Mike Plant

Mike Plant

Plant aboard Coyote in Oct 1992 (Billy Black)
Personal information
Birth name Mike Plant III
Nationality American
Born (1950-11-21)November 21, 1950
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Died 1992 (age 42)
Sailing career
Class(es) Open 50, Open 60

Mike Plant (November 21, 1950 – 1992) was an American single-handed yachtsman. He competed in the BOC Challenge and the Vendée Globe, a single-handed non-stop race around the world. After five years of single-handed sailing, he logged over 100,000 miles at sea and set the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation by an American, with a time of 135 days.[1][2] In 1992, Plant was preparing to compete in his second Vendée Globe and fourth single-handed circumnavigation aboard Coyote, a powerful Open 60 sloop, and was lost at sea while delivering Coyote from New York Harbor to Les Sables-d'Olonne, France for the starting line. Coyote was found 32 days later, turtled, without the 8,400 lead bulb that should have been attached to the keel.[3] At the time of his death, Plant was one of only five people to have completed three solo circumnavigations, joining Bertie Reed, Guy Bernardin, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede and Philippe Jeantot.[1] On September 6, 2002, Plant was inducted into The Single-Handed Sailing Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.[1]

Mike Plant was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 21, 1950, the third of Frank Plant Jr. and Mary Kennedy's five children. He spent his childhood in the Minneapolis suburb of Deephaven on the shores of Lake Minnetonka.[4] At the age of 9, Plant began sailing X boats at Minnetonka Yacht Club, and by the age of 14, aboard Lucky Strike, had twice won the Interlake Regatta, the biggest regatta in the area, in which the top five boats from each of the large lakes in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin competed at the end of the summer.[4] After many adventures in his 20s, including trekking the length of South America (12,000 miles), Plant moved to Jamestown, Rhode Island, where he would later find his passion for single-handed sailing.[4]

Sailing achievements

Mike Plant Memorial Fund

After his death, the Mike Plant Memorial Fund was created at the Wayzata Community Sailing Center, located on Lake Minnetonka in Wayzata, Minnesota, to provide sailing experiences for children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to sail. Scholarships are available through the fund.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 The Museum of Yachting Retrieved March 27, 2013
  2. "Celebrating a Sailor's Adventurous Spirit", Lakeshore Weekly News, September 9, 2006. Retrieved March 27, 2013
  3. Mystery at Sea Sports Illustrated, November 30, 1992. Retrieved March 27, 2013
  4. 1 2 3 4 Plant, Julia. Coyote Lost at Sea: The Story of Mike Plant, America’s Daring Solo Circumnavigator. (March 5, 2013)
  5. 1 2 Roger Martin Design Retrieved March 27, 2013
  6. 1 2 3 VELUX 5 Oceans Race (BOC Challenge) Official Website Retrieved March 27, 2013
  7. Feat of Global Dimensions Sports Illustrated, April 21, 1986. Retrieved March 28, 2013
  8. Excerpt from Broken Seas by Marlin Bree Retrieved October 8, 2013
  9. Mike Plant Memorial Fund
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