Feature

Inaugural Ocean Globe Race underway

Published on September 10th, 2023

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first crewed around the world race, 14 iconic yachts with 144 sailors crossed the start line on September 10 for the 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race (OGR) in Southampton, England.

When registration closed there were 219 crew – 157 men and 62 women – representing 23 nationalities listed to compete over the four legs.

The first leg extends 6650 miles to Cape Town, South Africa. With seven former Whitbread yachts amongst the fleet, the OGR has its roots firmly in sailing history but now also looking to the future for sailors chasing adventure and a life less ordinary.

Before the start, the crews surrendered all modern technology for the next 40+ days. The OGR, a retro race in the spirit of the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, means no computers, no GPS, and no high-tech materials. Sextants and paper charts will guide those taking on the infamous Cape Horn, southern oceans, and brain melting doldrums.

At 13:00, the Royal Yacht Squadron cannons signaled the start of the much-anticipated race. The rain stopped, the sun came out, and the wind blew just enough. With a one knot tide ebbing westerly for the first hour and a East, North Easterly wind blowing 10 knots, tactics were crucial.

Brian Hancock, OGR race commentator, sailed in the 1981 Whitbread on Alaska Eagle and in the 1985 edition race on Drum. He was on the startline and understood exactly what this race means to people.

“I did this race when I was just a nipper and it feels exactly the same today. The same enthusiasm, the same spirit, it’s just spectacular. The start was great, no problems, no incidents. It really, really feels like we’re back in the 1970s.” Said by Brian.

The first boats are expected to finish by October 9-21, 2023.

Event information – Race rules – Entry list – Tracker

2023-24 Ocean Globe Race:
FIRST LEG: Start 10 September 2023. 6650 miles. First boats finish 9-21 October 2023.
SECOND LEG: Start 5 November 2023. 6650 miles. First boats finish 14-23 December 2023.
THIRD LEG: Start 14 January 2024. 8370 miles. First boats finish 9-18 February 2024.
FOURTH LEG: Start 5 March. 5430 miles. Finish 1-10 April 2024.

The 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race (OGR) is a fully crewed, retro race, in the spirit of the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, marking the 50th Anniversary of the original event. Starting in Southampton (UK) on September 10, the OGR is a 27,000-mile sprint around the Globe, divided into four legs that passes south of the three great Capes. The fleet is divided in three classes with stop-overs in Cape Town, South Africa; Auckland, New Zealand; and Punta del Este, Uruguay before returning to Southhampton in April 2024.