Ari Huusela, is the Super Happy Sailor of Vendée Globe 2020. He did not grow up in a sailboat. In fact, Ari began to systematically develop his sailing skills only at the age of 24. For this Finnish skipper from Helsinki the home waters are in the Baltic Sea.
First MiniTransat Ari finished in 1999 and the second in 2007. Then in 2014 came Route du Rhum with his Pogo40 and in 2017 Ari bought Szabi’s current boat ex. Stark, ex. Aviva. While still continuing to work as an airline captain (Airbus 350) at Finnair, he finally started to build real his ultimate dream - the Vendée Globe.
Professional background is definately a benefit for Ari in understanding a sailboat. In his youth Ari worked some years as an airplane mechanic and flew cargo planes before he was accepted in Finnair Flight Academy. With the captain’s hat on, he kind of sails in the air. Only the airplane wing is horizontal, while a sailboat’s wing is set up vertically.
Ari has always finished all the ocean races he has participated. With his IMOCA Stark Ari raced Route du Rhum 2018, Bermudes Race 2019, Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 and then the Vendée Globe 2020 which put his personal limits to a test unlike any of his adventures before that.
Last years have been pure joy for Ari. He still continues his career at Finnair but besides that flies Pilatus PC-12 and floatplanes at his freetime. Sailing has shifted to the cruising mode and in winters he enjoys ski randonnee in Lapland and in Northern Norway where he loves to go with his camper van.
IMOCA Globe Series Races
2020/2021: Vendée Globe
2019: Bermudes 1000 Race, IMOCA, France – Douarnenez – 2000NM – Brest
2019: Transat Jacques Vabre, IMOCA, France – Brazil (double-handed, co-skipper: Mikey Ferguson)
2018: Route du Rhum, IMOCA, France – Guadeloupe, the Caribbean
Short-handed races across the Atlantic
2014: Route du Rhum, Pogo40, France – Guadeloupe, the Caribbean
2007: Transat 650, Classe Mini, France – Madeira – Salvador da Bahia, Brazil
1999: Mini Transat, Classe Mini, France – Lanzarote – Guadeloupe, the Caribbean