American Power Systems is sending its good wishes to Ronnie Simpson, a 38-year-old professional racing sailor and the skipper of the Open 50 Shipyard Brewing racing yacht, who is about to compete in the first-ever Global Solo Challenge, a single-handed non-stop sailing race around the world. Under the guidance of Bruce Schwab and our expert marine partners at Ocean Planet Energy, we are proud to support Ronnie along his journey with an APS high-output alternator and WS500 regulator, which effectively more than doubled the ability to produce 12-volt power from the racing yacht’s 20 hp Beta diesel engine.
Ronnie, a US Marine deployed overseas, found renewed purpose when he returned home after being injured at age 19 in Iraq. According to him:
“Sailing saved my life, it really did. When I came back from Iraq, aside from my physical injuries, I became aware that I didn’t care if I lived or died, that I wasn’t happy in life … that I wasn’t fulfilled in life. And as soon as I started sailing there was a lot of therapeutic benefit to being on the water, but also there was this inspirational benefit of ‘Oh, this is my goal; I’m going to accomplish that goal.’”
As a combat-wounded and medically retired US Marine and Iraq war veteran who has sailed more than 140,000 miles at sea, Ronnie will be sailing to raise money and awareness for US Patriot Sailing, a 501c3 veterans’ sailing non-profit organization.
“Ronnie’s journey is so inspiring; it was an easy ‘yes’ when Bruce (Schwab) from Ocean Planet reached out,” said Amy Lank, American Power Systems President & CEO. “Bruce and his team have been great ambassadors for our products throughout the years, and we know that Ronnie was in great hands during the electrical charging upgrade. We’re rooting for him all the way!”
To see a walkthrough of the electrical charging upgrades, watch this Instagram Reel.
Learn more about Ronnie’s journey, get updates and track his progress as he sets sail from A Coruña, Spain on Saturday, Oct. 28, at ronniesimpsonracing.com.
