Gunnar Christensen, Offshore Racing vs Offshore Cruising

Gunnar Christensen is an entrant in the 2026 Golden Globe Race. He owns a Hans Christen 34 and is also a professional sailor and skipper of racing sailboats.

We talk about his Baltic 42, a Southerly 42, The Bahamas, the value of a swing-keel, RORC races Gunnar has been competing in, racing a Farr 60, how seamanship differs between racers and cruisers, how racing boats are less forgiving than cruising boats, surfing at 15 knots on a J109, the hard work of sailing a J109 downwind, asymmetrical spinnakers vs symmetrical spinnakers, the Fastnet Race, sailplan for sailing downwind in the Hans Christen 34, sailing wing-on-wing, looking and learning when new on a boat, converting racing boats to cruising boats, the Golden Globe Race and finding a title sponsor, rumors of LSO not being the start of the 2026 GGR, the mental challenges of long solo passages, hurricanes, sailing in Maritime Canada, sailing with balanced sails and wheel tied off, getting seasick, self-tacking staysails, reefing, meditation and how it can help an offshore sailor, and more.

photos and links can be found on the shownotes page

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