Sailors and their team managers are heading to the Asturian capital for the Prologue of the GGR from August 6 to 14, when they set-off in the “SITraN Challenge” to Les Sables d’Olonne, and the start of the 2022 GGR on Sept 4th.

The programme includes important safety briefings, and non-attendance will incur time and financial penalties. Some entrants are facing tough decisions in the coming weeks, with two more retiring.

• Gijón is gearing up for an unforgettable prologue and send-off to Les Sables
• Two more retirements, the GGR fleet now set at 16 sailors
• 4 entrants are currently in Asturias, some meeting for the first time
• 9 are leaving from LSO and the UK to make landfall in Gijon this week
• American Elliot Smith will not make Gijon on time, heading directly to Les Sables.

The city of Gijón, host of the GGR prologue, is already welcoming entrants in its waters, while preparing for Semana Grande, the biggest summer festival of Asturias. Skippers and team managers will taste the legendary hospitality and gastronomic heritage of the Asturian capital in between briefings.

South African entry Kirsten Neuschäfer, returning 2018 competitors Ertan Beskardes, Tapio Lehtinen who sailed Asteria from Bilbao, and 2018 retiree Captain Gugg are already in Gijón sharing stories.

American entry Guy DeBoer has not quite made it to Asturias yet, but landed in La Coruña, Galicia, Spain after a fast Atlantic crossing and qualifier in his Tashiba 36 Spirit, a testament to yacht designer Bob Perry, Guy’s team, and himself for an impressive maiden crossing.

I am a long-time international racing sailor but this 4000-mile solo passage was my first solo experience and I loved every bit of it and my boat. She is amazing and so far very reliable and fast!

said skipper Guy DeBoer. He and the designer believe this design is up to 1000 miles faster around the world compared to a Rustler 36.

Others are leaving the British coast bound for Gijón. UK entry Guy Waites fitted a new mast and sails to his Tradewind 35 and left the next day. Ian Herbert-Jones from the UK set sail with new mast and engine, and Jeremy Bagshaw set off after engine repairs but 24hrs later discovered 20 litres of fuel in the bilge forcing him to return to Cornwall. He is now under pressure to make Gijón on time.

Les Sables d’Olonne, home of the GGR has seen a lot of activity: Mark Sinclair is rushing to finish his new engine installation, Edward Walentynowicz from Halifax has fitted all new rigging and coats of Antifouling, Simon Curwen from Brittany called in for a social visit, and French local sailor Arnaud Gaist is ready to go. Pat Lawless, arrived in Les Sables to pick-up safety gear after a week-long Irish send-off from his many passionate supporters along the south coast.

All are planning to leave in the coming days, while Damien Guillou on his Rustler 36 PRB plans to leave Port la Forêt on Thursday.

Meanwhile some are still out to sea, finishing their qualifier mileage: Elliott Smith who is two-thirds into his transatlantic crossing from Boston, must skip Gijón entirely, and accept the penalties. He has incredible growing support from friends and supporters who are organising and funding his remaining medical care training requirements with one-on-one instructors upon arrival in Les Sables. Abhilash Tomy is slowly completing his 2000-mile qualifier off the Bay of Biscay and will go straight to Gijón.

New Zealand sailor Graham Dalton retired from the GGR and now trying to get back in, is struggling to complete his 2000-mile qualifying sail in light winds making just 600 miles in the first week at sea and now running out of time. Spanish sailor Aleix Selles had not complied with important deadlines in the Notice of Race and was retired from the event on 27th July. He is now racing against time, to catch up and return to the GGR. Aleix started his 2000-mile solo qualifying voyage on Sunday 30th July and is yet to fit his new mast which is still not completed. Time is his biggest enemy with the start just less than five weeks away!

Finally, Canadian Gaurav Shinde was racing against the clock seriously behind schedule and about to set out on his first solo Atlantic crossing in his Baba 35 when he dislocated his shoulder. While recovering he completed his Medical Care course but had no time to arrive in LSO in time for the start and decided to retire from this edition, preparing instead for 2026.

