catamaran race around the world

GLOBE 40: A LIFELONG DREAM

The GLOBE 40 is a Round the World race, which is accessible to both informed amateurs and professional skippers. It is a Round the World, which combines competitive performance, adventure and travel, a Round the World whose course takes skippers off the beaten track and offers up some unique stopovers, a Round the World on a craft that is accessible both competitively and financially.

The Class40 is the benchmark monohull for offshore racing with the 60-foot Imoca Vendée Globe.

It is an international support which gives the Globe40 a planetary dimension.

The 1st edition of the Globe40 has been given in Tangier, Morocco on June 26, 2022. This will be the first offshore race start on African soil.

After more than 30,000 miles sailed and 8 legs crossed, the arrival of the Globe40 will be in Lorient, the leading European hub for ocean racing.

A double race

The Globe40 is a double-handed race with the possibility of changing one of the two skippers at each stage.

The race program

Tangier the great start venue.

• Start from Tangier on June 26, 2022
• Arrival of the first Class40 in Cape verde on July 05, 2022
• Start from Cape Verde on July 17, 2022

Mauritius Island

• Arrival of the first Class40 in Mauritus island on August 18, 2022
• Start from Mauritius island on septembre 11, 2022
• Arrival of the first Class40 in Auckland on Octobre 06, 2022
• Start from Auckland on Octobre 29, 2022 at 12pm
• Arrival of the first Class40 in Tahiti on Novembre 08, 2022
• Start from Tahiti on Novembre 26, 2022
• Arrival of the first Class40 in Ushuaia on Decembre 15, 2022
• Start from Ushuaia on January 08th, 2023
• Arrival of the first Class40 in Recife on 25th January 2023
• Start from Recife on 5th February 2023

Grenada island

• Arrival of the first Class40 in Grenada island on 14th February 2023
• Start from Grenada island on 24th February 2023

Lorient Agglomeration

• Arrival of the first Class40 in Lorient Agglomeration on March 13, 2023

CANADIAN MELODIE SCHAFFER BACK ON THE GLOBE40

VIRTUAL REGATTA AND THE GLOBE40 LAUNCH A 2ND VIRTUAL EDITION IN 2024

INTERVIEW – LISA BERGER

INTERVIEW – MUSSULO 40 JOSÉ CALDAS

INTERVIEW – INTERACTION TEAM VOILE YANNIG ET ERWAN LIVORY

INTERVIEW – JANGADA 40

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The Ultim single-handed round the world race - Green light for 2023!

Article published on 08/07/2021

By Emmanuel van Deth

published in n°SP16 aug. / sept.

For 15 years now, race organizers, skippers and sponsors have been dreaming of THE great universal race - a single-handed round-the-world race on board large ocean-going trimarans. This project is now becoming a reality - OC Sport Pen Duick announced on July 7 th , 2021 that this race will take place in 2023, in collaboration with the Ultim 32/23 Class. 

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It will have been necessary to wait until these incredible flying machines had proved to have sufficient reliability, and that the race schedule fits in with other races, along with many other factors... The announcement was apparently very well received by the skippers. Several have already formalized their commitment to enter:  Actual  (Yves Le Blevec),  Banque Populaire  (Armel Le Cléac'h),  Brest Ultim Sailing  (TBC),  Maxi Edmond de Rothschild  (Charles Caudrelier) and  Sodebo  (Thomas Coville). As for SVR-Lazartigue, a project led by François Gabart, they are willing in theory. The start and finish port should be the city of Brest, in Brittany, unless there is a major change of plans.

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Latest News: Winners and losers Leg 4 of McIntyre Ocean Globe Race

days hrs mins secs

2023 Ocean Globe Race announces Ocean Village Southampton UK as start port

• UK start for the 50th anniversary celebration of the first 1973 Whitbread Race saved by anonymous corporate partner and MDL Marinas bringing this iconic sailing race home to Southampton
• Tracy Edwards and her Maiden team, the only UK entrant in the OGR, are excited to relive their Whitbread dream once again and race around the world
• 15 yachts including six previous Whitbread entrants and one Whitbread winner confirmed for the September 10th OGR start

When Don McIntyre decided in 2015 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ever Whitbread crewed race around the world, it had to start in the UK. That’s where the Whitbread story began.

He did the same thing when deciding to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race which also started from the UK. Sadly no support came from British ports so the 2018 GGR went to Les Sables d’Olonne in France (home of the Vendee Globe) where it was welcomed with open arms and strong investment that generated US$185m in media returns. The third edition GGR2022 is due to finish there in a few weeks.

