around the world yacht race 2022

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Golden Globe Race

The start of the 2022 Golden Globe Race. Photo: Ville des Sables d’Olonne – Christophe Huchet

The third ever edition of the Golden Globe Race started in late 2022. The first was in 1968, which was followed many years later by the race’s rebirth in 2018. 

What was unique about the Golden Globe race?

The original Golden Globe Race was the first race around the world solo without stops or any outside assistance. 

The GGR remains one of sailing’s best known events, capturing the hearts and minds of a global audience. It also began a thirst for single handed round the world racing that continues to this day. 

The first participants in 1968 are well known, whether it is the eventual triumph of Britain’s Sir Robin Knox Johnston over his arch rival Frenchman Bernard Motissier, or the tragic story of Donald Crowhurst (the story of which is the subject of the film, The Mercy ). 

It was then, and remains today, a serious undertaking for anyone hoping to achieve it. Even in the modern era racing around the world solo and without assistance remains a very difficult task to achieve. Despite many trying, many attempts still end in failure (though not usually with tragic outcomes).

To put the challenge into some perspective, more people have travelled into space than have raced around the world alone and unaided. 

That original race saw sailors able to set off on their voyage within a fairly wide window of opportunity, with the only rule being that the first person to complete a lap of the globe would be declared the winner. 

Recently the race has been reborn with a round the world race being held in 2018, attempting to capture something of the adventuring nature of those early intrepid sailors. 

The event was a success and, as such, another edition will be held this year, as contestants set off on the Golden Globe Race 2022.

The same organisers of the 2018 and 2022 Golden Globe have also announced another reto race in the form of the Ocean Globe Race , which will look to recreate the Whitbread Round the World race of old.

What is the Golden Globe yacht race?

The 2022 Golden Globe Race is a solo, nonstop yacht race around the world with no assistance and without the use of modern technology.

This means the skippers can’t use GPS, chartplotters, electric winches, autopilots, mobile phones, iPads or use synthetic materials like Spectra, Kevlar or Vectron.

Their only means of communication is via registered, licensed maritime-approved HF Single Side Band (SSB) Radio, with discussions generally limited to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) weather. They are allowed to listen to HAM radio, but are not allowed to transmit.

Where does the Golden Globe race start and when?

The 2022 Golden Globe Race will start on 4 September 2022 from the port of Les Sables d’Olonne on France‘s Atlantic coast.

Over the years this has become the effective home of round the world racing, with a variety of modern events starting from this French venue. 

The best known is the Vendée Globe, which is essentially the modern version of the Golden Globe Race, with participants racing highly technologically advanced yachts around the world at blistering speeds.   

Who was the winner of the 2022-23 Golden Globe Race?

• Kirsten Neuschäfer – SOUTH AFRICA – Winner of the 2022-23 Golden Globe
• Abhilash Tomy – INDIA – Second place in the 2022-23 Golden Globe
• Michael Guggenberger – AUSTRIA – Third in the 2022-23 Golden Globe

Skippers still racing but now in the Chichester class (those who have made 1 stop):

• Simon Curwen – UNITED KINGDOM – Winner of the 2022-23 Chichester class – for those who have made 1 stop

Who is competing in the 2022 Golden Globe Race?

Chichester class – for those who have made 1 stop

• Jeremy Bagshaw – SOUTH AFRICA 

18 skippers started the 2018 race on 1 July 2018, with just five finishing, so it is not expected that all these skippers will make it to the finish. 

2022-23 Golden Globe Race retirements

• Edward Walentynowicz , (Canada), Rustler 36, Noah’s Jest
• Guy deBoer , (USA), Tashiba 36, Spirit
• Mark Sinclair (Australia), Lello 34, Coconut
• Pat Lawless , (Ireland), Saltram Saga 36 , Green Rebel
• Damien Guillou , (France), Rustler 36, PRB
• Ertan Beskardes , (UK), Rustler 36, Lazy Otter
• Tapio Lehtinen , (Finland), Gaia 36, Asteria
• Arnaud Gaist – FRANCE
• Elliott Smith – USA
• Guy Waites – UNITED KINGDOM
• Ian Herbert-Jones – UNITED KINGDOM

Jeremy Bagshaw on his 2022-23 Golden Globe Race

• July 20, 2023

A lifelong sailor, Jeremy Bagshaw started sailing as a child in an Optimist dinghy before moving onto Fireballs and Lasers. He raced offshore while at university and prior to Golden…

Michael Guggenberger on his 2022-223 Golden Globe Race

• July 18, 2023

Originally, Michael Guggenberger planned to take part in the 2018 Golden Globe Race, but delayed until the 2022 edition to allow more time to prepare. This paid off for the…

Abhilash Tomy on his 2022-23 Golden Globe Race

• July 13, 2023

In 2013, Abhilash Tomy became the first Indian to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world, via the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Horn and Cape Leeuwin, aboard the…

Simon Curwen on his 2022-23 Golden Globe Race

• July 11, 2023

Chichester Class winner Simon Curwen tells Katy Stickland all about his experience taking part in the 2022-23 Golden Globe Race

How I survived a dismasting in an 80 knot storm in the middle of an ocean

• July 7, 2023

Cape Horn gave me a good beating, and I needed to sort some problems on the boat, so I anchored off Picton Island in the lee of the Horn. It…

