Start times set for Global Solo Challenge
Published on July 19th, 2023
The Global Solo Challenge (GSC), the unique around-the-world, non-stop, solo sailing event, has confirmed the start dates for all participants from A Coruña, Spain.
The GSC has been designed to provide sailors with an affordable and well-organized event, with the pursuit format having start times from August 26, 2023 to January 6, 2024. The boats are grouped by performance characteristics and released in successive departures with the first boat to cross the finish line in A Coruña declared the winner.
The Global Solo Challenge is open to a broad spectrum of vessels, from 32-foot classic long keel cruisers to more contemporary cruiser/racers, including one-off open designs and racing boats such as Class40s, Open 50s, and Open 60s. To create a spirit of inclusivity and respect for the environment, the organizers of the event have discouraged the construction of boats specifically for the event.
Based on the boats’ ratings, the first boats to start are expected to take around 202 days to complete their circumnavigation. Meanwhile, the fastest boats will depart 133 days later and are anticipated to be able to complete their journey in just 69 days. Within these extremes, the largest group of participants, comprising Class 40s and Open 40s, is predicted to set sail on October 28 and are aiming to finish in approximately 139 days.
Based on their start times and predicted performance, every boat is, in theory, set to finish their circumnavigation on March 15, 2024.
The first entrants to depart are Dafydd Hughes aboard his S&S 34 Bendigedig and Ivan Dimov on his Endurance 37 Blue Ibis. The last skipper to depart is Volkan Kaan Yemlihaoğlu on his Open 70 Black Betty. In total, twenty participants from around the world will take part in this inaugural event.
The Global Solo Challenge truly embodies the spirit of international sportsmanship, with the diverse roster of skippers hailing from around the world. Representing a vast array of nationalities, including the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Belgium, France, Finland, the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, and Turkey, these skippers bring a unique blend of sailing traditions, tactics, and cultural richness to the event.