The GGR organisation is also gearing-up for the last stretch to the start, with Nora Havel joining the GGR team as Photographer, Rob Havill as digital director, Doug Dean as safety manager, Marco Ausderau as GGR Village logistic manager and Maria Laykova as the Village coordinator. Les Bénévoles des Olonnes and Les Bénévoles du Littoral Olonnais, two local organisations providing 150 volunteers for Les Sables Village that will opens on August 20th also joined to discuss plans.

Headline Photo: Guy Waites onboard his Tradewind 35 “Sagarmatha”, Guy said no matter what, he will make the startline. Photo: Guy Waites Sailing Team

North American entries are rushing across the Atlantic Ocean, while some skippers have not met the GGR requirements

• Three North American entrants sailing against the clock crossing the Atlantic
• Three overseas entries about to make landfall in France and the UK in the next week
• Three skippers throw the towel unable to meet the stringent GGR requirements
• Gijon and Les Sables d’Olonne preparing for the Prologue and the Race village

Guy DeBoer, left Florida late June and his “Spirit” is currently making good progress in the North Atlantic with another 2000 miles to Gijon in time for the prologue and completing his survival course.

27-year-old Elliott Smith left Boston USA on his Gale Force 34 on July 10th a month behind schedule. He will miss the entire Prologue, sailing direct to Les Sables d’Olonne instead. He must then undertake the compulsory eight-day World Sailing Survival Course and STCW Medical Care course prior to the start on Sept 4th. This looks unlikely, as he has the whole Atlantic to cross.

Canadian Gaurav Shinde had motored his Baba 35 from Toronto to New York, ready for his transatlantic crossing, but dislocated his shoulder while putting the mast up. Already running late, he is now using his two-week recovery time to do his STCW Medical Care course. Scheduled to depart July 20, he will not make the Gijon Prologue after his 3000-mile qualifier on an untested boat fresh out of refit. Will he make the start?

In addition to the GGR compulsory survival and medical courses, there are mandatory safety briefings in both Gijon and Les Sables d’Olonne. Missing any of these will activate time and financial penalties.
Three other GGR entrants are completing their crossing in the North Atlantic and preparing to make landfall in France and the UK in the next week.

Canadian Edward Walentynowicz is completing his return crossing from Nova Scotia departing on June 20th on his Rustler 36 Noah’s Jest. He left Les Sables d’Olonne a year before, sailing home to complete his refit.

South African Jeremy Bagshaw ends his 6000-mile journey from South Africa after a short stop in Horta to sort engine issues. The North Atlantic High-pressure system is not providing the winds to head west and his engine is disabled again by fuel injector issues so he is headed to the UK.

Kirsten Neuschäfer (South Africa) is well into her trip from Cape Town to Europe, started mid-May. Including her 7000 nm trip from Prince Edward’s Island to South Africa after refit, she now has sailed an impressive total of 13000 miles solo on Minnehaha. She is well prepared.

As we were expecting in our June press release, some serious contenders and experienced sailors did not make the strict registration deadline, and had to pull out of the event.

3-times solo circumnavigator Robin Davie did not pass the stringent GGR medical test, and had to retire. He may make his own personal circumnavigation later.
6-time circumnavigator David Scott Cowper short on electrical contractors had too many issues to face, including equipment delays and unfortunately is retired
Matthew Wright, gave up due to a pre-existing medical condition but hopes to be back in the GGR 2026.

As Gijon gears-up for the Prologue and Les Sables d’Olonne prepare for the Race Village opening on August 20th, the number of entries is now 18, out of 30 paid entries, the same number then on the second edition four years ago.

The GGR is a race of attrition more than performance, a voyage to the finish which in many ways has already started and this year is no exception!

• Check out the NEW teaser: ‘Golden Globe Race, 200 days alone against the elements’
• Official media accreditation link
• GGR 2022 Race Village Program

A village and two weeks of celebration will precede the Grand Departure.

Check out the NEW teaser: ‘Golden Globe Race, 200 days alone against the elements’:

Downloadable version with native broadcast authorisation on your media

A legendary and noble adventure: the longest sporting event in the world!

In 1969, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first navigator to sail around the world, non-stop and without assistance. It took 312 days, alone against the elements.

In 2019, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, a well-known French highly respected solo circumnavigator repeated the feat by winning the second Golden Globe Race in 211 days.

Who will succeed these two legends of the seas?

