Jacob Ziemkiewicz from Poland, who says he was “born to sail,” and whose plan to build his own boat of plywood construction to compete in the Mini Globe Race we reported on Afloat.ie last June, has launched and is sea-trialling Bibi in Cork Harbour.
She is part of the Globe 5.8 Class, has a 2.2 metres beam, 1.2 metres headroom and had to be built to a strict one-design. The amount of equipment that can be carried is also controlled.
He outlined the course of the race, starting at Lagos, Portugal, in December, to cruiser section members of the Royal Cork Yacht Club at Crosshaven after the boat had been launched with the help of the local community at Aghada pier and pontoon on the eastern side of Cork Harbour. The 50-year-old Polish sailor, resident in Ireland for several years, built the boat there.
“We have a wonderful, hand-built in Aghada boat, which is preparing to travel the world,” the Lower Aghada Pier Community Association declared at the launching ceremony. “I’ve got great support and encouragement from the local community,” says Jakub.
The people of Aghada will be eagerly following him during the race which is to take in port p stops in Panama and at Tahiti, Tonga, Fiji, Darwin, Mauritius, Durban, Capetown, St.Helena, Recife and finishing back in Antigua, after 5,900 nautical miles. It costs €1,200 to enter the race which is limited to twenty international competitors.
The Aghada county of Cork Harbour turned out to cheer Jacob Ziemkiewicz from Poland on the launch of his mini yacht 'Bibi' for the Mini Globe Race
Don McIntyre is the founder and Race Chairman of the Golden Globe Race, Ocean Globe Race and the Mini Globe Race. The ‘Mini Globe Race’ is described as the first solo around-the-world race for mini, one-designs.
