Cape Horn: Ahead or Behind Forever on My Mind, Solo Around the Horn - Paperback

by Jeffrey R. Hartjoy (Author)

"Having raced twice around the world myself, I can appreciate the stresses and trials that Jeff has endured traversing the Southern Ocean and rounding iconic Cape Horn. His writing conveys a great Corinthian spirit of adventure, and is a tribute to all the sailors that have dared this passage. In human history it wasn't so long ago that rounding cape Horn was akin to going to the moon, and many never returned. Jeff brings that spirit of adventure to the pages of this book." -Bruce Schwab, Around Alone Racer"Sailing around Cape Horn alone is not everyone's "Milk shake." I had decided to do it because after 60,000 miles of sailing ocean passages they were becoming too familiar. My wife Debbie and I had sailed clear of Ecuador and down to Peru. It was on that passage that I realized just how close to the Horn I was and realized I just needed to give it a "Shot". Debbie felt no need to try it so she volunteered to become my shore side support. Now most people don't realize the problems of going West to East around the "Horn", and I was one of them. With nearly 45-years of sailing experience under my keels and Sailors Run a 40ft. Baba Ketch, I felt confident that the 5,000 NM passage was doable. What I did not know is that the worst storms occur in the summer season. I also learned that the Humboldt Current runs up the coast of Chile at nearly two-knots. The wind also comes up from the south, so you must set sail from Peru heading SW and eventually you will end up 1,000 NM off of Chile (at 45 South) before you can start your run in towards the "Horn". You experience a severe low just about every three days with storm force winds. Anyone who thinks going West to East is easy, best try it before they make that claim.In this book, you will not only experience what it takes to sail in the Southern Ocean, but you will get an in-depth look into the life of a sailor who had to overcome insurmountable "road blocks" to live out his dream, a life of freedom upon the sea.

Author Biography

If anyone was going to put one of my boats to the ultimate test, Jeff Hartjoy does it on this great adventure. -Robert H. Perry, Yacht Designer The author grew up in Washington State where he discovered sailing when he was 23-years old. Sailing soon became a way of life with Jeff and he and his family spent most weekends and vacations plying the waters of Puget Sound, not to mention the Canadian waters that lie just to the north. Jeff is an accomplished runner, having run several marathons in under 3-hours, he understands the rewards of staying in shape. After just two days in a class on how to build a log home, he knew he was ready to build his own home. The home turned out to be a fabulous place to raise his combined family of seven children. Once the family was raised, Jeff and his wife Debbie sold the home and turned full time to cruising and living aboard their forty foot Baba Ketch, Sailors Run.They have been living this life style since 1999. Jeff's mother instilled the wanderlust in him when he was very young. They often traveled by car to many remote and beautiful parts of Washington State. Jeff was a lineman by trade, a very dangerous job and in many ways that prepared him for the rigorous challenges that he would face when sailing far out to sea.