Interest booming for Golden Globe Race

An independent analysis report compiled by Meltwater on media coverage secured during the 2018-19 Golden Globe Race shows that the Race gained US$185m worth of coverage world-wide.

Les Sables d’Olonne, which will be the host start and finish port again in 2022, gained two years of international publicity valued at 16.5m Euros (US$18.08m), and Falmouth, which hosted the pre-Race Suhaili 50 Parade of Sail, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s departure in the original 1986 Sunday Times Golden Globe, and the start of the SITraN Challenge race to Les Sables d’Olonne, gained £1.85m (US$2.38m) from the 3-days of events.

“What a fantastic solid result for a unique original adventure created by a small passionate management team with low budgets,” said Don McIntyre, GGR founder. “It confirms the support and huge following the race concept achieved from ordinary people interested in a simple, back to basics human endeavor. No fluff; just an honest, down-to-earth non-stop solo race around the world that media understand.”

Applications for an invitation to compete in the 2022-23 Golden Globe Race are now available with a new class of strict one design steel replicas of Bernard Moitessier’s famous Golden Globe yacht Joshua having been added for the next edition. Current 2018 style yachts will sail in the Suhaili Class.

Already this second retro solo non-stop round the world race has 22 paid up Suhaili Class entrants representing nine countries. There is one ordinary and five remaining special invitations available in Suhaili Class before a waitlist is started.

The first Joshua Class II one-design yacht is scheduled to launch in 2020. Seven places are available.

• Britain has seven: 58-year old Ertan Beskardes from Bournemouth, Guy Waites (52) currently skippering the yacht Dare to Lead in the Clipper Round the World Race, Ian Herbert-Jones (49) another Clipper Race veteran; John Clarke (47) from Liverpool; 67-year old Robin Davie from Falmouth, and Simon Curwen (67) from Emsworth. The 7th entrant remains anonymous at this stage.
• Australia has 5 entrants: 49-year old Matthew Wright and Michael Davey (58) both from Adelaide, South Australia, Michael Date (57) from Currumbin Waters, Queensland; and Mike Smith (60) building a Suhaili replica in Newcastle, NSW. The 5th entrant wishes to remain anonymous for the moment.
• South Africa has 2 entrants: Jeremy Bagshaw (56) from Simon’s Town; and Kirsten Neuschäfer (37) the first women entrant, from Cape Town.
• USA has 2 entrants: 52-year old Doug Dean from Sandhills, Nebraska and professional sailor Guy deBoer (63)
• Austria: Michael Guggenberger (42)
• Canada: Indian born Gaurav Shinde (32) from London, Ontario
• France: 48-year old Arnaud Gaist takes on the mantle from Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, French winner of the 2018 GGR.
• Italy: 51-year old Guido Cantini.
• Ireland: 63-year old Pat Lawless from Ballyferriter. Co Kerry
• New Zealand: This entrant remains anonymous at this stage.

Seventeen of these skippers are busy preparing their boats while others are moving fast to secure theirs. Boat statistics to date. Rustler 36 (4), Trade Wind 35 (2), and one each of the following: Vancouver 34, Saga 36, Biscay 36,Cape Dory 36, Aries 32, Baba 35, Endurance 35, Nicholson 32, Lello 34, Suhaili Replica, and Barbican 33MKII.

Event details – Entry list – Facebook

Background:
The inaugural Golden Globe Race started for 17 skippers from Les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday July 1, 2018, with the solo non-stop around the world yacht race expected to take 9-10 months to complete.

The event marked the 50th anniversary of the Sunday Times Golden Globe solo non-stop round the world race in 1968-69 when rules then allowed competitors to start from ports in northern France or UK between June 1st and October 31st.

A notable twist to the format was how entrants were restricted to using the same type of yachts and equipment that were available in that first race, with the premise being to keep the race within financial reach of every dreamer.

The rules allowed for one breach of the strict solo, non-stop un-assisted circumnavigation without the aid of modern electronic navigation aids regulations that make this Race unique. However, those that do moved down to the Chichester Class as if, like Sir Francis Chichester in 1966-67, they have made one stop during their solo circumnavigation.

Those who breached the rules for a second time are deemed to have retired from the GGR Event and the organisers have no responsibility or obligation to them.

For changes to the 2022-23 edition, click here.

Source: GGR