CAPTAIN GEORGI GEORGIEV AND YACHT “COR CAROLLI”
The first Bulgarian solo round-the-world voyage was accomplished by Captain Georgi Georgiev. During the period 1976-1977, he made a full circle around the Earth under the sails of the yacht “Cor Carolli“.
Captain Gueorgi Gueorgiev (1930-1980) was born in the city of Kardzhali. In the early 1950s, he was among the founders of the first Sofia yacht club „Academic“ near Gorni Pasarel. He became the republican sailing champion. In the early 1970s, G. Gueorgiev was one of the founders of the yacht club “Port Varna”, which after his death bore his name. In the period 1974-1975, he led the voyage with the yachts “Vega” and “Sirius” in the Black Sea to Batumi and Odessa.
In 1976, he was the Bulgarian participant in transatlantic regatta for solo sailor OSTAR (Observer Singlehanded Trans-Atlantic Race).The sailing was with yacht “Cor Carolli ” (translated from Latin as Heart of Charles – after the name of the brightest star in the northern constellation of “Hunting dogs ”). The start of OSTAR’76 was in Plymouth, Great Britain , and the finish-New Port, USA. One hundred and twenty-five participants started. Gueorgi Gueorgiev ranked 37 in order of arrival of 73 finishers.
With the same yacht on 20 December 1976 he embarked on a solo circumnavigation of the world. He started from Havana, through the Panama Canal, the Marquesas Islands in the Pacific Ocean, the Fiji Island, and Australian port of Darwin. From there, he headed to Cape Town, crossed the South Atlantic, and ended up back in Havana. The voyage was accompanied by many risky moments, tests of the physics, seamanship, and psyche of the only crew member. His achievement of 24 500 miles in 201 days, 21 hours and 36 minutes was written in the Guinness Book of Records( 1981-1982 edition) as the best result in the world for this class of yachts.
By decree of the State Council of People’s Republic of Bulgaria dated December 26, 1977, G. Gueorgiev was awarded the title “Hero of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria” and “Foreign Going Master”. In the same year became the number 1 sportsman of Bulgaria, as well as honorary citizen of Varna and Kardzhali.
A 25 000-ton bulk carrier of Shipping Company Navigation Maritime Bulgare was named in his honour. In 1980, in memory of Captain Gueorgi Gueorgiev, the transitional Golden Globe Award „Cor Carolli” was established, which is awarded for the best Bulgarian sailing achievement during the year.
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Key details of the yacht “Cor Carolli”:
Type – “Carter-30”
Built – Poland, 1975
Hull – fibreglass
Length – 9,07 m.
Width – 3,08 m.
Draft – 1,52 m.
Displacement – 3320 t
Auxiliary engine – 10 hp
Sail area-55 sq. m.
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“The awards given for this voyage, I do not accept as something individual. They are addresses to all Bulgarian seamen, to all Bulgarian sailors…”
G. Georgiev in the film “Around the World in 202 Days”
