In 1986, a lone man made the commitment to sail a VALIANT 47 singlehanded around the world in one
of the most formidable and challenging long distance races known to man, the B.O.C.
Inaugurated in 1982 as the ultimate test of singlehanded sailing, this 1st B.O.C.
challenge saw 17 entrants from 8 different nations, square off against the ferocity of the elements
and the nature of man within, alone and by himself. These courageous sailors set off from Newport,
Rhode Island to sail the oceans of the world, spanning 27,000 miles around the world, with stops
in four different continents.
The 1986 B.O.C. Challenge
saw 56 boats entered from around the world, including 23 from the U.S. and one of the American
singlehanded sailors, Mark Schrader, choosing a VALIANT 47', a Texas built yacht, which he
appropriately named "LONESTAR". On August 30, 1986, only 25 entries of the original 56 were on
the starting line of a race that would send each solo singlehanded sailor off to the vast oceans
of the world. Eight months later, only 16 of these boats crossed the finish line of this oceanic
marathon, and the VALIANT 47 "LONESTAR" was one of these boats! Schrader chose the VALIANT 47 to
defy the seas and the elements, because of the confidence he gained when successfully sailing a
VALIANT 40 on a previous single handed circumnavigation. He knew that what he needed to compete
in the B.O.C. Challenge, was something bigger, faster, and better...what else but a VALIANT 47, a
world class yacht to be reckoned with!
Jan and Rich Worstell, owners of
CEDAR MILLS MARINA AND RESORT, and the manufacturer of VALIANT YACHTS, (which is manufactured on
Lake Texoma in the small community of Gordonville, Texas), sponsored "LONESTAR" and worked diligently
to make this event happen...a sailing event of worldwide prominence.
"The VALIANT 47 was chosen to compete because of it's strength...a stronger boat can stand the
punishment and win", said Worstell. The hull and deck were from the stock molds, but there were
major modifications to the interior, resulting in overall weight savings so important in an event
of this type.
With the combination of Rich Worstell's team of knowledgeable
and experienced shipwrights, and his efforts on behalf of this lone-star sailor, and with the
encouragement and participation of the CEDAR MILLS YACHT CLUB, its members and friends, it was,
that this Texas born yacht sailed its first trip around the world in a widely publicized media
event. Having battled icebergs, horrendous waves and screaming winds of the most challenging of earth's
enclaves, the ocean...the "LONESTAR" completed it's circumnavigation as the only American
production vessel to complete the entire 8 month,
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27,000 mile race without and significant damage,
failure or event requiring any major repairs!
As if the success and
fame garnered by VALIANT YACHTS & "LONESTAR" was not enough, today as we go to press, the "COMMITMENT"
goes ON!
This well-known VALIANT 47 is again making history, with even
greater press coverage and as a singularly more important event than before. After an exhaustive
search, Mr. Bill Pinkney of Chicago, Illinois, found the ONLY boat that he felt was equal to the
challenge he envisioned, purchased "LONESTAR", and renamed it "COMMITTMENT". "COMMITTMENT" is
currently sailing again on a solo circumnavigation, this time by the first African American to
circumnavigate, passing some of the world's most difficult landfalls...the major capes of the world!
Mr. Pinkney has set a 27,000 mile course that will take him around the five southern most capes,
South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin in Australia, Southwest Cape in Tasmania, Stewart
Island Cape in New Zealand and Cape Horn, below Tierra del Fuego, at the tip of South America.
While he is physically sailing the world alone, he is in the constant
company of thousands of school children, via a satelite hookup and a monthly classroom newspaper
reaching 75,000 pupils throughout the Chicago school system (his hometown), and an additional
21,000 children in Indiana. These kids are following his progress, day by day, communicating
directly with him via his onboard computer, and learning about the people, languages and customs
he will encounter at his stopovers along his route.
In his words, Bill Pinkney is trying to "give something back", and by doing
something significant, showing black children that they can achieve what they dream, and above all,
to send a positive message to all kids about meeting challenges and persevering toward a goal, he
feels that he is indeed saying "thank you" for all of life's many rewards to him!
The VALIANT YACHT home office at CEDAR MILLS MARINA AND RESORT is in touch with Bill
onboard "COMMITMENT" through a network of dedicated sailors around the world. "The boat is holding
up exceptionally well to the challenge of the seas and responds beautifully", came the quote this
week from his wife, Ina, who is monitoring his voyage from their home-base in Chicatgo.
IBM supplied Mr. Pinkney with an onboard computer, Motorola donated electronics,
Hormel sent canned foods and Ciba-Geigy (all offshore sailors recognize this name as "the ear dot")
provided him medicine.
There has been national attention given to this
endeavor, with a 4 page spread in the November 26th issue of People Magazine, and an article in
the November 29th issue of U.S.A. Today, and a recent editorial in Sailing Magazine.
Rich Worstell, VALIANT YACHTS, the CEDAR MILLS YACHT CLUB, and all the people of Texas
are again saying "Good Luck" to this courageous man with the VALIANT "COMMITMENT"...we are all
cheering you on!!!
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