Kirsten Neuschäfer on her 2022-2023 Golden Globe Race

• July 5, 2023

Winning the Golden Globe Race meant everything to Kirsten Neuschäfer; her ambition would not only drive her, but would also leave her frustrated and despondent, especially when she became trapped…

Guy Waites crosses the 2022 Golden Globe Race finish line

• June 19, 2023

Guy Waites has crossed the finish line of the 2022 Golden Globe Race. The Scarborough skipper completed his solo circumnavigation of the world with two stops

Jeremy Bagshaw: the final finisher in the 2022 Golden Globe Race

• June 9, 2023

South African skipper Jeremy Bagshaw has finished the 2022 Golden Globe Race after weeks of punishing north-easterly winds and a broken forestay left him crawling towards the finish line

Michael Guggenberger is third in the 2022 Golden Globe Race

• May 12, 2023

Austrian skipper Michael Guggenberger has come third in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, having been one of the most prepared entrants in the race

Golden Globe Race: Michael Guggenberger approaching Biscay

• May 5, 2023

Michael Guggenberger has passed the Azores and is expected to cross the finish line next week

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The Ocean Race – Everything you need to know

The crewed around the world race with stopovers has always been one of yachting’s premier ocean races and, after several delays this latest edition is set to start on 15 January 2023.

The race organisers are also running a new event designed to showcase top-flight, fully-crewed, competitive offshore racing based around northern Europe: the Ocean Race Europe.

The Ocean Race is scheduled to run every four years, with the Ocean Race Europe also planned to take place every four years, essentially allowing competition between the teams to take place every two years in one form or another.

It’s unusual for IMOCA 60s to race with more than two crew onboard.

What boats compete in The Ocean Race?

For the first time ever IMOCA 60s will be taking part in a fully crewed round the world race this year, with several teams set to take part.

The IMOCA 60 class has long been at the forefront of ocean racing and is used for the solo non-stop round the world epic, the Vendée Globe as well as a number of other premiere short handed ocean events such as the Route du Rhum and Transat Jaques Vabre .

However, the IMOCA 60s have always been designed and built with single and double handed racing in mind, so teams competing will have had to make significant changes to their semi-foiling 60 footers to make them capable of sailing with a full crew.

The IMOCAs are sailed by a complement of five crew, including an onboard reporter (OBR) that takes no part in the sailing. Each IMOCA 60 team has to include at least one female sailor.

VO65s no longer go for a third lap of the planet. Photo: Robin Christol

What is The Ocean Race Sprint Cup?

Initially the intention was for two fleets to take part in The Ocean Race proper with the second fleet consisting on the one design VO65 boats used in the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

However, plans have since changed and while the IMOCA 60s will complete a full lap of the planet, including seven legs to finish in Genoa, Italy, the VO65s will sail just the first and last two legs in what the organisers have called The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup .

A new trophy will be awarded to the VO65 team which accumulates the best score across three legs of the race; Alicante, Spain, to Cape Verde; Aarhus, Denmark, to The Hague, the Netherlands; and The Hague to the overall finish in Genoa, Italy.

What is The Ocean Race course?

The course for The Ocean Race has a new first stopover mid-Atlantic at the Cape Verdes, before an extra long Southern Ocean leg of 12,750 miles from Cape Town, South Africa, to Itajai, Brazil. This new stage passes south of all three Great Capes and is expected to take 34 days.

After this mammoth Southern Ocean leg, the fleet then moves onto a series of much shorter legs. From Brazil they head to Newport, USA. They then cross the Atlantic to Aarhus, DEN. After that a very short hop from Aarhus to The Hague, NED fore a race from The Hague back to Genova, ITA.

The Ocean Race: Was the latest edition a success?

• September 4, 2023

In the sweltering heat of midsummer in the Ligurian Sea, temperatures and tensions were steadily rising on board 11th Hour Racing. Simon ‘Si Fi’ Fisher restlessly tidied lines in the…

11th Hour Racing declared winners of The Ocean Race after redress

• June 29, 2023

Charlie Enright’s 11th Hour Racing Team has won The Ocean Race after a jury awarded them redress of 4 points in the final leg of the round the world race,…

The Ocean Race overall win down to jury decision after huge collision

• June 19, 2023

The overall winner of The Ocean Race is likely to be decided in the protest room after a huge collision between 11th Hour Racing and Guyot-environnement – Team Europe shortly after…

Pro sailors on their Southern Ocean experience

• June 1, 2023

“I’m so happy not to be alone,” an emotional Boris Herrmann said standing at the base of his 29m/95ft mast, a foot-long gash ripped into the carbon above his head…

640.9 miles in 24hrs: Holcim-PRB smashes monohull record

• May 26, 2023

Kevin Escoffier’s IMOCA Holcim-PRB, competing in the The Ocean Race, has annihilated the 24-hour monohull sailing record by covering an incredible 640.9 miles on the fifth leg from Newport to Aarhus. This…

GUYOT environnement – Team Europe dismasted in The Ocean Race

• May 9, 2023

Early this morning, Tuesday 9 May 2023, organisers of The Ocean Race have reported that GUYOT environnement – Team Europe has dismasted as the fleet race towards the finish of…

Crew changes aplenty as teams prepare for The Ocean Race leg 4

• April 21, 2023

Crew rotation is proving to be a big feature in this edition of The Ocean Race and once again the crews are being mixed up on all boats as the…

Team Malizia wins longest ever Ocean Race leg

• April 2, 2023

Boris Herrmann‘s Team Malizia has won Leg 3 of The Ocean Race from Cape Town to Itajai, the longest ever ocean stage in the crewed around the world race. Herrmann,…

The Ocean Race: is racing under autopilot ‘cheating’?

