One year to go for Golden Globe Race

The third edition of the round-the-world yacht Golden Globe Race will set off in 2022 on September 4 from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France. With 26 skippers of 11 different nationalities, the race is the only solo non-stop round-the-world yacht race without technical assistance and without GPS, using the same equipment as the first race in 1968.

Les Sables-d’Olonne’s beautiful setting has become the world capital of solo ocean racing, hosting many iconic races such as the Vendée Globe and Mini-Transat.

It was in 1968-69 that the Golden Globe Challenge took place, the first solo, non-stop, round-the-world race in history. Robin Knox-Johnston’s victory and Bernard Moitessier’s incredible adventure inspired generations of sailors, convinced that the sea could be an incredible playground for dreams and self-sacrifice.

In 2018 saw the return of the Golden Globe Race, which marked the 50th anniversary of this iconic contest. Eighteen skippers took part with a format that sought to match the conditions of the first edition, with competitors unable to use modern technical assistance such as GPS navigation.

The victory by Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (73 years old at the time) took 212 days at sea and had aroused a striking enthusiasm on the pontoons of Les Sables-d’Olonne and among all the ocean racing enthusiasts. The impact of this last edition inspired the organizers to make a long-term commitment to the race.

The start date for the third edition has been slightly shifted to help ensure milder conditions for the sailors, particularly during their crossing of the southern seas.

While the race will retain its core ethos, several new features will enable all those who are curious to experience the adventure more closely. Thus, five points of passage have been established so that the skippers can transmit photos and videos of their adventure. In addition, there will be weekly interviews with the media as well as a monthly Facebook live, during which the public will be able to talk directly to the sailors.

Finally, a virtual regatta will allow all those who want to, to experience the race in their own setting, throughout the skippers’ circumnavigation.

Event details – Entry list – Facebook

Source: GGR