They come from all over the world to take up the challenge

18 sailors of 11 nationalities are taking part in this edition.

Among them: the Frenchman Damien Guillou – who notably worked for the preparation for the Vendée Globe of Jean Le Cam in 2016 and Kevin Escoffier in 2020. He will sail a Rustler 36 named PRB, his sponsor twice winner of the Vendée Globe.

There is also the Indian commander Abhilash Tomy. Hailing from Mumbai, who is one of the most prominent sailors in India having been the first Indian to sail solo non-stop around the world. During the 2018 Golden Globe Race, after 83 days at sea, an injured Abhilash Tomy had to be rescued thousands of miles from Australia. He takes his revenge on this 2nd edition of the GGR.

Only sextant, compass and nautical charts are allowed

All the boats are 32–36-foot monohull sailboats, manufactured before 1988, whose technical characteristics are similar to SUHAILI, on which Sir Robin Knox-Johnston won the event in 1969. The only concession is the presence on board of all modern safety equipment, including a secure survival bag, containing geo-located means of satellite communication, which can be activated in case of absolute necessity, as well as a jury rig if the skippers ever dismast.

Two weeks of celebration starting August 20

The skippers are expected on the Vendée Globe pontoon from August 17th.

A festive and family Village will open on August 20 on the Place of Vendée Globe; on that day a large fireworks display will be fired over the bay to celebrate the adventurers.

For two weeks, the people of Les Sables d’Olonne and visitors from all over France and the world will live to the rhythm of the Golden Globe Race and will be able to meet the skippers and discover these unique specially prepared yachts before their big departure.

Concerts, boat parade, French ‘aperitif guinguette’ atmosphere, introduction to Astro/celestial navigation and historic displays including large models of the nine original 1968 Golden Globe Entries, from August 20 to September 4, the Golden Globe Race Village will be the heart of the Sailing world.

D-day

On September 4, all lovers of sailing and great adventures will meet at 1:30 p.m. on the quays of the mythical channel of Les Sables d’Olonne to encourage and farewell the skippers on a bold journey.

Les Sables d’Olonne, port of the mythical Vendée Globe, is proud to welcome this new edition of the Golden Globe Race.

This adventure carries with it our soul and our history: the courage to set sail, to set off into the unknown.

We are going to live a great Adventure which has many surprises in store for us and promises to keep us going as the competitors are motivated to become legends.

Friends of the sea and maritime adventure, welcome to Les Sables d’Olonne, one of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World.

Yannick Moreau, Mayor of Les Sables d’Olonne and President of the Agglomeration

To apply for official media accreditation, click here.

The program

Saturday August 20

• 10 am: Opening of the village
• 4:00 pm: Official presentation
• 7:30 pm: Concert Globally Yours with VDH
• 10:30 pm: Fireworks

Wednesday August 24

• 3:00 pm: Parade of skippers
• 5:00 pm: Prize giving for the coastal course

Saturday August 27

• Great twinning party

Friday, September 2

• 9 pm: Musical show

Sunday, September 4: Grand Depart

• 1:00 pm: Channel exit
• 4:00 pm: Start time

And many other activities every day, find the program by clicking here.

Feature Picture Above: Guido Cantini aboard Hannah of Cowes the Vancouver 34. Due to personal issue, he had to retire from 2022 GGR, but he will participate in the 2026 GGR. Phtoto © Guido Cantini/Hannah Racing

A respectable fleet will remain, for what is an extreme nine month challenge.

The 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race was the first ever yacht race around the world. Nine started and only one finished. The 50th Anniversary 2018 Golden Globe had 18 starters and only five finished. The third edition starts in two months from Les Sables d’Olonne and just getting to the start is too much for some! At least four of the current 22 entrants are likely to retire, or be removed from the race in days due to challenges meeting the strict Qualification and Safety Regulations – some of the toughest in the world of sailing.

Two entrants whose yachts are ready to go are sadly facing health issues and may not be signed off by the organisers medical team, MSOS.org. It is likely they will have to officially retire from the GGR in the weeks ahead. The oldest entrant and highly respected UK sailor, 80-year-old David Scott Cowper is struggling to complete a two-year refit of his Tradewind 35 yacht. Electrical contractors who were scheduled for various tasks cancelled their availability. He has been struggling to find replacements. The delivery of his mast and rigging was set back and now he is many months behind schedule. A lack of skilled workers has meant he is doing all the work himself. With the start just weeks away, it is highly likely he may not make the start.

