“I want to be the first Mallorcan to sail solo round the world” says record breaker
“Iwould do it all over again tomorrow,” Aina Bauzà said this week as she reflected on having become the first person, and the first woman, to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo aboard a 21-foot monohull Redò by Ànima Negra in March and set the new transatlantic record for solo sailing in a monohull.
Although the initial idea was to set the record time from Cadiz to San Salvador in the Bahamas (Route of Discovery) in 21 days, adverse weather conditions prevented Aina, 29, who sails for the Port d’Andratx Sailing Club, from achieving her goal, although she finally managed to complete the 4,800 nautical mile challenge in 31 days and 34 minutes, having set sail from Cadiz on March 3.
No bed, kitchen or bathroom
“I feel so happy, I feel good, I would do it again if given the chance, but I now have new and bigger projects, new challenges and I have to focus on them,” she said.
Unlike being part of a regatta like the
Mini Transat, she was totally alone with no close safety support or organisational backup. “I had to take everything I needed on board, everything I could think of in the way of spare parts, food, everything and anything. And to make the most of the maximum space, I had no bed, kitchen, or bathroom.”
Lack of wind
“Yes, I did have a satellite phone so I was able to be in contact with friends and family, but much of the time it was a wonderful experience to be alone.
“There was a period of 16 days when, within a 25 mile radius, I didn’t see anything, not a single other vessel, which on the one hand was humbling, but on the other slightly worrying had I got into difficulty. But fortunately nothing serious happened during the crossing.
“Adverse weather conditions did slow me down.
“The weather did not allow taking the shortest route; I had to go far south to stay in the area of favourable winds and cover many more miles than planned. At times there was a lack of wind,” explained Aina.
She faced extremely unpredictable weather throughout the journey. During the first phase she encountered three cold fronts, and then as she sailed further across the Atlantic, intensifying trade winds in excess of 25 knots with waves of up to four metres.
Finally, as she approached the Caribbean, a succession of up to four fairly active cold fronts caused more variable winds and, above all, considerably heavy rainfall.
Waste
“While the weather, as expected, was changeable, there was never any shortage of waste in the sea. During the 16-day period in which I didn’t see another ship I kept trying to figure out where all the plastic and floating waste was coming from. I was in the middle of the Atlantic and the sea was still full of waste and that’s deeply concerning,” she said.
“At times I wanted to try and collect some of it but I had a mission to complete,
“There was a period of 16 days when, within a 25 mile radius, I didn’t see anything, not a single other vessel, which on the one hand was humbling, but on the other slightly worrying had I got into difficulty.”
“Not only would I become the first Mallorcan sailor to complete the Vendée Globe, I will also be the first female Mallorcan, providing I make it to the start and then make it to the finish, to do so.”
I was sailing at speed, it was just impossible,” she admitted. And now back on dry land in Mallorca, Aina, who has been sailing since she was eight having started on her parents’ boat, now has some big longterm plans.
Peace and tranquillity
“Being alone gave me a great sense of peace and tranquillity at times.
“I was able to really disconnect from reality.
“It was a unique experience and it gave me time to think about so many things and more importantly it gave me the opportunity to learn more about myself. I guess that was one of the reasons I set out on the challenge in the first place. I love sailing alone.
“I was able to really contemplate the important things in life. Yes, I was very tired, exhausted at times, and there was always that sense of danger and how I would react, but at the end of the day it was just me and the boat. It was a wonderful sensation and I can’t wait to experience it again.
“In the short term, this summer I will be racing with a crew mate in the Mini Fastnet, one of the oldest, most prestigious and most indispensable Mini races over 600 nautical miles, between the bay of Douarnenez and the famous Fastnet lighthouse.
“And I will also be racing solo again in the solo Les Sables-Les Acores-Les Sables regatta over 2,540 nautical miles through the Bay of Biscay and the Azores.
“This regatta, however, is divided into two legs, both of 1,270 miles,” she said.
“Looking to the future, my biggest challenge is going to be getting more sponsors. I already have a great family of sponsors and supporters here in
Andratx and across Mallorca, but my aim is not only to grow as a sailor but also gradually move up the categories, which means larger yachts .
Vendée Globe 2032
“Within three years I plan to be racing a 40-footer and then, the ultimate goal is to be on board a 70-footer to compete in the 2032 Vendée Globe.
“That is every sailor’s dream and it is the toughest race on the planet, a singlehanded, non-stop, non-assisted round-theworld sailing race and it only takes place every four years.
“Only one Mallorcan has ever competed before and unfortunately he ran into difficulties and was forced to retire.
“So, not only would I become the first Mallorcan to complete the Vendée Globe, I will also be the first female Mallorcan, providing I make it to the start and then make it to the finish, to do so,” she said.
“But we’re talking major league sailing, the most challenging and demanding solo race ever and for that I am going to have to put together a very professional, interesting and complete project in order to attract sponsors, obtain the yacht and get the training and practice in.
“Once I’ve got this year out of the way, it’s onwards and upwards, step by step, race by race towards 2032 and the Vendée Globe,” Aina said.
The challenge is going to be very demanding on a promotional level, “even more so because I’m a woman, although this shouldn’t necessarily be the case,” she says.
“I’ve gained plenty of valuable experience in getting this far, but the search for sponsors is still a new world for me and it takes up most of my time.
“I would prefer to be sailing, but
I’m very happy and I’m learning a lot of very important things, such as there is much more to all this than being out on the water. But I think as a sailor and a woman
I’ve proved a point and gained a lot of experience which I can now build on.”