Captain Istvan Kopar - America 250 Anniversary Challenge
Today’s episode features world-class sailor and 3x circumnavigator Captain Istvan Kopar! If you follow the Golden Globe Race, you’ll likely recognize Captain Kopar’s name as he was one of the 50th Anniversary Edition 2018 Golden Globe Race finishers — but, did you also know that, almost thirty years before that 2018 Golden Globe Race, Captain Kopar, with the help of two friends, built a 31 ft sloop which he solo circumnavigated around the world, making only one stop in Perth, Australia. Today, Captain Kopar has his sights set on an entirely new-to-him challenge regarding the solo circumnavigation — the challenge he has planned will coincide with and celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America! On July 4th of this year, at the age of 73, Captain Istvan will depart Ft. Lauderdale, FL, aboard Surprise, his Valiant 42, and sail solo across the Atlantic to Les Sables D’Olonne, France. Then, later this summer, though not officially part of the race, Captain Kopar will depart Les Sables D’Olonne with the 2026 Golden Globe fleet on Sept, 6th, but instead of heading eastbound ‘round the world with the rest of the GGR fleet, Captain Kopar will head starboard -- west -- towards rounding Cape Horn, while the GGR fleet rounds the Cape of Good Hope. In today’s podcast, Captain Kopar and I dive deep back into time as he shares his story of how sailing became such an integral part of his life and how, all the more, sailing has continued to shape his life so that he can live a life well-lived. Captain Kopar would like to express his immense gratitude to his family, friends, and supporters who’ve all helped make his America 250th Anniversary Challenge aboard SV Surprise possible.
Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com [https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com]!
LINKS:
Kopar Sailing website | https://koparsailing.com [https://koparsailing.com]
Kopar Sailing Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/istvankopar [https://www.facebook.com/istvankopar]
Kopar Sailing YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@UCQpwi5k-tLiL1CkBv1orTUw [https://www.youtube.com/@UCQpwi5k-tLiL1CkBv1orTUw]
Captain Kopar's book, 'Kihivas: Alone at the Ends of the Earth' | https://www.amazon.com/Kihivas-Alone-at-Ends-Earth/dp/1517793637 [https://www.amazon.com/Kihivas-Alone-at-Ends-Earth/dp/1517793637]
UK Sailmakers Podcast | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YoZSvVB6Ok [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YoZSvVB6Ok]
'Two old blokes talk : Istvan with Don and JL VDH calling in 2019/04/16' | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9vE2sq6Uk&list=PLjOcewuo5Q63FGePQiLoSI7qP3KZmfyxS&index=3 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9vE2sq6Uk&list=PLjOcewuo5Q63FGePQiLoSI7qP3KZmfyxS&index=3]
Offshore Sailing & Cruising Podcast with Paul Trammell 'Istvan Kopar, Westbound Solo Around the World' | https://paultrammell.libsyn.com/istvan-kopar-westbound-solo-around-the-world [https://paultrammell.libsyn.com/istvan-kopar-westbound-solo-around-the-world]
MUSIC CREDITS:
*** Intro theme by Anthony Cuozzo of Double Down Sailing: / @quazzo
*** Teaser is Pink Sunrise by The Great North Sound Society
*** Music used for welcome sequence in video is ‘Love in Mexico’ by Carmen María and Edu Espinal.
*** Music used for outro in video is 'Silver Waves' by TrackTribe.
*** Music used for outro in video is 'Silver Waves' by TrackTribe.