• March 13, 2023

That’s not racing. It’s cheating. If you’re going to use the autopilot to sail around the world you might as well simply control the boat by remote control from home.”…

Fastest IMOCA record: 595 miles in 24 hours for The Ocean Race leaders

• March 12, 2023

Kevin Escoffier’s Holcim-PRB, the dominant leader of The Ocean Race, has set a new 24-hour IMOCA record by covering a breath-taking 595.26 nautical miles (1102 kms) over Saturday 11-Sunday 12…

‘Demolition Derby’ begins in Leg 3 of The Ocean Race

• March 2, 2023

Leg 3 of The Ocean Race was always expected to be an punishing test for the five IMOCAs and their crews, but it’s been a particularly tough start for the teams…

Wild start to leg 3 of The Ocean Race

• February 27, 2023

It was an extraordinary ‘stop-go’ type of start to Leg 3 of The Ocean Race in Table Bay as the five-boat IMOCA 60 fleet set out on their 12,750 nautical…

How to follow The Ocean Race Leg 3 (and why you should)

• February 24, 2023

This weekend five crewed IMOCA 60s will take to the startline for the third leg of The Ocean Race, on a month-long epic which is likely to be the toughest…

Holcim – PRB win nail biting leg 2 in The Ocean Race

• February 13, 2023

Skipper Kevin Escoffier and his Team Holcim – PRB have won Leg 2 of The Ocean Race from Cabo Verde to Cape Town after a tense battle through the final…

The Ocean Race: 11th Hour Racing into the lead

• February 6, 2023

After an extended doldrums crossing and a larger than usual St Helena high forcing the fleet way to the west of the Atlantic The Ocean Race fleet are finally back…

All about the doldrums or Inter Tropical Convergence Zone

• January 31, 2023

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The Ocean Race: Leg underway in very light winds

• January 26, 2023

The second leg of The Ocean Race from Cabo Verde to Cape Town started on Wednesday 25 January, with the 5 fully-crewed IMOCA 60s fighting it out in very light…

The Ocean Race: All set for leg two

• January 25, 2023

With the first leg of the much-delayed The Ocean Race now concluded, teams are readying themselves to set off on the second leg of of the race, which starts today,…

The Ocean Race: Holcim-PRB win Leg One

• January 23, 2023

French skipper Kevin Escoffier led his Swiss-flagged Team Holcim-PRB to victory in leg one of The Ocean Race in the early hours of the morning on Saturday 21 January 2023.…

Baptism of fire for The Ocean Race crews as fleet starts from Alicante

• January 15, 2023

The Ocean Race start, the latest iteration of the crewed multi-stage around the world race, set off today from Alicante, Spain. But the 11 crews – five IMOCA teams, six…

Published on April 13th, 2022 | by Editor

Shifting landscape for The Ocean Race

Published on April 13th, 2022 by Editor -->

When The Ocean Race 2022-23 gets underway on January 15, it will be the 14th edition of this crewed, multi-stage around the world race. With teams racing in either the foiling IMOCAs or one-design VO65s, they will contribute to the race history which began fifty years ago.

Initially known as the Whitbread Round the World Race, the race has steadily become professionalized, and with the increased cost of the maxi boats that soon proliferated the race, the development of the Whitbread 60 saw the 1993-94 race provide classes for both.

The 60-footer was deemed to be an absolutely unique human adventure and young racers boasting backgrounds in Olympic sailing or America’s Cup no longer thought twice about applying.

This included Chris Dickson in 1993-94 on Tokio and Paul Cayard in 1997-98 on EF Language, at which time the Whitbread 60 was the only class. While Cayard wasn’t initially the best offshore racer, having never spent more than three nights at sea, he proved to be a formidable leader by winning in his first attempt. 1988 Olympic medalist John Kostecki similarly won as skipper in 2001-02.

A genuine icon in Brazil, Torben Grael, five-time Olympic medalist, also made an impression in his two campaigns of what was now called the Volvo Ocean Race. Now held in Volvo Open 70s, he finished third and first in 2005-6 and 2008-9 respectively. Supported by a great entourage, the Brazilian proved to be a charismatic leader, who also knows how to make concessions in high pressure moments.

All these exceptional champions competed in the round-the-world race with the goal to win. They brought with them a new vision, helming their boats exactly as they would in a round-the-cans race, and often considered to be ‘raving mad’ by the race’s veterans. “To my mind, it’s the Kiwis who opened the door to youngsters with a background in dinghy sailing,” noted Sidney Gavignet who competed in three editions from 2001 to 2009. “They’re the ones who championed a broader way of thinking, which gained widespread acceptance.”

Olympic 49er champions in Athens 2004, Spaniards Iker Martínez and Xabi Fernández excelled in round-the-world races, later followed by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, twice winners of the America’s Cup and Olympic 49er champions, who competed against each other in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race having rarely sailed offshore before.

