Solo circumnavigation of the globe. Fewer than 300 sailors in history have accomplished it, less than the number of people who have climbed Mt. Everest, or even those who have gone to space. In 1990, Istvan Kopar set out to earn his place among this elite fraternity—and to do so with only one stop. If he were successful, he would realize a lifelong dream, and bring pride to his home country of Hungary in the process. Yet the risk of failure carried with it the possibility of dying alone in the middle of the vast sea.
Over twenty years ago, Kopar first published the inspiring chronicle of his journey in his native Hungarian. All of his hopes, dreams, and fears coalesced into one word: “Kihivas”—The Challenge. Now, Kihivas: Alone at the Ends of the Earth brings this thrilling story to an English-speaking readership for the first time.
Kopar recounts every element of his adventure, from custom building his own 31-foot yacht, Salammbo, to battling the legendary waves of the Roaring Forties. His narrative is interspersed with proud descriptions of Hungary’s impressive maritime heritage, even as a landlocked country, and heartfelt portrayals of the memories that kept him going as he faced thousands of miles of lonely ocean. Experience a glimpse into the struggles, thrills, and insights known only to those who dare to pursue the greatest of challenges—alone at the ends of the earth.
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About the Author
Istvan Kopar was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1953. Despite growing up in a landlocked country behind the Iron Curtain, Kopar was determined to be a sailor and a circumnavigator. At age 17, he joined the merchant marine, working for MAHART (Hungarian Shipping Company), 1971-1984. Kopar traveled the world over the course of his career, and has stated that he “lost count after visiting over 100 different countries.”
Kopar started his own marina/charter operation and sailing school in Europe in the 1980s. He was an operational manager of the biggest vessel recovery company in the U.S. from 2000 to 2010. He has taught at Sea School, Fort Lauderdale, and is an instructor trainer for U.S. Sailing. He is also a USCG-licensed commercial captain.
Kopar’s proudest accomplishment to date was his solo one-stop circumnavigation of the globe, 1990-1991. He built his own boat for the voyage, Salammbo. Due to his shoestring budget, Kopar sailed without GPS, autopilot, radar, a water-maker, or any heating device. He was forced to rely on the use of a sextant and manual plotting for determining his course, and upon Morse code for weather forecasts. His first book details his adventures on this voyage. After Kopar returned safely home, Salammbo was exhibited at the 1992 World Expo in Seville, Spain, alongside a replica of the Santa Maria, and the U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery.
Kopar holds a B.S. in Maritime Studies from the Technical University of Budapest, as well as a B.S. in Economics/Foreign Trade from the College for Foreign Trade at Budapest. He is fluent both in English and his native Hungarian. Kopar moved to the United States in 1994, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000. He has two adult children, and currently lives with his wife in Boca Raton, Florida. Kopar was recently accepted as an entrant in the Golden Globe Race 2018, a nonstop solo race around the world.
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