#GGR2022 Solo Sailor IAN HJ Interview by Riaan & Karin Smit after his rescued by fishing vessel Zi Da Wang and landed Cape Town on 24/04/2023. Special Thanks for Riaan & Karin 's hospitality and help for the GGR!
This interview was riveting. Bravo Ian for your bravery and sharing your experience with us. And thank you to the interviewer who did not interrupt. GGR ❤
Ian on the way to LSO in "Survivor Class". What an amazing sailor. Thanks to the Cape Town GGR family for this great insight. Congratualtions Ian on the official Cape Horners' acceptance.
What an amazing interview! Thanks so much for posting. That really gave me a tiny taste of what it’s really like. Cheers from one sailor to another thank you , Warren
Ian, how did you manage to maintain your composure during the riveting narration of your terrifying gale-surviving, rollover experience, and life-threatening rescue in the South Atlantic? Your resilience and presence of mind is an inspiration to us all. Thank you. Gus.
What an amazing interview!! At times, I felt bad for Ian - like he was being interrogated. At times, I got teary eyed just imagining what he was going through. I think he about lost it at the end of the interview - which is certainly understandable. It all comes down to humans helping humans - a good lesson for us ALL. Thanks to the GGR Team for this video. Best wishes to Ian.
Incredible story of resilience courage seamanship and human love!! So glad you made it safely back to land and I’m sorry you lost your beloved Puffin!!
Excellent interview. Sorry for the loss of your boat, Ian. I can't imagine how scary an experience it must have been and I suspect the psychological effects are no joke either.
A great interview with Ian,a fascinating timeline of extreme weather at sea. Bravo to Ian ,Puffin and the rescue crew..the preparation and requirements of the GGR proved their worth here .
What an amazing story ending an amazing adventure around the three great capes alone. Well done Ian and the good ship Puffin that looked after you. So glad you safe and heading home via LSO no doubt to a hero’s welcome. The lessons learnt you shared do feel familiar and no doubt will be used in future. Big up and good luck with your next adventure
Ian, i could feel your pain throughout, what a difficult thing interviews are at times like this. I am grateful for you agreeing to the interview and sharing some of what you went through in that massive storm. All the best Ian.
Amazing interview, a vivid telling of the tale. Those few moments of wanting to undo the seconds that delivered such indelible life changing circumstances upon Ian - the catastrophic delivery of fate upon one. So well described. Looking forward to seeing Ian welcome the winner and racers home to LSO.
That was a fascinating account of a devastating situation and wonderful rescue. May you be safe on your journey to meet your ‘brothers and sister’. As Kirsten has said you are all winners.
38:58 I was feeling that with you, Ian. Fantastic interview. Loosing a boat is like loosing a friend, but she did her job and kept you safe until the end. Fair winds to the next chapter.
Ian, to see you safe and well is a wonderful thing. We all watched as that low deepened and zero'd in on you. At that point I'm sure I and others in our armchairs were way more worried than you. Which is pretty funny. But wasn't at the time. Really great interview. To hear you describe the mental process of the whole thing is fascinating, terrifying and inspiring. Wishing you well , now you need never have imposter syndrome with your GGR brotgers and sisters .
Incredible story of courage and resilience when faced with such tragedy. Ian is and will always be an amazing GGR entrant who has achieved more than many of us can dream of. Thank you for this interview Ian.
Still being able to laugh after such a 219 day long journey shows that this are way above average characters setting sail at the GGR. All the best wishes IOH!
On behalf of all the Nally’s were so relieved to see Ian alive and well! Incredible job describing what that experience was like. Puffin achieved more than most boats could even dream of!
Great Ian to see you back and safe. As you described, Puffin was not a boat and leave her behind should have been very difficult. Enjoy your time with your family before the next big adventure.
Ian, if you remember sharing a beer on my China Blue in Pwhelli and helping me fuelling up, wasting your time... Your story is very poignant, I believe you are still a winner for having lived through such events. Of course all of you competitors and friends of the GGR are heroes to me, but you are my favourite :) ! I saw a picture of Puffin adrift with her broken mast, is ther any way you wil recover her? Anyway, glad to see you smiling! Patrick (France)
I hope there’s a conversation eventually about the type of drogue he was carry (JSD?) and why he didn’t deploy it when it was still possible. From his description, it sounds like the drogue would have prevented the disaster, as it has in other situations. 😅
This interview was riveting. Bravo Ian for your bravery and sharing your experience with us. And thank you to the interviewer who did not interrupt.
GGR ❤
What a sailor, attitude 2nd to none, really enjoyed the interview, thank-you.
Many thanks to Ian for so well describing his epic sail thru the storm.
Ian on the way to LSO in "Survivor Class". What an amazing sailor. Thanks to the Cape Town GGR family for this great insight. Congratualtions Ian on the official Cape Horners' acceptance.
What an amazing interview! Thanks so much for posting. That really gave me a tiny taste of what it’s really like.
Cheers from one sailor to another
thank you , Warren
Absolutely riveting. Thank you.
not many people can say they were de-masted took on water and ended in davey jones locker but lived to tell the tale!
Fantastic interview. So much respect for Ian
An amazing story told by a brave man. Bravo
Huge respect to Ian. Thanks for posting this.
