(Shanti – Kingfisher 22) – for an outstanding achievement in single-handedly completing the Jester Challenge (2006) from Plymouth to Newport, Rhode Island with the assistance of Haslar wind vane steering gear in just over 44 days. His achievement in his little 19-year-old Kingfisher 22 is all the more remarkable as the boat was probably the oldest and smallest of all the entrants, most of whom retired for various reasons so that Pete was the second and last boat to reach Newport.
During the previous 6 months he had also delivered the junk rigged 38’ catamaran he designed and built, from Brazil to Tasmania using his own design of wind vane steering, non-stop via the Southern Ocean.
Pete Hill’s Jester Challenge
Shanti’s trip across to Newport was very pleasant and surprisingly fast. I arrived tanned and relaxed at the finish on Monday 17th July with a time of 44 days, 6 hours and 56 minutes. The distance actually sailed (adding day to day runs) was 3640 miles.
I chose the Azores route to try and avoid the gales and fog of the northern passage, and in this I was successful. The strongest winds experienced were force 7, but for most of the passage the winds were moderate or light.
I passed close west of San Miguel island, in the Azores and then down as far as 33 N 45 W, before heading towards Newport. During the second half of the trip I experienced much light winds with 3 days of near calm close to the finish.
It was good to get in, especially as a tropical storm is due to pass close east tonight. Thank goodness there are no other competitors still at sea.
Pete Hill at Newport
4 /6/06 off Lizard Point
5/6/06 49 11 N 6 21 W
6/6/06 47 29 N 7 42 W
7/6/06 46 08 N 10 04 W
8/6/06 44 56 N 11 41 W
9/6/06 43 51 N 13 32 W
10/6/06 43 06 N 13 40 W
11/6/06 43 20 N 14 09 W
12/6/06 42 17 N 15 48 W
13/6/06 41 15 N 18 40 W
14/6/06 40 24 N 20 30 W
15/6/06 39 17 N 23 03 W
16/6/06 38 40 N 24 48 W
17/6/06 38 16 N 25 28 W
18/6/06 37 37 N 27 21 W
19/6/06 36 44 N 29 29 W
20/6/06 35 55 N 31 09 W
21/6/06 34 57 N 33 20 W
22/6/06 34 25 N 35 25 W
23/6/06 34 22 N 37 30 W
24/6/06 33 58 N 39 40 W
25/6/06 33 46 N 41 57 W
26/6/06 33 08 N 43 52 W
27/6/06 33 11 N 46 12 W
28/6/06 33 28 N 48 22 W
29/6/06 33 41 N 50 09 W
30/6/06 33 56 N 50 55 W
1/7/06 34 15 N 51 43 W
2/7/06 34 24 N 52 35 W
3/7/06 34 58 N 53 14 W
4/7/06 35 13 N 53 31 W
5/7/06 35 34 N 54 36 W
6/7/06 35 54 N 55 53 W
7/7/06 36 36 N 57 09 W
8/7/06 37 12 N 59 10 W
9/7/06 37 56 N 61 02 W
10/7/06 39 07 N 62 15 W
11/7/06 39 26 N 63 50 W
12/7/06 39 49 N 65 26 W
13/7/06 40 33 N 66 39 W
14/7/06 40 35 N 68 00 W
15/7/06 40 45 N 69 09 W
16/7/06 40 48 N 69 40 W
17/7/06 41 08 N 70 56 W
Jester Challenge 