Today, The Ocean Race is a vivid demonstration of the extent to which the gender diversity set out in the rules is now paving the way for female Olympic champions like French sailor Marie Riou and Dutch sailor Carolijn Brouwer, winners of the 2017-18 edition on Dongfeng Race Team skippered by Charles Caudrelier.

Also, Brazilian Martine Grael, Torben’s daughter, who before and after her round the world with team AkzoNobel, secured Olympic gold in Rio and then Tokyo.

With the IMOCA to be included for the first time, Sidney Gavignet considers it a positive step. “The class has the right approach with protected cockpits as well as astounding performances. I think they’ll have a ball… If I had one sentence to sum up The Ocean Race, a race that’s as tough as it is magical, I’d say that it’s a marathon with the intensity of a sprint, both at sea and on land!”

The Ocean Race 2022-23 Race Schedule: To be confirmed – Prologue Race(s): September to December 2022 Alicante, Spain – Leg 1 start: January 15, 2023 Cabo Verde – ETA: January 22; Leg 2 start: January 25 Cape Town, South Africa – ETA: February 9; Leg 3 start: February 26 or 27 (TBC) Itajaí, Brazil – ETA: April 1; Leg 4 start: April 23 Newport, RI, USA – ETA: May 10; Leg 5 start: May 21 Aarhus, Denmark – ETA: May 30; Leg 6 start: June 8 Kiel, Germany (Fly-By) – June 9 The Hague, The Netherlands – ETA: June 11; Leg 7 start: June 15 Genova, Italy – The Grand Finale – ETA: June 25, 2023; Final In-Port Race: July 1, 2023

Race details – Route – Teams – Facebook

The Ocean Race (formerly Volvo Ocean Race and Whitbread Round the World Race) will be raced in two classes of boats: the high-performance, foiling, IMOCA 60 class and the one-design VO65 class which has been used for the last two editions of the race. Entries in the IMOCA 60 class will compete for The Ocean Race trophy, while those racing the VO65s will chase the Ocean Challenge Trophy. The 14th edition was originally planned for 2021-22 but was postponed one year due to the pandemic.

Source: The Ocean Race

Tags: The Ocean Race

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Our Man On The Ground Travel and Lifestyle

Global travel and lifestyle magazine, golden globe round-the-world yacht race 2022.

Mark Nicholls heads to the French resort of Les Sables d’Olonne for the start of the Golden Globe single-handed round-the-world yacht race.

Les Sables d’Olonne has all you expect of a French harbour town: narrow alleys, a quaint fisherman’s quarter, wonderful seafood restaurants and long stretches of sandy beach.

A salty aroma wafts along the channel that links the sea to the expansive quays where row after row of yachts and motorboats are moored.

This is, after all, the capital of single-handed round-the-world yacht racing, a claim to fame this resort on the west coast of France cherishes.

Intrepid sailors

Set on the Atlantic coast, it is the departure and finish point for two of the most challenging round-the-world races; the Vendée Globe, and the Golden Globe.

The latter is a throwback to racing in days past, with the vessels skippered by intrepid sailors deprived of the sophisticated technology of the sleek Vendée Globe yachts, and instead setting off with little more than a sextant, compass and paper maps to guide them.

The circumnavigation for these 35-footers does take a little longer – around 250-300 days compared to 80 days for Vendée Globe entrants.

Perilous weather

While at sea, Golden Globe competitors are unassisted and have little contact with the outside world, land, or family and friends, and only receive warnings of the most perilous weather conditions.

Founder and Race Chairman Don McIntyre points out:

“These guys are totally isolated, it is a unique challenge, they are on their own.”

As a result, the 16 vessels and skippers – including one woman Kirsten Neuschäfer from South Africa – have to pass stringent safety requirements and have proven sailing ability just to make it to the start line and receive the coveted “green card” to compete.

Traditional skills

The vessels have to be designed before 1988 and meet strict dimensions of 32-36 foot yet be robust enough to withstand navigation through the world’s treacherous oceans.

British skipper Ian Herbert-Jones tells me a couple of days ahead of departure:

“It’s a victory just to make it to the start line.”

He has been preparing for the race for three years but his yacht Puffin, a 35-foot Tradewind built in 1986, has a pedigree and was one of five finishers from the 18 starters in the 2018 race, which was only the second time the Golden Globe was staged since 1968, when yachting legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, now 82, won.

As the official starter for 2022, Sir Robin is delighted with the ongoing revival of the race:

“It is a great event because we are hanging on to traditional sailing skills.”

Coastal jewel

Round-the-world yacht racing has put Les Sables d’Olonne on the map as a coastal jewel in the Vendée region of pleasant towns and villages, natural landscapes and an irresistible cuisine, with a big focus on seafood.

Sailing remains a huge aspect of the resort, with the quay crammed with vessels of all shapes and sizes. But with its lovely ambience, fish markets, and narrow alleys lined with shops and bars, the appeal of Les Sables d’Olonne is far wider, and is also a steppingstone into the Vendée’s relaxed way of life.

Set in a south facing bay, its sandy beaches are ideal for swimming and surfing, while inland are forest areas and marshlands where hiking, cycling and horse-riding are popular.

Salt marshes

The salt marshes surrounding the coastal town underpinned its wealth and importance as a trading centre in centuries past, but today are popular for leisure activities.