Eishh man. Thanks God for the rescue. ☝️❤️✌️🌍🇿🇦🙏
brilliant story, well told, much respect
Ian, how did you manage to maintain your composure during the riveting narration of your terrifying gale-surviving, rollover experience, and life-threatening rescue in the South Atlantic? Your resilience and presence of mind is an inspiration to us all. Thank you. Gus.
What an amazing interview!! At times, I felt bad for Ian - like he was being interrogated. At times, I got teary eyed just imagining what he was going through. I think he about lost it at the end of the interview - which is certainly understandable. It all comes down to humans helping humans - a good lesson for us ALL. Thanks to the GGR Team for this video. Best wishes to Ian.
Great interview. Well done Ian.
Incredible story of resilience courage seamanship and human love!! So glad you made it safely back to land and I’m sorry you lost your beloved Puffin!!
Extraordinary Ian. What courage and clear thinking. What seamanship. Thank you Riaan for the interview. Truly touching stuff ❤
Glad to see you alive and well Ian
Respect
What a fantastic interview. Well done Ian.
Excellent interview. Sorry for the loss of your boat, Ian. I can't imagine how scary an experience it must have been and I suspect the psychological effects are no joke either.
A great interview with Ian,a fascinating timeline of extreme weather at sea. Bravo to Ian ,Puffin and the rescue crew..the preparation and requirements of the GGR proved their worth here .
wow - what a story..
Everyone who sails an ocean should watch this before hand
What an amazing story ending an amazing adventure around the three great capes alone. Well done Ian and the good ship Puffin that looked after you. So glad you safe and heading home via LSO no doubt to a hero’s welcome. The lessons learnt you shared do feel familiar and no doubt will be used in future. Big up and good luck with your next adventure
so happy to see you back ashore
Ian, i could feel your pain throughout, what a difficult thing interviews are at times like this. I am grateful for you agreeing to the interview and sharing some of what you went through in that massive storm. All the best Ian.
A very intimidating first hand account ! Wow!
You're a hero! Been watching you guys from the start :) onward and upward Ian. Best wishes
What a hero. So much learning in this video. Fair play to you Ian, absolutely amazing survival.
Amazing interview, a vivid telling of the tale. Those few moments of wanting to undo the seconds that delivered such indelible life changing circumstances upon Ian - the catastrophic delivery of fate upon one. So well described.
Looking forward to seeing Ian welcome the winner and racers home to LSO.
Wow Ian what a man he is. Great guy. Calm as hell. Must be smoking something while that storm went on. Well chill
Glad you are okay Ian!
That was a fascinating account of a devastating situation and wonderful rescue. May you be safe on your journey to meet your ‘brothers and sister’. As Kirsten has said you are all winners.
38:58 I was feeling that with you, Ian. Fantastic interview. Loosing a boat is like loosing a friend, but she did her job and kept you safe until the end. Fair winds to the next chapter.
Ian, to see you safe and well is a wonderful thing.
We all watched as that low deepened and zero'd in on you. At that point I'm sure I and others in our armchairs were way more worried than you. Which is pretty funny.
But wasn't at the time.
Really great interview. To hear you describe the mental process of the whole thing is fascinating, terrifying and inspiring.
Wishing you well , now you need never have imposter syndrome with your GGR brotgers and sisters .
I hope to never have a controlled collision but really appreciate Ian's detailed recounting. Well handled!
Fighting for life but still the pain of the crunch of the ships contact glad your safe and so able to tell the tale
Incredible story of courage and resilience when faced with such tragedy. Ian is and will always be an amazing GGR entrant who has achieved more than many of us can dream of. Thank you for this interview Ian.
Still being able to laugh after such a 219 day long journey shows that this are way above average characters setting sail at the GGR. All the best wishes IOH!
Surely a movie in this.
On behalf of all the Nally’s were so relieved to see Ian alive and well! Incredible job describing what that experience was like. Puffin achieved more than most boats could even dream of!
Great Ian to see you back and safe. As you described, Puffin was not a boat and leave her behind should have been very difficult. Enjoy your time with your family before the next big adventure.
Ian, if you remember sharing a beer on my China Blue in Pwhelli and helping me fuelling up, wasting your time...
Your story is very poignant, I believe you are still a winner for having lived through such events.
Of course all of you competitors and friends of the GGR are heroes to me, but you are my favourite :) !
I saw a picture of Puffin adrift with her broken mast, is ther any way you wil recover her?
Anyway, glad to see you smiling!
Patrick (France)
Sad to lose your boat. 💔 After over 200 days it is like she’s alive. Always next time and alive to sail again.
Sorry for the loss of Puffin. Its sad. Hope she can be salvaged
I hope there’s a conversation eventually about the type of drogue he was carry (JSD?) and why he didn’t deploy it when it was still possible. From his description, it sounds like the drogue would have prevented the disaster, as it has in other situations. 😅
Good he made it back - Room with a more pronounced echo? They believe Puffin has sunk.
Why no drogue?
06:00 too much East!
Sound quality guys :(
He has aged.
Amazing seamanship, and rescue, this tradewind 35 is a strong boat, keep him safe in 80-90knot storm unbeliveble 👍🤙