2018 Golden Globe Race gains momentum

Laura Hodgetts
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The first 25 provisional entrants have been confirmed for a race that aims to commemorate the golden anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s pioneering victory in the Sunday Times Golden Globe race in 1968/9.

The 2018 Golden Globe Race will test the mettle of modern sailors by limiting them to the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to competitors in the original race, 50 years earlier.

Sailors from America, Australia, Britain and France head the preliminary entry list for the 2018 Golden Globe solo round the world race, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin becoming the first person to sail solo non-stop around the globe.

2018 Golden Globe Race Course

The 24 men and one woman – Britain’s Susie Bundegaard Goodall –  have each paid an initial A$3,000 entry fee, though some names remain confidential until sponsorship announcements are made later this year. Other entrants hail from Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Palestine, Russia and Switzerland.

Susie Bundegaard Goodall from the UK - first women entry in the 2018 Golden Globe Race

Falmouth is now confirmed as the start and finish point for the race, with the National Maritime Museum, which is putting on a major exhibit in 2018 to mark the 50th anniversary of the original Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, playing host to the event.

Competing yachts will be based in Port Pendennis Marina, and the race will be started using the historic gun emplacement on Pendennis Point overlooking Falmouth harbour.

The Little Ship Club in London will be hosting a competitor and sponsor conference in London on 15 December.  Don McIntyre, the race founder will also be introducing members of his race management team and setting out the race rules in greater detail.

Don McIntyre, the Australian founder of the 2018 Golden Globe Race

Like the original Sunday Times event, the 2018 Golden Globe Race is very simple. Depart Falmouth, England on 14 June 2018 and sail solo, non-stop around the world via the five Great Capes, and return to Falmouth. Entrants are limited to use the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to Robin Knox-Johnston in the first race.

The race is expected to take around 300 days.