A little way inland are the shallow waters of the former salt producing areas, which are popular for canoeing or stand-up paddle boarding and make for a pleasant hour or two passing through small channels.

Elsewhere, the raised paths of the saltpans have become routes for walking, cycling, venturing off on e-scooters. With fat tyres suitable for the terrain, they are quite different to city centre rental scooters, but are an exhilarating way to traverse the landscape or head off further into routes through forested areas.

Sardines and tuna

With a long-standing maritime heritage, Les Sables d’Olonne remains the fourth biggest French fishing port.

Its origins lay in whaling before a shift to cod fishing in the 17 th century and in more recent times to sardines and tuna, which underpins much of its industry today.

It is no surprise that seafood is central to the menus of the resort, but you can also shop for it in the covered markets of the town.

Moules mariniere are a favourite in many quayside eateries, such as Restaurant les Patagos in Port Olona, or if you are feeling hungry, plump for one of the magnificent seafood platters at the Fleur de Thym restaurant with an array of whelks, oysters, prawns, langoustines and crab. The markets are also great places to buy fresh bread, fruit and vegetable, meat and other produce.

Maritime heritage

If you are inspired and want to further absorb this maritime heritage, wander the older district of Chaume with quiet back streets with small fisherman’s houses, churches, murals on walls, or pop into a traditional side street café.

Walk on further and you find yourself along the channel that connects the sea and the harbour entrance, dominated on the rocky shoreline by the Priory of St Nicholas, defended by iron cannons pointing out to sea.

While the resort is separated by channels, they are criss-crossed by river buses, linking each part of the town.

Carefree ambience

Head off in another direction into the centre, where the Notre Dame Church is hemmed in, and you come out at the covered market with all its produce.

Wander round and cut through to the promenade and walk barefoot on the beach or take a refreshing sea swim.

Sunday mornings brings out the locals; promenading, swimming, performing yoga and tai chi on the beach, or walking, as a form of group exercise through the pull of the waves.

Yet in contrast to this carefree coastal ambience, the levels of activity were picking up within the Golden Globe race village.

Final preparations

As the clock ticked towards departure, skippers made final preparations, conducted interviews, and said farewells.

While some had rousing send-offs, others slipped quietly from their berths for the months of solitude, lack of sleep and physical and mental challenges that lay ahead.

It posed the question, why do it?

For some, it was a one-off, once-in-a-lifetime challenge; others saw it as one adventure in a career of further ocean-going racing exploits; while some were seasoned racers wanting to stretch their skills to the limit.

Landmark goals

For Ian Herbert-Jones, 52, from Shropshire, there was the personal challenge, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to sail single-handed around the world unassisted.

Having said farewell to his wife Sally, 21-year-old twin sons Thomas and Owen, and daughter Emma, 16, he remained acutely aware of the psychological challenge of not being able to contact family and friends.

A former soldier and now a sales director with a software company, he aims to complete the race but has also set landmark goals; getting to Cape Town or Australia, whilst meeting the risks of sailing in the Southern Ocean with high fierce winds, the 50-foot waves, and the possibility of capsizing.

Emotional farewells

With cabins crammed with food and other bare essentials, and a reliance on rainwater capture to drinking water, it was just after 1.30pm on the afternoon of Sunday, September 4 th , that Puffin and the other vessels left the shelter of Port Olona.

It was to be a last contact with home, loved ones, support crews and supplies, until the end of the race, possibly 300 days away.

From emotional farewells on the quayside, and the harbour walls of Les Sables d’Olonne lined with well-wishers, the competitors were followed out into the open sea for the official start by a flotilla of press boats, small vessels and official craft, as well as two French Navy ships just out to sea.

Returning to Les Sables d’Olonne

As the clock ticked on to 4pm local time, a blast from the horn of the naval vessel signalled the start of Golden Globe 2022.

The race has a high attrition rate as the small vessels battle some of the most ferocious seas and weather conditions on earth, but among the skippers there is this huge desire to complete the race and return to Les Sables d’Olonne.

Funnily enough, that’s my goal too.

Having discovered the resort and its attractions, I also made a vow to return, though not with a single-handed 250-day round-the-world yacht journey in between.

Mark Nicholls flew easyJet from London Gatwick to Nantes with a 90-minute transfer to Les Sables d’Olonne. There are also good rail connections with Paris.

Accommodation: The Originals Boutique Admiral’s Hotel , close to the marina.

Paddle boarding at Terrasse des Salines: www.lessalines.fr

E-scooters: www.libert-e-trott.com

Vendée Tourism: www.vendee-tourism.co.uk

Les Sables d’Olonne: www.lessablesdolonne-tourisme.com

Golden Globe Challenge at-a-glance

The Golden Globe Challenge originally took place in 1968 as the first solo, non-stop, round-the-world race and was won by Robin Knox-Johnston. It was revived in 2018 on the 50 th anniversary and won by 73-year-old Jean-Luc Van Den Heede after 212 days at sea. The third edition retains the core, solitary, ethos of the earlier editions without technical assistance and GPS and using the same equipment as the first race in 1968. But it allows for greater interaction with competitors with five points of passage where the skippers can transmit photos and videos.