Until now it looked like the Ocean Globe Race was going the same way. In an October 2022 press release announcing Cape Town, Auckland and Punta Del Este as the OGR stopover ports and after years of trying, OGR announced that ‘sadly UK ports are not interested in hosting the start and finish of this epic adventure and historic occasion’. Final discussions were underway with European ports for the hosting rights.

Fortunately that statement was picked up by a large corporate entity with UK connections. They felt strongly that the OGR should stay in the UK. At the same time MDL Marinas wanted to save the event for the UK as a celebration of their own 50th anniversary. They were passionate about bringing this iconic sailing race back to Southampton and their Ocean Village Marina , the home of so many previous Whitbread races. A deal was struck with both parties and now Ocean Village Southampton is the home of the OGR! This is a huge win for the UK that has seen other significant events move to Europe.

I am absolutely thrilled to have MDL onboard for the 2023 Ocean Globe Race and starting from Ocean Village in Southampton is a personal dream for me. Now, in September, the UK public and sailors everywhere will be able to celebrate an important part of their maritime culture with a true recreation of those first amateur sailors racing into the unknown! Don McIntyre, Ocean Globe Race Founder & Owner of McIntyre Adventure

On 10 September 2023, over 160 sailors will depart Ocean Village onboard the 15 yachts to complete the four leg, 30,000 mile race around the world via the three great capes; Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, Australia’s Cape Leeuwin, and South America’s notorious Cape Horn. Onboard the privately-owned, pre-1988 classic sailing boats, the international, mixed-gender crews will have no GPS, no high-tech equipment and no computers. They will navigate using only a sextant, paper charts and the stars with all communications by HF SSB radios. They will return in April 2024.

Six of the yachts competing have taken part in one or more of the Whitbread races (including the first French yacht to ever win the Whitbread) to which they are now paying homage. One of the most notable is Tracy Edwards ’ Farr 58 Maiden . In 1990, Tracy triumphantly brought home the first ever all-female Whitbread crew onboard Maiden to Ocean Village Marina. At the time, it was estimated that almost 50,000 people came to witness this momentous event, which helped to turn the tide on women’s participation in sailing.

What better way to celebrate MDL Marina’s 50th anniversary than to join forces with Don McIntyre to bring the Ocean Globe Race to life to celebrate the iconic Whitbread Round the World race as it also turns 50. By hosting the start of this retro edition of the historic race at our Ocean Village Marina, we’re hoping to recreate the jubilant atmosphere of the early races, welcoming crowds of supporters, capturing the imagination of visitors and inspiring the next generation of round the world sailors. Working closely with Southampton City Council and McIntyre Adventure it’s an honor and privilege to be part of this event, building on Southampton’s already proud maritime heritage. And there’s plenty of opportunities for businesses, both marine and non-marine, to be front and centre of all the action at the Race Village. Tim Mayer, Sales and Marketing Director at MDL Marinas

The Race Village at Ocean Village Marina will open on 26 August 2023, two weeks prior to the start of the race on 10 September. During the run up to the start, the Race Village will host speakers, pre-race activities, past race screenings, hospitality and entertainment as well as the media centre and sailors’ briefing area.

This is very good news indeed! I am delighted to hear that the 50th anniversary celebration of the first Whitbread is starting out of Ocean Village. This OGR will be a great race and huge adventure and tribute to all those original Whitbread sailors. Sir Chay Blyth OGR Patron and Official Starter

This is a chance for all UK sailors and yacht clubs to show they want and support these major events by heading out to the start, visiting the race village or volunteering to help the organisers make the event even bigger!

Any business interested in getting involved and partnering with this historic event in Ocean Village should contact Tim Mayer via [email protected] . For more information on the Ocean Globe Race visit https://oceangloberace.com . For more information on MDL and its marinas visit www.mdlmarinas.co.uk .

Don McIntyre OGR Chairman and Founder

Don McIntyre is the founder and underwriter of the goldengloberace.com the oceangloberace.com and the minigloberace.com . Follow him at mcintyreadventure.com .

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Catamaran Racing In Paradise

• By Todd Riccardi
• April 1, 2022

With St. Barts’ Gustavia Harbor disappearing behind us and the island’s mountainous terrain towering to our right, it feels so good to be sailing into the beautiful Caribbean Sea with a gusty 15-knot breeze and calm seas. Wind and spray rid us of three days of the sweaty boatwork we’ve put in to get our Formula 18 catamaran out of the shipping container, to the beach and meticulously rigged for the St. Barth Cata Cup.

We cruise the coast for a few miles and take in the sights, and suddenly find ourselves in the hard-hitting Atlantic Ocean. We’ve never sailed an F18 in anything like this, with 15-foot whitecapped rollers all around us. Launching off the crest and back down into the troughs of these giants is thrilling, but in the back of my mind, I’m starting to wonder how competitive we’ll be in these crazy conditions. As first-timers to this Cata Cup thing, we might just be out of our league.

