Around 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 : Trophée Jules Verne
Le catamaran de Bruno Peyron remis à l’eau
Bruno Peyron’s catamaran launched again
Orange in the port of La Ciotat -
fr : Navigation
THALES Navigation lance le Meridian
image 180 x 251Le Meridian Marine
La nouvelle gamme Meridian comprend 4 récepteurs GPS à 12 canaux parallèles mémorisant jusqu’à 500 waypoints et 20 routes réversibles de 30 segments maximum. -
fr : Skipper
MOLONEY Nick
Nick Moloney, navigateur australien de 32 ans, vient d’être nommé co-skipper du monocoque Kingfisher. Il prend donc la suite d’Ellen MacArthur à la barre du voilier de 18 mètres que la jeune Anglaise vient de mener à la deuxième place du Vendée Globe. -
fr : Volvo Ocean Race
Départ de la troisième étape
Start of leg three from Sydney
VO60s in the Sydney-Hobart fleet -
fr : VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Les VO60s ont quitté Sydney
image 300 x 170Petit temps au départ de Sydney. Photo : Oskar Kihlborg Team SEB Electronic Image.
C’est à 3h, heure française, ce matin, (soit 13h heure locale), que les huit bateaux engagés dans la Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002 se sont élancés pour une troisième étape de 2 050 milles, divisée en deux temps. -
en : VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Start of the leg 3 from Sydney
image 300 x 170VO60 s gather at the start of the Sydney- Hobart race which is part of the third leg in the Volvo Ocean Race from Sydney to Auckland. Photo : Oskar Kihlborg Team SEB Electronic Image.
Today, in the early morning coolness, Darling Harbour, Sydney, was a hive of activity as the crews starting leg three of the Volvo Ocean Race made their final preparations and bade their last farewells. -
fr : Skipper
MACARTHUR Ellen
A presque 24 ans, Ellen MacArthur vient d’inscrire son nom au palmarès prestigieux de la Transat Anglaise. En remportant la course mythique dans la catégorie des monocoques, elle succède à de grands noms de l’histoire de la course au large comme Éric Tabarly et Yves Parlier, ou ses compatriotes Francis Chichester et Geoffrey Williams. Pourtant (…) -
fr : Skipper
JOYON Francis
Des marins comme Francis Joyon, il n’y en a plus beaucoup. La nouvelle donne de la course au large spectacle favorise l’éclosion de jeunes talents médiatiques, tous aussi à l’aise face à un micro que sur un voilier de course au large ou autour de trois bouées. En remportant la Transat anglaise, au nez et à la barbe des machines les plus (…) -
fr : Photographe
LIOT Jean-Marie
Jean-Marie Liot, vingt-neuf ans, est photographe de mer professionnel depuis cinq ans. Basé à Arradon, dans le Morbihan, il vient de lancer sa galerie virtuelle sur internet. -
fr : Skipper
JOSSE Sébastien
Associé à Éric Drouglazet, Sébastien Josse, vingt-cinq ans, fera partie, le 16 avril prochain, des favoris de la transat en double Lorient - Saint Barthélémy. Jeune professionnel de la course au large, il rêve aussi de monocoque open et de Vendée Globe.
