28 000 Miles Without Steering

Map showing the voyage of Jean-du-Sud, testing the Self-steering prototype On May 9, 1983, on board the sloop Jean-du-Sud, an Alberg 30 (Hull #399) Yves Gélinas completed a 28,000 mile single-handed circumnavigation from St-Malo, France, to Gaspé, Québec, by way of the Roaring forties and Cape Horn.

In the 282 sailing days of his voyage, he did not steer Jean-du-Sud more than one hour.

The Self-steering gear holding course under jury rig His boat stayed on course with the aid of a self-steering system which he had designed, through the seas and gales of the Roaring Forties and in all other strengths of wind, even under spinnaker, square before a very light breeze. If there was enough wind to keep the sails full, there was enough for the self-steerer. It even survived two knock-downs and a 360° capsize which dismasted Jean-du-Sud.


Under jury rig the Cape Horn windvane was still steering!

Suite : CapeHorn Self-Steering Renders Others Obsolete
 
CapeHorn Integrated Self-Steering

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and sending it by E-mail is so easy:
send us pictures of the stern of your boat,
the cockpit and lazarette area,
its steering gear, belowdecks if needed.

We will suggest a model and its installation,
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Witness how some of our customers have, on their blog or web site,  described their installation and use of the CapeHorn

Alberg 30 SUGAR MAGNOLIA

Alberg 35 TOMFOOLERY

Alberg 37 JOINT VENTURE

Beneteau First 375 ASCENSION

Bristol 32 KESTREL

Cal 29 RENEWAL TIME

Cape Dory 28 CELTIC RAY

Cape Dory 36 FAR REACH

Contessa 26 BIRGITTA

Contessa 26 CAVENDYSH

Ericson 39B SENTA II

Frances 26 Anihoya

Hallberg Rassy Monsun JANNA

Hallberg Rassy Rasmus
MARY ANNIE

J35 RED DRESS

Kaskelot 10.30 SALT

Kelly-Peterson 44 TAJ

Pacific Seacraft Dana SOCKDOLAGER

Pacific Seacraft Orion SAOIRSE

Pearson 33 HERMES

RM1050 RED MAMALOU

Tayana 37 ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Westsail 32 NEVERLAND

Westsail 32 RODE TRIP

Read Andy Schell's article on
Self-Steering

Jean-du-Sud and the Magick-Byrd,
the book by Yves Gélinas that narrated his 28 000 mile single-handed circumnavigation through the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn aboard Alberg 30 Jean-du-Sud, has been translated in English and published by Andy Schell and Mia Karlsson of 59 North Sailing.

It was first published in French in Canada in 1986, then in France in 1996. 

Available both in print, and as a podcast,
read by the author.

-Order the Book- 

-Download the Podcast-


CapeHorn is the choice of

Andy Shell and Mia Karlsson.


Donna Lange, for

Sail Twice Around
Non-Stop Sail around the World



With Jean-du-Sud Around the World
-watch the trailer and order the video-

 


Listen to David Anderson's Sailing Podcast featuring Yves Gélinas