The 2022 skippers include Guy Waites, Ian Herbert-Jones, Ertan Beskardes and Simon Curwen from the UK; South African skipper and the only woman, Kirsten Neuschäfer; Pat Lawless from Ireland; Abhilash Tomy from India; American sailors Guy de Boer and Elliott Smith, at 27, the youngest competitor; and Canadian Edward Walentynowicz, at 69, the oldest.

Boats must be production models, designed before 1988 and be no longer than 35 feet.

For more information or to follow the race, please visit: www.goldengloberace.com .

Mark Nicholls is an award-winning freelance travel writer and author, based in the UK and has written for a range of national titles, specialist magazines and international websites and operated as a war correspondent in locations such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Photographs by Mark Nicholls

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High emotion as the 2022 Golden Globe Race sets off around the world

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TWO CLASSES

The next edition of The Ocean Race will be open to two classes of high-performance ocean-going racing yachts

The Ocean Race 2022-23 features two fleets of highperformance ocean-going racing yachts – both are capable of high speeds and in the right conditions can cover 600 nautical miles or more in 24-hours. The 60-foot IMOCA Class is racing around the world for The Ocean Race Trophy, while the 65-foot VO65 Class is racing for The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup over three legs: Leg 1 from Alicante, Spain to Cabo Verde, Leg 6 from Aarhus, Denmark to The Hague in the Netherlands, and Leg 7 from The Hague to Genova, Italy.

Perhaps best known for single-handed or doublehanded racing, the IMOCAs will race with a full crew for their first participation in The Ocean Race.

The IMOCA Class uses a development design rule which allows the designers to experiment with hull and sail shapes within set parameters. However, masts, booms and standing rigging are one-design.

Like the VO65, IMOCAs also have a powerful sail plan and a canting keel, but the class rules also allow the use of retractable underwater foils which further boost performance by lifting the boat partially out of the water.

• 60-foot (18.3 metres) carbon construction single hull yachts
• Built to a development rule, so designers can experiment within hull and sail shapes within set parameters
• Raced by mixed sex crews of four or five sailors
• A weighted swinging keel and a pair of retractable underwater foils dramatically boost performance
• Capable of travelling over 600 nautical miles in 24 hours

Having previously raced around the world in the last two editions of The Ocean Race, in the 2022-23 race the VO65s are racing over three legs for The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup.

Built to a strict one-design rule, the boats are identical in every way, and therefore extremely evenly matched.

 A towering sail plan along with a weighted keel that can be canted horizontally underneath the boat make the VO65s powerful and fast in open ocean conditions. 

• 65-foot (20-metre) single hull carbon construction yachts
• built to a one-design rule, so identical hull and sail design
• raced by mixed sex crews of minimum seven sailors
• a weighted swinging keel gives the boat huge leverage and power
• capable of travelling over 600 nautical miles in 24 hours

Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

Practical ideas from the Ocean Globe Race yacht Galiana WithSecure

• Katy Stickland
• August 14, 2024

Katy Stickland finds clever design features which can be adapted for cruising yachts while sailing the Swan 55, Galiana WithSecure

Galiana WithSecure was built in 1969, making the yacht the oldest taking part in the 2023 Ocean Globe Race. Credit: Don McIntyre/Ocean Globe Race 2023 Credit: Don McIntyre/Ocean Globe Race 2023

Most cruising boats are unlikely to sail the miles or through the conditions the Sparkman & Stephens-designed Galiana WithSecure has just experienced.

The Swan 55 and her Finnish crew have just raced 30,000 miles around the world, through the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans, around Cape Horn and faced tailwinds with 60-knot gusts and 10m seas while taking part in the retro 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race , held to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Whitbread Round the World Race.

The owner and skipper of Galiana WithSecure , Tapio Lehtinen, was an amateur sailor who, at the age of 23, was given the opportunity to crew on the 1981 Finnish Whitbread entry, Skopbank of Finland .

It planted a seed that eventually blossomed into his Ocean Globe Race project.

Rather than offer paid-for-berth places, Lehtinen put together a team of young Finnish sailors to launch a new generation of ocean-racing Finns.

Galiana WithSecure’s crew sailed 10,000 miles on the yacht before the race start. Credit: Aida Valceanu/Ocean Globe Race 2023

Ville Norra is Galiana WithSecure’s first mate (Lehtinen calls him the yacht’s co-skipper) and was pivotal in making this dream a reality.

The creative director and advertising entrepreneur has been involved with Tapio Lehtinen Sailing since October 2019 and was responsible for taking Lehtinen’s ideas for the boat and making them work.

En route from Gosport to the Kiel Canal in Germany, Norra explained how he worked through the design process for many of these ideas, which can be adapted for cruising yachts.

“Tapio is the idea generator and came up with many ideas. It takes a lot of time, effort and work to make those dreams come true; he always wants it to be perfect, which I understand. I like to spend a lot of time thinking about the idea, drawing it out on paper and on the computer, doing 3D modelling so I can really think through each idea to get them right.”

The crew spent two seasons sailing Galiana WithSecure 10,000 miles ahead of the race; this allowed them to explore any planned changes, and make sure it was right for the boat and the crew.

The subsequent refit was also carried out in two stages; the first in 2021 saw alterations to the basic structure of the boat, including building bulkheads, refitting the deck, and removing the companionway from the aft cabin as the boat’s low freeboard meant it was prone to being pooped making the aft cabin wet.

