Golden Globe Race: Second female skipper and host port decision

Entries are open once again for the 2018 Golden Globe Race with no current waiting list

Izabel Pimentel

Entries are open once again for the 2018 Golden Globe Race (GGR) with no current waiting list.

More than a few sailors around the world are losing sleep while deciding whether to join the GGR family and change their life forever. Even more are thinking about 2022.

Second female skipper signs up

Izabel Pimentel

Golden Globe Race founder Don McIntyre said: ‘At last we can announce another female entry into the 2018 Golden Globe Race and she is as excited as we are.’

Izabel Pimentel from Brazil, is a mini Transat veteran and in 2014 became the first Latin American female solo circumnavigator. She has more than 66,000 solo miles. She joins Susie Goodall as the event’s second female entry.

Don added: ‘There have been many women considering the GGR over the past two years. Most realise the magnitude of the challenge and do not commit.

‘In 1988, Australian Kay Cottee sailing Blackmore’s First Lady became the first woman to solo circumnavigate non-stop without assistance. Marcus Blackmore, her sponsor has supplied a trophy for the first woman to complete the GGR, so now we have a real race. There are many women sailors out there, so let’s hope that another will come calling, to accept one of the three remaining special invitations.’

Shane Freeman retires

Australian Shane Freeman lost his yacht while attempting to sail around Cape Horn enroute to the UK and the start of the GGR.

He has now decided to withdraw from the race.

Shane Freeman’s yacht Mushka

Don said: ‘Shane spent nearly 18 months’ full time preparing his yacht for the Race and simply does not have the heart to do it all again. We will certainly miss his blogs and videos. Now for the good news…. he has NOT said he will NOT do the 2022 race…

‘Yes double negative means positive, so just maybe he will be back in the years ahead.’

Host port announcement imminent

Organisers have reviewed proposals from both Plymouth and Falmouth bidding to be host port for the 50th anniversary edition of the Golden Globe Race.

The decision will be announced to the world this Saturday, on 22 April 48 years to the day that Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Suhaili completed their world first voyage.

Robin Knox-Johnston aboard Suhaili at the finish of the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. Photo: Bill Rowntree/PPL

Still no waiting list

If you or one of your sailing friends is having trouble sleeping at night, it may just be the same problem experienced by most of the current GGR Entrants before they sent in their entry form.

The good news is that organisers have one entry spot left and another three special invitations to give out. This could all change overnight though, but right now, if you apply, you are in the GGR!

Just getting to the start

Don said: ‘Being in close communication with entrants gives me an interesting insight into the contrasting plans and levels of preparation for each.

‘Budgets vary from fully funded to only just enough. Some entrants have given up day jobs to work 24/7 on boats and training. Others are still holding down ordinary day jobs earning much needed funds. They work on their boats when they can. Some have had to sell their homes.’

Neree Cornuz had a sponsor deal collapse last minute mid refit, so made his own self-steering gear to sail his engine-less Lello 34 from South Africa to the Mediterranean, a three-month non-stop voyage. He is out there as you read this with hopes of a sponsor soon.

Others are able to contract refit work to professionals, but the cost runs high and if funding stops, so does the work. Competing in the GGR is relatively inexpensive, but if you are on a budget, you need time to do that work yourself. Those with the money and time are out sailing their boats regularly, training hard for boat speed. A few have secured sponsors.

Frenchmen Jean Luc VDH and Lionel Regnier have formed an alliance of sorts and now train both Rustler 36 yachts side by side to lift performance, just like America’s Cup teams used to do.

Don added: ‘Susie Goodal is on the return leg of a double solo-Transatlantic. She starts her final refit on her return and should then, with her vast experience, keep these two Frenchmen honest as they all sail the same yachts!’

Gustavo Pacheco’s Lello 34

All entrants must have their boats by 30 June. Gustavo Pacheco from Brazil has just purchased a Lello 34 (now three in the GGR) in South Africa. It was a sight unseen buy off the internet and keeps his dream alive. He is still out sailing Yacht deliveries to earn extra money.

Australian Kevin Farebrother is currently working as a Mountain climbing guide in the Himalaya while his Tradewind 35 Silver Heels is for sale in Sydney. If sold he intends buying again in the UK saving shipping costs from Australia and the clock never stops!

Dutchman Mark Slats has a boat, but not the right one for the GGR. It is a Transocean solo rowing boat and he sets off in December this year on an epic row as a warm up to the GGR. He is hunting for a GGR yacht now.

Duck’s nest aboard Carl Huber’s Baba 35

American Carl Huber had to leave his boat for a few weeks and discovered on his return a mother duck on deck. In her nest- 10 eggs!

He is now working around them and looking forward to seeing this family eventually swim away. He had planned to remove the teak decks anyway, as duck mess is not pretty.

Duck’s nest aboard Carl Huber’s Baba 35

GGR reality

If you are into around the world yacht racing you will know of the Volvo Race, originally the Whitbread race. An exciting fully crewed race around the world, in identical one design yachts. It is super high tech and spectacular to watch and fun to follow.

Don said: ‘The Volvo Race organisers are about to make an announcement next month about the future of boats for the event. It may change from monohulls to large racing multihulls.

‘This has started much debate in sailing circles about the pro’s and con’s of each, not to mention the relevance to grass roots sailing. Here is just one of those comments…

‘Perhaps the model we should follow is that of bike racing, which has the world’s most popular annual sporting event in the Tour de France. The Tour pros use gear that is much slower than streamlined recumbent tricycles and (because of minimum weight restrictions) slower than the kit the weekend rider can buy at their local shop. It means that the gear is convenient to use, comparatively cheap and accessible to the weekend warrior, who can then empathise with the pros.

‘This reality is so true for the GGR. The yachts we sail are the very same ones a family can go ocean cruising in. They are convenient to use, comparatively cheap and accessible to the weekend warrior, who can then empathise with the pros.

‘Yacht clubs and marinas the world over are full of similar yachts. Our skippers cover all walks of life and backgrounds, such that mums, dads, ordinary sailors and weekend warriors can relate. Yet every one of them is a hero in the eyes of someone, and rightly so. This race, like the original will surely inspire many.

‘In a little over a year, these ordinary Heros set out on a grand adventure to relive and remake history. Amazing.’

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