Meanwhile Canadian entrant Edward Walentynowicz is about 850 miles east of Halifax sailing his Rustler 36 to Les Sables d’Olonne in great style. His latest report suggests all is going well:

Cold night, drinking hot black tea with lemon and sugar. Sailing slow. Just entering the maximum spread of drifting ice area, just the southern tip of it. We are deep in the maximum spread of icebergs. According to the forecast, there should be no ice here for the next few days. Cold, fog, ice, cold water, black around! Remember Titanic? Remember all the graves in Halifax? It happened here. No Gales, no storms – fantastic weather for a few days.

GGR 2022 Entrant Edward Walentynowicz (Canada)

10 months ago he sailed his yacht solo from Les Sables d’Olonne to Halifax to complete his refit so should be well prepared for the GGR with a double Atlantic crossing.

Fellow Canadian, Gaurav Shinde is not so lucky. He is a month behind schedule and has not yet started the 3,500-mile passage across the Atlantic. All entrants must arrive at the prologue port of Gijon, Spain for compulsory safety briefings by 6th August, or face serious penalties, or possible exclusion from the GGR. To complicate the issue, Gaurav has not yet completed his compulsory 3-day STCW Proficiency in Medical Care course. He will have to travel to Amsterdam or Barcelona to complete it before the Gijon briefings. American Entrant Elliott Smith is in the same situation. He has not departed the east coast of the USA on his Gale Force 34 and must also do the Medical Care course. But will there be time?

Guy deBoer from Key West, Florida has just arrived in Charleston, South Carolina and hopes to set out across the Atlantic for Spain in the next few days. He, too, is behind schedule having burst a newly fitted fuel tank during final sea trials 10 days ago. All entrants are required to supply a compulsory Final Registration Pack of certifications and critical safety information by 30th June to be considered an Official GGR Entrant. This includes current radio licences, station licences, survival course and medical training certificates, EPIRB registrations etc. It appears Guy may be missing some certificates.

I really hope these guys can make it in time to Gijon and complete their Registration Packs by the deadline. They have been preparing for this adventure for years.

said Don McIntyre, Founder and Race Chairman

We cannot give dispensations for our strict safety regulations and if you know the weather of the Atlantic and speed of these boats, it is going to be a close-run thing. It is not looking good!

New Zealand entrant Graham Dalton failed to complete his 2000-mile GGR qualifying voyage last year from France. Based in NZ, he has been struggling ever since to coordinate the refit of his Rustler 36 A Southern Man in Les Sables d’Olonne in preparation for a new attempt. He has now failed to meet the strict Medical Care Certificate training requirements and has decided to withdraw from the GGR, rather than complete the three-day required course. It all just became a little too much with quite a few little issues combining to tip him over the edge.

South African Jeremy Bagshaw has arrived in Horta, Azores after a solo voyage direct from Cape Town. He has boat issues to solve and is not sure when he may be able to continue the voyage north. Kirsten Neuschäfer, also from Cape Town and the only woman in the GGR in making the same passage. All is going well for her having previously sailed 7000 solo miles from Canada to Capetown a few months ago following her refit. She is hoping to arrive in the UK in the next couple weeks, before then heading to Spain. With over 200,000 sailing miles and now 14,000 solo miles in her GGR yacht, she has to be a strong contender in the race.

Australian Mark Sinclair “Captain Coconut” has been working hard on his boat after the non-stop solo voyage from Adelaide, South Australia to Les Sables d’Olonne. All was going well until a few days ago when he contracted COVID and discovered he needed a new Motor. He says he was obviously “safer” at sea and hopes to fit a new engine the first week of August and immediately sail for Gijon.

French entrant Arnaud Gaist is struggling financially. Even though sponsored for the GGR, his budgets are under stress. He is unsure if he will be able to continue. In the next few days, critical deadlines will appear and he is worried.

