22 year old Gold Coast sailor Xavier Doerr commenced a “Little Aussie Lap”
by Peta-Jayne Habner 4 May 2023 05:32 BST
4 May 2023
Gold Coast sailor Xavier Doerr commences a “Little Aussie Lap” © The Little Aussie Lap
Gold Coast based youth sailor Xavier Doerr has taken on one of Australia's most challenging solo sailing campaigns, and second attempt, to complete a non-stop, unassisted, solo circumnavigation of Australia in GCCM his 21-foot Mini Transat Carbon Fibre Race Yacht.
Today he left from Southport Yacht Club and out the Seaway and to the start line - the sand pumping jetty on the Gold Coast, where he will attempt to complete his counter clockwise circumnavigation and arrive back at the line in 50 days' time.
This incredible campaign has only been successfully completed by two people and the current record is held by Lisa Blair who in 2018 took 58 days to complete in her 50ft boat.
Abord his 750kg blue yacht - named GCCM; Gold Coast City Marina, the circumnavigation of the enormous Australian continent feat is equivalent to 1/3 of a lab of the Globe or 12 Sydney Hobart Races.
In his first attempt commencing May 2022, Xavier was struck by an unforecasted cyclonic storm event, forcing him to stay awake for 72 hours in swells the size of two-story buildings and 70 knot winds to steer his boat to safety. In the wake of his last unsuccessful attempt which rendered his electronics useless as his batteries flooded with water.
You can follow the gigantic "Little Aussie Lap" via a Live Tracker on the website www.thelittleaussielap.com/tracker
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