He is racing in a 1986 built Tradewind 35 Puffin.
Which he bought in 2015 to refit for the GGR.
He says of the GGR:
“This race custom-made for me".
His hero and role model is Joshua Slocum.
The first recorded solo circumnavigator.
Saying "He was the real deal"
Istvan compares competitors in the Vendee Globe or Volvo races to astronauts with their reliance on technology.
Saying that
"There is still a place for optimists during our upbringing and training period".
"And for the very same reason we need races like the GGR".
"It has a mission, in my view.
One of our responsibilities is to maintain our heritage
and seamanship,.
As well as to increase the number of
self-sufficient, independent,
and consequently happy people in the world.”