Sea, Sail & Surf newsAround Alone
John Dennis first skipper with diabetes in Around Alone
Qualification sail July 31st from Rhode Island to Horta, Azores
vendredi 26 juillet 2002 –
Ascensia, the new brand name for Bayer self-management diabetes monitors and services, today announced sponsorship for skipper John Dennis in Around Alone 2002/3. John Dennis, a 57-year old commercial real estate manager from Toronto, will be making history with this race as the first skipper with diabetes to compete in a solo global yacht race. The announcement was made in conjunction with the planned "rollover" today Friday, July 26th in Barrington, Rhode Island. The rollover is a dramatic test in which the boat and skipper are turned completely upside down in the water as part of the certification requirements for the race.
John Dennis has sailed more than 40 long-distance voyages covering more than 90,000 nautical miles. Adding a solo global race to his achievements has been his lifelong dream, but eight years ago, before he could achieve his goal, Dennis was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. His successful entry into Around Alone this year is the result of his diligence to bring his diabetes under control maintaining stable blood sugar levels, by monitoring his blood sugar several times each day.
"When I was first diagnosed I thought I’d never be able to fulfil my dream of a solo sail around the world, however, I‚ve learned that by regular monitoring and self-management of my blood sugar, I can be fit for racing," says Dennis. "Having diabetes does mean I have to work harder. Like any skipper I have to monitor the yacht systems and sails on a 24-hour clock, and because of my diabetes I also have to monitor my blood sugar without fail. But I am up to the challenge."
The dramatic rollover of Dennis’s open 50-foot sailboat involves using a crane to flip the boat in the water and turn it upside down with Dennis inside. The purpose is to both check the boat for leaks and test Dennis‚s ability to re-right his boat from a stable capsize. The test is required by the International Monohull Open Class Association as part of the certification requirements for the race. After the rollover the next milestone for Dennis is Wednesday, July 31st, when he begins his 21-hundred mile, trans-Atlantic qualifying sail from Newport, R.I. to the Azores. He will return approximately 26 days later.
Dennis has named his boat ’Ascensia’ in honor of his principle sponsor, Bayer. Ascensia is the brand name for Bayer’s monitoring products and services for people with diabetes including glucose monitors that allow people with diabetes to test a droplet of blood at different intervals during the day to measure their blood sugar levels. With diabetes it is important to maintain stable sugar levels by adjusting diet, medications and in some cases by taking insulin injections. Ascensia means to "ascend and achieve" and its slogan Your Life. Your Way. reflects what people with diabetes can achieve if they are diligent about self-managing their condition.
Dans la même rubrique
-
en : Offshore racing | Imoca
The Ocean Race Europe 2025 : Biotherm takes the win, Paprec Arkéa claims 2nd place
The Boka Bay Coastal Race was a perfect reflection of this edition of The Ocean Race Europe : spectacular. And as they did over and over again during the past six weeks, it was Paul Meilhat’s Biotherm who secured victory, confirming an incredible, dominant run throughout the summer of racing. -
en : Ferrari Hypersail
A D-section mast paired with a double skin mainsail for Soldini’s flying monohull
The Ferrari Hypersail team is pleased to unveil the latest design and engineering innovations developed for the rig and sails of Ferrari’s oceanic sailboat. Hypersail, conceived as a research and development platform, has delivered groundbreaking solutions for ocean sailing through collaboration across different disciplines. -
en : Porto Cervo
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2025 : Galateia and Django 7X win in Maxi 1 and Maxi GP classes
The 35th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup concluded with a final day of top-class sailing, followed by the traditional prize-giving ceremony in Piazza Azzurra. The Mistral wind, blowing at around 10 knots at the start and strengthening to 18 knots with a northward shift by the finish, allowed for two hard-fought windward-leeward races for (…) -
fr : Circolo della Vela Sicilia
20th Palermo-Montecarlo : Top prize for Manticore as Black Jack sets another new record