Galiana WithSecure was then sailed from Helsinki to France for the start of the 2022 Golden Globe Race; Tapio Lehtinen, who had come fifth in the 2018 edition, was racing again in his Gaia 36, Asteria .

The voyage to France allowed the team “to gain even more experience and help us decide what should be changed on the boat”, and the French mast manufacturer, Marechal to finalise details of the new, stronger rig.

“No boat is ever perfect. When sailing, you just make notes of those things that aren’t perfect,” explained Norra. “There will be some obvious things, but other necessary modifications will only become obvious over time. Where we fitted the handholds on Galiana WithSecure is one example of that. Whenever one of the crew put their hand out for a hold and it wasn’t there, we marked the spot. When the boat is heeling and slamming in the waves, and you find yourself repeatedly grabbing for a handhold at the same spot, you know that is where it should go.”

Other changes were more evident. The boat’s original saloon was remodelled; the huge dining table, U-shaped sofa and TV cupboard were removed in favour of necessary bunks; Galiana WithSecure was one of the few Ocean Globe Race boats where the crew were assigned their own bunks, each with lee cloths.

The table has stainless steel extensions for support. Credit: Katy Stickland

The bunks are only 60cm wide or the wider ones can be made that width with an extra leecloth – you need to sleep snugly when the boat is rolling when sailing downwind.

“The saloon is in the middle of the boat and is the most stable place when you’re out at sea so it is the best place to sleep. Then the other change was we modified all of the bunks so they are aligned with the keel and not the sides of the boat so it doesn’t matter which tack you’re on – port or starboard – you will never be sleeping with your feet above your head. This was another of Tapio’s ideas,” said Norra.

A lip prevents the stainless steel extensions for the table from falling out. Credit: Katy Stickland

The original dining table was replaced with the table from Asteria , but this needed reinforcing.

“I got really frustrated with the wooden supports of the folding table and whenever one of the 100kg guys would lean on the table, it was ‘crack’ and then, ‘Ville, can you repair the table again!’; so I decided to make changes,” said Norra.

Stainless steel extensions were fabricated to support the table when in use. Each has a lip to prevent the rod from sliding out when the boat is heeled.

Holes were drilled into the extensions so that when not in use, they can be screwed securely underneath the table.

The table’s stainless steel extensions are secured by a bolt and wingnut when not in use. Credit: Katy Stickland

Vertical steel bars were installed through the table and bolted to the structure below the cabin sole and the deck above.

Useful grab rails, these bars also stored head torches. Four holes were drilled into the tabletop for a vice, and extra bolts were fitted to the drawers storing heavy tools.

The boat’s batteries are below the port settee and when fitted, there was a spare 10cm space above them in the locker.

Rather than let this go to waste, this space became storage for the tools used daily.

Tools used daily are stored above the batteries; the foam prevents them from moving. Credit: Katy Stickland

“We decided that by putting foam at the bottom of this space and foam on the top of the lid, we’d be left with an 8cm space protected by foam which is where we stored the tools we regularly needed. You can just throw them in there and they stay in place and do not make any noise,” said Norra.

As part of the boat’s refit, the original chart table was moved into the aft cabin and the now vacant area became the ‘boiler room’, where the crew stored their wet kit.

It is directly opposite the companionway and the galley, which together became the boat’s ‘wet area’.

For extra protection, all of the electronics and electrics were moved from the side of the boat and two Safire diesel heaters and a diesel generator were installed behind the boiler room bulkhead; one blowing hot air forward, the other blowing hot air aft.

Steel pipes were fitted in the boiler room and air from the heaters was diverted to allow gloves, hats and boots to be dried.

No soggy boots and gloves thanks to the bespoke drying system in the boiler room. Credit: Katy Stickland

“This drying system is based on Tapio’s original idea. We fitted longer ‘organ’ pipes so boots could be put on them upside down, and then smaller ones were attached to the boiler room wall for gloves and hats. They were very effective, even drying out the boots,” explained Norra.

Electric ventilation was also added.

The aft cabin had a sliding door to keep it dry. A canvas door, which could be rolled away, was also fitted to close the bulkhead opening in the saloon.

The canvas door, which can be rolled away, kept the main saloon dry. Credit: Katy Stickland

An extra door was installed in the aft heads so it could be used by the crew on watch and prevent the living quarters of the boat from getting wet.

As anyone sailing in cooler climes will tell you, condensation is an ongoing battle.

To combat this, 10-30mm of closed-cell insulation foam was glued under the lower surface of the deck and inside the freeboards/sides of the boat.

This also made the boat warmer and quieter in heavy weather.

Ville Norra fits the Plexiglass hatch covers which helped prevent condensation from dripping into the living quarters. Credit: Katy Stickland

Plexiglass panels were fashioned for each of the hatches. These were fixed in place using Velcro to help prevent condensation from dripping into the living quarters.

An “astiankuivauskaappi” is found in most Finnish kitchens. This is a dish-drying cabinet above the sink which has an open bottom and wire rack or dowling rod shelving and is used to store washed-up dishes, crockery and cutlery.

A carpenter built and installed one with wire shelving above the sink on Galiana WithSecure , with an extra safety catch to prevent the contents from falling out.

