Howard Rice
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Howard Rice sailed and paddled a sailing canoe solo around Cape Horn, Chile considered historically to be the Mount Everest of sailing challenges. Articles about his expedition have appeared in Outside Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Yachting Magazine, many international newspapers and is referenced in numerous books on the subject of ocean kayaking and canoe sailing.
He utilized a Klepper folding canoe often referred to as a Sailing Canoe in 1989-1990. His epic expedition covered three and a half months solo in Tierra Del Fuego battling winter conditions, snow, sleet and ice storms. HIs route took him down the Beagle Channel through the Wollaston Island group to Isla Hornos and back as far west as Timbales in the western Beagle Channel. He prepared for the effort by extensive training for two years including sessions with world renowned ocean kayaker Eric Stiller including numerous canoe sailing trips in extreme winter conditions. His training with Eric Stiller included paddling and sailing the Hudson River in New York in winter conditions at times with temperatures below zero. Other training venues included Key West Florida with US Army Special Forces and Navy SEAL MAROPS groups whom he worked with as an instructor in small boat handling techniques and Marine operations.
He is the first and only person to have solo paddle/sailed east to west and west to east, doubling Cape Horn. His journey is considered one of the epic roundings of Cape Horn as his boat is both the first sailing canoe and the smallest boat on record to have made the voyage. He battled high winds and heavy seas, two capsizes and injury requiring medical attention in Argentina. On Cape Horn he experienced winds in excess of 90 mph and was forced to await his rounding until conditions improved. Howard Rice was awarded a certificate of merit commemorating his feat by the Armada de Chile (Chilean Navy) at Puerto Williams Chile in March 1990 as the first solo sail kayak/canoe to successfully round Cape Horn. Previous to his Cape Horn expedition he made numerous open ocean voyages in small boats including both sailing canoes and cruising dinghies. Since the rounding of Cape Horn he has continued ocean sailing in small boats with the focus on sailing canoes. Howard Rice currently resides in the Federated States of Micronesia and is an Associate Professor at the College of Micronesia-FSM. He continues to be a leading influence in international small boat development, sailing canoe design, building and use. He has a background as a member of the IOC, IYRU, US Olympic Committee and has officiated numerous World, US National, Caribbean, European and other sailing championships including Olympic games.
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