After-Dark Boating Gadgets

This long-time BoatUS member intends to become the first American sailor to complete a solo, nonstop, unassisted westbound voyage around the globe.

To most BoatU.S. members, the biggest decision for a day out is whether to cruise, fish, ski – or maybe all the above. For 30-year member Istvan Kopar, the choice came down to which direction to circumnavigate Earth. Kopar set off July 4 from Derecktor Shipyard in Dania Beach, Florida, aboard his Valiant 42 cutter named Surprise, bound for Les Sables d’Olonne, France, where the Golden Globe Race will begin September 6.

There, amid a celebratory send-off in the scenic French port, more than 20 elite solo sailors will depart on an eastward voyage nonstop around the world via the five Great Capes in pursuit of glory and the historic Golden Globe trophy. Shortly after the fleet departs, Kopar will set off with little fanfare – in the other direction.

“I am driven by exploration – of both the world and of myself,” says the Hungarian-born U.S. citizen, who’s already circled the planet by boat three times – twice solo – including flying the BoatU.S. burgee during his eastward circumnavigation in the 2018 Golden Globe Race. “I don’t like to repeat challenges. I’ve already completed the race, and while it was an incredible experience, I’m looking for something new.”

Should he make it around without stopping or needing assistance, Kopar would join select company. “Only eight sailors in history have successfully completed a solo, nonstop, westbound circumnavigation via the Great Capes – and none of them were American or Hungarian,” he explains. “With the 250th Anniversary of the United States [this year], I see this as a meaningful opportunity to contribute to that celebration through a historic and demanding challenge.”

Demanding may be an understatement. The westward route – sailing upwind (the hardest point of sail) against the prevailing winds and currents – is widely regarded as the ultimate offshore sailing endurance challenge. “With favorable conditions and a bit of luck, I estimate returning to Les Sables around March or April 2027,” right around his birthday, says the super-fit 73-year-old.

Nautical Inheritance

“I was born into sailing. My parents and relatives were all part of a sailing club, and we spent our free time around boats. It became a natural part of my life – not just a sport, but a lifestyle,” Kopar reflects on how he grew into a bluewater sailor. “Since Hungary became landlocked after World War II, my early experience was lake sailing. After high school, I joined the Merchant Marine, where sailing evolved from a passion into a profession.”

When job opportunities in the maritime industry brought him to the U.S. in the 1990s, he joined BoatU.S. and US Sailing to integrate into the local boating community. He settled in South Florida for the year-round boating, got married, and raised two children. “A fun day on the water for me often means sharing knowledge – teaching, training, and passing along the passion for boating,” says the former naval officer and sailing instructor. “I am not someone who sits idle. I am performance-oriented by nature and have always been drawn to meaningful challenges. Solo sailing, while extreme, offers independence. Mentally, I’m well adapted to solitude and have felt more alone managing a crewed yacht during a round-the-world race than sailing single-handed. At sea, alone, I feel focused rather than isolated.”

Long Way Home

Kopar’s first U.S. employer was Bob Derecktor, the renowned boatbuilder who constructed the first aluminum America’s Cup race boat back in 1974. He spent two years working at Derecktor’s Dania Beach yard, where their professional relationship grew into a friendship. Because of that connection, the Derecktor family provided a boat slip during Kopar’s extensive refit of Surprise. He spent the spring finishing the refit, including new batteries and sails, installing a new dodger, upgrading solar capacity, adding a wind generator, improving safety equipment, updating electronics, overhauling the rigging, and completing a full bottom job – mostly (and appropriately) doing the hard work solo, which serves two goals when planning a monthslong sail around the world: save money and stay strong. “Physically, the ongoing refit of the boat is already demanding. Beyond that, I swim, go to the gym, and play tennis when time allows.”

As a seasoned singlehanded circumnavigator, Kopar knows solo sailors don’t attract the level of sponsorship of crewed bluewater races. “At this stage, my wife, Eva, is my primary supporter, so provisioning needs to be practical rather than ideal, focusing on durable, high-quality food with a long shelf life,” he explains. Plans include canned salmon, mackerel, and sardines; calorie-rich pemmican (a mix of tallow and dried meat); and freeze-dried meals. Business partners contributing to the effort include sailing component manufacturer Schaefer & Edson Marine; marine coatings specialists Sea Hawk; UK Sailmakers; and various electronics, celestial navigation, and accessory manufacturers.

Kopar has outfitted the 42-foot cutter with a wind generator, solar panels, upgraded self-steering unit, and essential safety equipment such as a life raft, EPIRB, and an Echomax radar transponder supplied by Datrex. “During the voyage I will have Starlink communication onboard, which will allow me to share updates regularly via social media, including Facebook,” he says. “Also onboard will be a Yellowbrick tracking device so people can follow the voyage in near real time.” (koparsailing.com/track-surprise-live)

Follow Kopar and Surprise at ­facebook.com/istvankopar or koparsailing.com. If you’d like to help push Surprise the “wrong way” around the world, there is a “donate” link on the website.