The drying cupboard allows plates and cups to be securely stowed while they dry. Credit: Katy Stickland

The yacht also has two fridges; when closed, these provide a 1m-long countertop for food preparation.

But, having so much space meant mugs, plates and food could easily slide around when the boat heeled. To counter this, Norra fashioned a piece of 4x2in teak which could be slotted between the two fridges, making the countertop useable without losing space.

A piece of teak 4×2 helps make the fridge countertop space more useable. Credit: Katy Stickland

Safety is paramount on any boat, especially when sailing offshore or solo, and many of the ideas aboard Galiana WithSecure reflected this.

Steel poles were installed parallel to the upper bunks, making it easier for crew to climb up into their bunks, especially for those sleeping on the windward side.

Safety belts were also fitted to bunks.

Safety belts on the bunks

With the closing of the aft companionway, the design of the main companionway was changed to make it as safe as possible and a doghouse was added over the original hatch, which remained, to make it as watertight as possible.

This was modelled on two of Olin Stephen’s classic yawls from the 1930s – Comet and Manitou .

A doghouse kept the hatch watertight. Credit: Katy Stickland

“The companionway steps from the cabin top used to be almost vertical,” said Norra. “We changed it so the angle was as big as possible but safe so we could utilise every inch of the boat. Initially, we thought it would be super heavy but it has turned out to be very practical. It’s something you can rely on and lean on in all weathers. It is not just a staircase but acts as two ‘walls’ – one for the boiler room and one for the galley. There are very sturdy handrails too.”

I can vouch for the usefulness of these ‘walls’, especially when putting on gear during watch changes in tailwinds that were gusting 50 knots.

The companionway steps, which also served as a useful ‘wall’ for the crew when they were changing out of their wet kit. Credit: Katy Stickland

Norra also bolted a teak rod to the floor at the boiler room entrance which can be used as a support while changing.

“Before the wood was there, we would slip and slide all over the place,” noted Norra.

A teak rod was an excellent foot brace. Credit: Katy Stickland

Grab bags were stored next to the boat’s exit by the companionway stairs and secured with a carabiner to make them easy to release.

Chafe is the bane of any sailor’s life, even more so if the boat is being pushed hard while racing.

On Galiana WithSecure , leather chafe protectors were made for the running backstays.

For running rigging , it’s important to route all the lines so chafe will be avoided.

The leather chafe protectors did an excellent job. Credit: Katy Stickland

Where this wasn’t possible, the team’s sailmaker, Alex von Flittner, sewed extra Dyneema covers on lines where they touch shrouds etc to try and protect them as much as possible.

The engine throttle in the cockpit was replaced with a Spinlock winch handle, which could be removed when racing to prevent lines from becoming caught.

The sail plan was also changed, with three furling headsails in front of the mast, a fully battened main and a mizzen.

This was the same as Asteria ’s rig set-up, which Lehtinen believes is safer and helps the boat shift gears more quickly; rather than changing from one genoa to another, the crew just used the furling headsails.

It also minimised risk, as crew spent less time on deck at the front of the mast.

“To be honest, some of the team wondered if we really needed the three furling headsails as we were not sailing solo and had enough crew on board to change sails,” said Norra.

“But while racing, we understood just how practical they were as we could change the sails in three minutes, changing from genoa to double-header and back and forth as the weather changed. If we had to keep taking the sails down and up, then it would have taken half an hour every time, so we were fast to react to the changing winds.”

The Dyneema preventer. Credit: Katy Stickland

A preventer was also rigged for safety.

Made from Dyneema, the length of the boom, it could be used on either side and hung under the boom when not in use.

The foreguys are run to the cockpit and the leeward line can be used as the preventer when attached to the forward end of the Dyneema line.

The preventer rigged; it can be used on either side. Credit: Katy Stickland

“This set-up gave a good angle for the preventer and allowed us to get it really tensioned. We also used the preventer in lighter winds or when there was no wind. Often in little wind, with your mainsail up, the boom is swinging and slamming and this actually throws the wind off the sail. Using the preventer allowed us to keep the boom very rigid and tight, as well as secure; it could also be controlled from the cockpit,” said Norra.

No decision has yet been made as to whether Galiana WithSecure will be on the start line of the 2027 Ocean Globe Race, but if this classic yawl is, you can be sure that more clever ideas will be realised to make her as practical as possible.

Tabarly’s chart table

The gimballed chart table. Credit: Katy Stickland

Perhaps a bit extreme for an every day cruising boat, the gimballed chart table on Galiana WithSecure does deserve a mention for its clever design.

It was built and installed as a nod to one of Lehtinen’s heroes, French sailor Éric Tabarly, who had full-size gimballed chart tables on all of his Pen Duick yachts; Pen Duick VI has a Harley-Davidson seat.

The chart table on Galiana WithSecure can be adjusted, depending on the heel of the boat. A Harley Davidson seat can also be moved and has five different positions for comfort.

“The chart table can be adjusted to heeling angles of 12.5° and 25° to make it level but we realised that the 25° is slightly too much, so maybe 20° would have been better,” explained Norra.

The Harley Davidson seat. Credit: Katy Stickland

To change the angle of the chart table, there is a screw underneath that locks into the desired position.

“We have been discussing if we would modify this, so rather than a screw, we would use a pressure mechanism so it is easier to change, especially in heavy weather,” added Norra

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