After leaving Mondello, just north of Palermo, at midday on Tuesday, competition in the Maxi class, part of the 41 boat fleet in the annual Palermo-Montecarlo, was decided on Thursday. The IRC corrected time victory went to a first time winner, while one of the race’s most frequent competitors was again both first home and set a new race (…) -
en : Offshore racing | Cowes - Cherbourg
Rolex Fastnet Race 2025 : Loison and Kelbert’s JPK 1050 crowned overall winner
Alexis Loison and Jean-Pierre Kelbert’s JPK 1050 Léon has been crowned overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race. No other boat still racing on the 695 nautical mile course can catch the French doublehanded duo for overall honours in this, the 51st edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s offshore classic. -
en : Cowes • Team racing
The Admiral’s Cup : Yacht Club de Monaco wins the 2025 edition
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is delighted to announce the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) as the winner of the 2025 Admiral’s Cup. After an intense battle during the RORC Channel Race, six inshore races in the Solent and the prestigious finale, the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Yacht Club de Monaco team is victorious. Runner-up for the Admiral’s Cup (…)
A la une
Articles les plus récents
-
fr : Construction amateur
Les congés du Banjo
La construction du monocoque de Ronan et Diane Gélébart se poursuit à Brest . Après avoir expliqué comment réaliser des scarfs (lire article du 5 janvier), Ronan présente la phase suivante : l’assemblage des planches de contre plaqué pour former la coque du bateau. Il s’agit de réaliser des joints congé tout au long des liaisons entre les (…) -
fr : Volvo Ocean Race
illbruck à l’approche d’Auckland
illbruck arriving to Auckland
German team keeps ahead of the race -
fr : Construction amateur
Diane et Ronan jouent du Banjo
Diane et Ronan Gélébart ont participé ensemble à la Mini-Transat 1999. Ensemble ou plutôt en même temps. Ronan avait choisi de traverser l’atlantique sur un prototype, rouge. Diane, quant à elle, avait préféré un Pogo, jaune. Tous deux préparent maintenant un voilier pour de longues croisières, en double ! -
en : Around Alone
Torbay to host european stopover
image 396 x 194Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of race organisers Clipper Ventures, announced that Torbay, England, will host the first stopover in the five leg Around Alone 2002-03 solo, round the world yacht race. This West Country region will become the first European stopover in the 20-year history of the race. This also marks the first time a solo RTW (…) -
fr : Volvo Ocean Race
Tyco au phare de Rangitoto
Tyco at the Rangitoto light house
Third at the third leg -
fr : VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Assa Abloy remporte la 3e manche à Auckland
image 300 x 158Arrivée à Auckland, la cité internationale de la voile depuis 1995. Photo : C.Borlenghi / Sea&See.it
Il était 18h20 (heure française) hier soir, lorsque Assa Abloy a franchi en vainqueur, sous spi et grand voile haute, la ligne d’arrivée de la troisième étape de la Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002. Un succès qui couronne une très belle première partie d’étape, puisque l’équipage suédois avait également remporté la Sydney-Hobart, quelques jours (…) -
fr : Around Alone
Around Alone 2002-03 s’arrêtera à Torbay en Grande Bretagne
image 396 x 194Sir Robin Knox-Johnston a annoncé jeudi que le port Anglais de Torbay sera le point de départ de la deuxième étape du tour du monde en solitaire avec escales dont il est désormais l’organisateur. -
en : VOLVO OCEAN RACE
ASSA ABLOY First into Auckland !
What a fantastic day for the kiwis on ASSA ABLOY, to win Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race into Auckland. New Zealanders, Richard Mason and Stu Wilson were heroes along with the rest of the crew of ASSA ABLOY, to the early morning cheering crowd, as they entered Viaduct Basin, after they had crossed the finish line. -
en : Offshore racing
Rhum race and Trophée Jules Verne for Ellen MacArthur
image 300 x 160Image © Martinez/McKay
Kingfisher plc, a leading international retailer for the home, announced today at the London Boat Show that it would be continuing it’s sponsorship of Ellen MacArthur MBE with a new five-year title sponsorship deal. -
fr : Course au large
Rhum et Jules Verne pour Ellen MacArthur
image 300 x 160Kingfisher plc, spécialiste international de la grande distribution, a annoncé aujourd’hui à Londres lors du London Boat Show, que le sponsoring d’Ellen MacArthur était reconduit pour une période de 5 ans.
