Four years after a self-steering failure forced him to stop in Cape Town, French skipper Damien Guillou is returning to the Golden Globe Race aboard the same Rustler 36—rebuilt, reinforced and ready for another attempt.
Step aboard SOLAREM for an exceptionally detailed tour of Damien’s GGR 2026 setup.
Damien explains his revised headsail and spinnaker inventory, reinforced mast, deliberately oversized polyester running rigging, protected cockpit and original hard dodger—which was already fitted for the 2022 race and has therefore been granted a dispensation for GGR 2026.
He also reveals the completely redesigned Hydrovane mounting created after his previous retirement, his solar and hydrogenerator systems, SSB radio, live-video cameras, paper navigation equipment, 600-litre water supply, carbon-filtration system—and an incredible 800 desserts!
The interview is in French with English subtitles. English sections include French subtitles.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Don, Seb and Damien introduce the tour
00:40 Returning aboard the same Rustler 36
01:47 Headsails and sail-plan changes
04:15 Spinnaker inventory
05:57 Reinforced mast and rigging
07:25 Why the ropes are deliberately designed as “fuses”
09:40 Lines led aft beneath the hard dodger
10:16 Why Damien’s hard dodger is allowed
11:48 Custom solar-panel installation
13:42 The redesigned Hydrovane mounting
16:20 Third Hydrovane safety arm
17:32 Inside the protected cockpit
19:32 Steering together with the Hydrovane
22:34 Starlink, antennas and hydrogenerator
24:46 Why SSB radio is essential
25:38 Damien’s fabric “anemometer”
27:06 GGR live-video camera system
28:48 Chart table and satellite phone
31:16 Music and navigation technology from 1968
33:12 Cameras for life aboard
34:17 Storage and moving weight to windward
36:28 600 litres of drinking water
38:21 Water tank and carbon filtration
40:30 Damien’s favourite seat
41:28 Long-term food strategy
44:03 Improving life aboard
44:43 Forepeak and watertight bulkhead
46:53 The compass Damien watches while sleeping
48:52 Final words
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