Sep 12, 2022
The Golden Globe Race (GGR) on 4 September 2022 and the Ocean Globe Race (OGR) in 2023 are two eco-friendly, inclusive and retro round the world yacht races. Both races are anchored in sustainability, diversity, international participation and are extreme human challenges. They are held over a period of 9 months, one year apart, for a total cycle of 3 years of media and public interest.
The third edition of the Golden Globe Race started on 4 September from Les Sables-d'Olonne (France). The only round the world race without technical assistance and without geolocation, with the same tools as during its first edition, held in 1968. It is undoubtedly the toughest single-handed round the world yacht race ever sailed, as it does not use electronics. It is considered to be the longest sporting event in the world, as the participants need between 210 and 250 days to complete the round-the-world race, and will cover 30,000 miles along the eastern route of the great capes.
In this Golden Globe Race, 26 skippers of 11 different nationalities are taking part, being a totally international event with skippers from: America, Australia, England, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South America, South Africa, Spain, Saint Martin and Sweden. For the first time a Spanish boat will be taking part, the Onsoro, a Rustler 36 skippered by the naval engineer Aleix Sellés. In addition, the South African Kirsten Neuschäfer, on board her boat 'Minnehaha', is taking part in this regatta. She is the only female participant.
The average age of the participants this year is 55. The youngest is 27 and the oldest is 68. The OGR is crewed, so collectively we have approximately 2000 people, making it a truly mixed and multinational event.
Among the 16, 4 skippers had already participated in the regatta 4 years ago, 2 of whom finished and the others had to drop out.
2018 was the year of the return of the Golden Globe Race which sailed from the same place in France celebrating the 50th anniversary of this legendary race. It was in 1968-1969 that the Golden Globe Challenge took place for the first time, the first non-stop, single-handed round the world race in history. It was Robin Knox-Johnston's victory and Bernard Moitessier's incredible adventure that has subsequently inspired generations of sailors.
In 2018, the victory taken by Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (73 years old at the time) after 212 days at sea aroused great enthusiasm on the quays of Les Sables-d'Olonne and among all ocean racing enthusiasts. This year, the date has been postponed slightly to 4 September to try to ensure that conditions are more forgiving for the sailors, particularly during their crossings of the South Seas.
The Ocean Globe Race (OGR2023) will take to the high seas in 2023, following the same route as the great father of offshore crewed racing events, the 1973 Whitbread Race.
The Ocean Globe Race is a race that aims to recall the style of the classic regattas and return to traditional sailing, with boats from the 70s and 80s, non-professional crews and astronomical navigation, with no means of geolocation. The race will leave Europe in September 2023 and will sail around the world in 4 legs over 7 months, sailing south of the mythical capes of Good Hope in South Africa, Lewin in Australia and Hornos in South America.
This means that, after almost 30 years, the opportunity has returned not only to inspire the ordinary sailors of the world, but for those sailors to sign up and sail the race. It will start on 10 September 2023 for a fleet currently comprising 22 yachts representing 14 countries.
The Golden Globe Race (GGR) is a solo, non-stop, round the world race, while the Ocean Globe Race (OGR) is a crewed, port-stop, round the world race with three different classes of yachts. Both races are anchored in sustainability, diversity, international participation and are extreme human challenges. They are held over a period of 9 months, one year apart, for a total cycle of 3 years of media and public interest. The sailor and Mother Nature. Sailing, and these regattas, are the epitome of ecology, zero carbon and sustainability.
Ordinary people, doing the extraordinary. Man and woman against mother nature.