The Journey - Lasse & 'Voxeværk'

The Journey is a portrait series that brings you closer to the Garmin Round Denmark Race. We follow sailors from different backgrounds, with different boat types and dreams, giving insight into their journey — both physically and mentally. The series is a collection of personal stories showing what drives them, the challenges they face, and the moments that leave lasting impressions.

Each portrait in the series is a small story about dedication, teamwork, and experiences at sea. We want to inspire future participants and give a vivid insight into what awaits them when they embark on this unique sailing adventure.

Welcome to “The Journey: A solo sailor’s experience around Denmark” — a window into Lasses Garmin Round Denmark Race 2025 in his X-99 'Voxeværk'.

Lasse Poulsen, 67 years old, is an experienced sailor who shares his passion for sailing with his wife Hanne. He has sailed since childhood but took a break of about 15 years to focus on horse riding. As a young man, he sailed various dinghies and keelboats, including Banner 28 racers and X79. Lasse has owned his X-99 for over eight years, a boat he has always considered his dream boat.

Motivation for joining

For Lasse, the Garmin Round Denmark Race is about the challenge and the experience.

"I have talked for years about what a great challenge it would be. This year it was possible timewise, and therefore my wife encouraged me to go for it."

Challenges along the way

Lasse describes the race as fantastic but with some challenges.

"We had predominantly good and warm sailing weather, but north of Grenaa we experienced a few tough hours with thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong gusts. While changing my rain-soaked underwear, I thought: ‘This is going to be a long trip.’ The crossing from Ertholmene to Nexø was also challenging, as the wind and relatively large waves didn’t match. This gave the autopilot difficulties, so on that stretch I was tied to the helm."

Memorable moments

For Lasse, the social side of the race stands out most.

"The social aspect of the race is the thing I remember most. Sailors enjoyed themselves before and after sailing. It led to new friendships. Many participants were returners from Silverrudder, and the shared experience of GRDR naturally brought us together across borders."

What he learned about himself

Lasse learned something important:

"That Voxeværk and I are still not too old."

Advice for future participants

One thing is key for Lasse, when asked to share his advice.

"Race planning is important. Keep track of the weather reports continuously, and plan breaks according to wind and weather. Try to manage your own physical energy so you have strength all the way around. Many compare GRDR and Silverrudder, but I think that is difficult. Silverrudder is a long hectic sprint, while GRDR is a ‘long race’ where endurance and steady effort play a major role. It’s important to manage your energy so you still have some left at the end. On a solo Denmark round trip, there are long legs for self-steering. On my trip I managed to fry steaks and read a bit of the book Better Half Old than Dead by Ulf Pilgaard."

One sentence to describe Garmin Round Denmark Race

"A fantastic, educational, exciting, and manageable challenge. (It’s no circumnavigation)."

Lasse Poulsen’s story shows that the Garmin Round Denmark Race is not just a regatta but a personal journey full of challenges, camaraderie, and memories for life. His experience is an inspiration to future participants that the challenge is worth taking.

Get your entry fee for GRDR26 now with a 25% discount, when using the code "GRDR25OFF" here: https://www.garminrounddenmarkrace.com/event-details/garmin-round-denmark-race-2026