their class. The goal of this race, however, is not only to win the Transat Jacques Vabre but to thoroughly prepare for the longer and much more grueling 5 Oceans, the start of which is now less than a year away.
Written By:
Brian Hancock
bhancock@gryphonsolo.com