Ertan Beskardes (UK) on the other hand has been ready to go for a few months now. He retired from the 2018 GGR after just a few days missing his family. Each year since then he has been preparing and he is keen to get going. Same, too, for Austrian Michael Guggenberger. He retired from the 2018 GGR about nine months before the start, not ready to go. Now he is all done and raring to go with all jobs completed. He is enjoying his time working with his new partner NURI! Together they are preparing for this unique artisanal journey.

In a little over 18 months, 10 of the 32 paid up GGR entrants have retired, mainly due to the travel restrictions and complications of Covid and the global economic order. If the number of entrants drops from 21 to 18 on September 4th this year (which looks likely), it remains a respectable fleet for what is an extreme nine-month challenge. The GGR is an event that stands alone in the world of sailing and adventure sports! Nothing else compares and only those who really want it, make the start…… let alone finish!

It was announced today in Gijón, that the Golden Globe Race is partnering with the Spanish Port City of Gijón for a week of activities starting 6th August.

It will conclude with The SITraN Challenge Race to Les Sables d’Olonne and the start of the 2022 Golden Globe Race.

Gijón, a successful tourism destination in Asturias, northern Spain, has hosted numerous nautical events over the past 30 years, positioning itself as a traditional destination for numerous French offshore races and rallies such as La Barquera, Pornic-Gijon, Gascogne-Asturias or Royan-Gijon.

It is also the stop-over for many short-handed offshore racing classes, such as the Figaro, Mini 6,50, Class 40 and IMOCA 60, making the city a natural choice to host the GGR fleet for a week of festivities and preparation around the values of solo-sailing and adventurous voyages.

Ana González Rodríguez, Mayor of Gijón/Xixón welcomed the GGR:

It is a great honour to host the prologue of the Golden Globe Race in our city. Gijón offers all the necessary conditions to welcome the sailors and the entire organisation, who will find here the perfect venue to prepare for this important nautical event.

González Rodríguez, Mayor of Gijón/Xixón

“The Golden Globe Race are grateful to the City of Gijon and Gijon Turismo for partnering with us for this event” said Don McIntyre, President and Founder of the Golden Globe Race. “This will be the first time that all GGR entrants have assembled in one place and the first time for most to visit Gijon, a maritime city renowned for its hospitality, culture, and gastronomy”.

The GGR fleet of 22 yachts representing 12 nationalities will be hosted by the Puerto Deportivo de Gijon, well versed in welcoming sailors from all over the world with modern installation in the heart of the city.

They will have a busy week of final GGR preparations of their boats and attending safety briefings, setting up satellite tracking and communications systems specific to the Golden Globe. These systems are finally checked by the organisers with entrants at sea sailing to Les Sables d’Olonne. Entrants will also have time to discover the city and the many events during their stay.

This is a clear commitment of our city to all activities related to the sea, and reinforces that intimate link with the Bay of Biscay which is, perhaps, the main characteristic of our identity as Gijoneses and Gijonesas.

Daniel Martínez Junquera, Director of Visita Gijón/Xixón

The GGR skippers set sail on Sunday 14th August racing the SITraN Challenge, a 280-mile race to Les Sables d’Olonne, the Capital of Adventure and home of the GGR, on time for the opening of the Race Village on August 20th. That leaves just two weeks for final preparations before the start of the longest, loneliest sporting event of the planet on September 4th.

I am delighted that the beautiful city of Gijón will be carving its name in the history of the GGR, a legendary race. Our Spanish cousin city will launch the prologue of an adventure that promises to be thrilling. On the other side of the Bay of Biscay, the pontoons of Les Sables d’Olonne will be waiting for the skippers for two weeks of festivities before D-day. The pressure is mounting for those who are about to take the start of the longest sporting event in the world.

Yannick Moreau, Mayor of Les Sables d’Olonne

For more information

• www.gijon.es/en
• www.gijonomia.es

For entries and information

About the Golden Globe Race

The Golden Globe Race is the original round the world yacht race. In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record-breaking voyage of discovery.

Offshore yacht racing changed forever with adventurers and sailors, inspired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, following in his pioneering wake. Nine men started the first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. History was made. Navigating with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world.

In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record-breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly caught the attention of the world’s media as well as adventures, captivated by the spirit and opportunity.

The original race is back.