New York to San Francisco, Via Cape Horn, on a Proa

by Editor · Published February 7, 2022 · Updated February 7, 2022

Pretty impressive trip this one, our respect for Ryan. First sailing shot, looks such a smooth & fast ride. Awareness on the voyage sent by Bailey White: “Ryan Finn is a friend of several A-cat guys here. He is sailing by himself on a 36 foot proa all the way from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn.”

– GPS Tracking here –

– Funding here (hope he gets it with these guys..)

Ryan Finn on his project via gfm:

“Hi, I am Ryan Finn and I recently attempted to set the first nonstop singlehanded sailing record from New York to San Francisco, via Cape Horn, based on the 14,000 mile Clipper Ship records established during the Gold Rush. I’ve been imagining this project for years and spent the last couple of years working hard to fund the project and getting to the start line without commercial funding. This included building my own sails, designing and building my own halyard locks and many other systems myself. Too many to list here, but I will have spent many more hours alone working on this boat than actually sailing it the necessary 14,000 miles to get to San Francisco.

The work has been nonstop until January 22nd at noon. That is when my attempt came to an abrupt end after damaging a hull less than 24 hours after starting in NY. From there it was a nearly three day trip back to safe harbor in Virginia with a damaged boat. Having sailed over 10,000 miles on Jzero, and in much more demanding conditions than I saw during this record attempt, the damage was a surprise, but also a good revelation for preparing to make another attempt in November 2021. But this time I will need help. “

Latest update from his FB Page:

“I know it sounds weird, but I’ve been having fun today. Last night was a little busy with nice slow sailing under code 5 and a lot of fishing boats in the Recife area.

The morning was very light until a very large medium strength squall arrived from the ENE. I left the code 5 up with full main and awoke to a massive header once it hit. It probably looked like a gybe, but that was me just riding out the squalls in rain, sitting often at 17 knots.

From there it got light again with a big left over sea state. It was so uncomfortable that I gybed just to get the waves behind me.
Once within a few miles of the coast and we’ll lifted, I gybed again, hoisting the big spinnaker and had a wonderful sail down the coast until an hour or so ago when it became to close hauled to carry, so I’m back with the code 5 and reaching quickly straight at the mark in Salvador de Bahia.

Hopefully this holds. I’d love to arrive in daylight (I won’t). Tonight will be my first sunset over land since leaving Brooklyn.”