KATKO is supporting Viivi Moisio in her preparations for the Globe 5.80 Transat, taking place in autumn 2026. In the race, competitors sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean in a 5.8-metre Class Globe 5.80 boat that they have built themselves.

Viivi’s dream of crossing the Atlantic has developed over many years. Her previous sailing projects have strengthened both her passion for the sport and her desire to take on something even bigger. Preparing for the challenge has required dedicated work, with the project gradually progressing from planning and boat construction to final preparations and race training.

 

A Passion for Sailing That Grew Over Time

Viivi first tried sailing at the age of eight at a dinghy sailing camp. However, she was far from enthusiastic about the sport. However, when her older brother became interested in sailing, Viivi decided to give it another chance. Her real passion didn't ignite until she received a set of orange sailing gear.

Having the right equipment proved to be a turning point. Since then, she has spent every summer competing and training. Through years of determined practice, she has pursued her goal of finding out whether sailing could become her profession.

The Journey Towards the Atlantic Crossing

In 2023–2024, Viivi took part in the Ocean Globe Race, a round-the-world sailing race completed with three stopovers. During the preparations for that project, she realised it would not be the final achievement of her sailing career. Instead, it inspired her to take on even greater challenges and sparked the idea of crossing the Atlantic solo.

"I wanted to create something that was completely my own and try something entirely new to me: solo sailing."

Viivi ordered the hull of her boat, Flow, from the Netherlands, but despite that, the project has involved an enormous
amount of learning. Building the boat has proven to be the most demanding and challenging phase of her preparations for the race.

"At times it felt like the boat would never be finished, even though I spent countless hours and days in the workshop."

Whenever progress has felt slow, Viivi has focused on completing small tasks from her to-do list. Seeing even small
achievements has helped her stay motivated and maintain a sense that the project is moving forward.

After months of persistent work, Flow is now nearing completion. The focus has shifted to fine-tuning the boat, spending
as much time on the water as possible, and investing in safety equipment ahead of the race. Above all, Viivi's motivation has never been higher.

"I want to give it everything I've got," she says.

Growing as a Person Through Sailing

For Viivi, sailing has been about much more than just developing her skills at sea. It has also shaped her as a person.

Sailing has taught Viivi responsibility from an early age. Since childhood, she has learned to ensure that both her equipment and her boat are fully prepared before heading out onto the water.

The sport has also strengthened her teamwork and leadership skills, particularly through larger projects and in situations where she has served as skipper. She has learned to take responsibility, make decisions under pressure and overcome challenging situations at sea - skills that benefit her both as an athlete and in life beyond sailing.

Equality is one of the values closest to Viivi's heart, and she wants to promote it within the sailing community. She hopes more people will have the confidence to try sailing and discover a meaningful hobby or goal through the sport. She wants to lead by example:

"I want to show that sailing is for everyone, and that anyone can get involved regardless of gender, age or previous experience."

A Partnership That Makes Ambitious Goals Possible

According to Viivi, the most valuable aspects of the partnership with KATKO are mutual trust and a shared commitment to delivering a demanding project. In solo sailing, safety is crucial, making genuine and practical support from partners invaluable.

"Sponsorship allows me to focus entirely on my preparations and on the race itself. KATKO has supported my project in a very concrete way by providing all of my essential safety equipment, which has been a significant contribution to the success of the entire project," Viivi explains.

The Globe 5.80 Transat is far more than a sailing race - it's a comprehensive challenge. According to Markus Hyryläinen, CEO of KATKO Oy, the project's ambition, courage and demanding nature make it a natural fit for KATKO.

"We are honoured to support Viivi in this exceptional project. Success requires not only the ability to sail in demanding
conditions, but also resourcefulness, craftsmanship and the confidence to trust a boat you have built yourself. Viivi truly embodies KATKO's Built For What Can't Fail mindset. We wish her every success and safe miles across the Atlantic."

Looking Ahead

At the moment, Viivi's primary goal is to win the upcoming race. Even more important to her, however, is the feeling of pushing her own limits and achieving something with her own hands and skills.

Viivi believes that the Globe 5.80 Transat will not be the final chapter of her sailing career. Instead, she sees it as a stepping stone towards even more demanding international offshore races and the opportunity to develop further as part of a professional sailing team.

Everyone at KATKO wishes Viivi the very best for the final stages of building Flow and for the race ahead. We look forward to following her journey.

 

 

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