The time comes for our first tack. My crew Matt Keenan, who I had pulled back into catamaran sailing after a hiatus, was rediscovering his trapeze skills when he swings into the boat, catches his foot in the hiking strap and tears it right off the trampoline. After a deep breath, I say aloud, “Well, we are going to have to do better than that.”

Keenan agrees, and a few heart-racing miles later we turn it into St. Jean Bay, point our bows toward the white, sandy strip, and run it up like a real beach-cat landing. We’ve arrived in the epicenter of the Cata Cup. It’s 2012, and I’m about to begin a 10-year run of participating in the best catamaran regatta in the world.

A truly one-of-a-kind event, the St. Barth Cata Cup began as a competition between Caribbean-based ­catamaran teams, but was reborn in 2008 as an open catamaran regatta. The switch to Formula 18s came a year later. This “modern version,” as sailors and organizers call it, is the brainchild of a group of locals who formed St. Barth Multihulls. This was the group with a vision to bring professional and amateur cat sailors from around the world to their island. But they didn’t just create another buoy-racing regatta. Their idea of fun is four days of exhilarating distance races, or “raids,” in big winds and big waves matched onshore by world-class social activities.

Competitive racing in a legit, high-caliber international class—in an exotic location and for an absurdly low entry fee—is too good to be true. For the roughly $1,200 entry fee, organizers house us, feed us, provide a rental car, and even ship our boat from Miami.

The hype surrounding the event is noticeable everywhere on the island: Local sponsors go all in, and the community ensures everyone has an amazing time, welcoming the sailors as if they were family. It’s been this way right on up to the 2021 edition, which hosted 62 teams, myself included for the fifth time since 2012. In 2017, only two months after a direct hit from Hurricane Irma, which destroyed buildings and stripped nearly every tree bare of its leaves, organizers made the event happen without missing a beat. Every year, they come back with surprises and changes—from the parties to the racecourses. The event is never exactly the same, and every competitor leaves wanting to come back for more. And it’s also why entry is a lottery, which opens seven months out from the regatta, with many teams not making the cut.

On the morning of my first Cata Cup race back in 2012, I recall the regatta’s principal race officer sounding a horn to gather the competitors around an easel with a big chart and an outline of the course explained in French. Our interpretation of the course is a bit confused, but given our rough delivery sail the day before, we agree to approach the first race conservatively. We have no expectations of actually leading, so our strategy is to follow the boats ahead of us. The only thing we’re certain of is that the windward mark will be set off La Tortue, an aptly named turtle-shaped rock. We’ll just sail in that general direction.

At the start, the wind peaks at 15 knots, and the waves are down to 10 feet. These are new conditions for us, and after sailing upwind for 20 minutes, we stare at a giant pile of rocks awash in the big waves. We realize then that there is no mark. The rocks are the mark. There is no one in front of us.

So much for following the boats ahead of us.

We forge on between La Tortue and the rock pile, oblivious to how close we can go before we have to tack. In this harried moment of uncertainty, Olympian and Volvo Ocean Race veteran Carolijn Brouwer is closing in fast. I’m pretty sure she’s telling us to tack, and I respond, “You first!”

It was a great lesson to learn the adrenaline and skill it takes to navigate the courses at this event, and that you can sail quite close to most of the rocks.

The local sponsorship works by partnering with a team and putting signage on the boats. As luck would have it, we scored the famous and posh Nikki Beach Club, which is right next door to the regatta headquarters, where the majority of the boats sail from. With one or two raids per day, all the competitors return to shore in between races for a satisfying supplied lunch, some beach recovery, and even a nap if needed.

It’s all very civilized, but well-deserved after beating up our bodies every race. Each year, the round-the-island race serves as the pinnacle of the event. Weaving in and out of bays and tearing out into the big seas, there’s a magical mixture of upwind crashing through waves, blast jib reaching, and cruising through pristine waters on the south side of the island. While an opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery, the competitive spirit remains tense to keep racing until the end. On this particular race around, we enjoy a tight battle with Olympian and catamaran legend Enrique Figueroa. Trust me, we’re more than ecstatic to place second to “Quique.” And to top it off, as soon as our bows tap the powder-soft sand, hostesses from our boat sponsor Nikki Beach serve us chilled Champagne. It’s all a bit surreal and unexpected, the overall theme of this event that you must learn to embrace.

While many regattas have a party, the Cata Cup sets a new bar after each day of sailing, with dinner served and followed by a concert from top entertainers. Daily winners are called on stage and given a bottle of fine local rum. And after the prizes are doled out, the band that’s been jetted in for the night ignites the dance floor. During their set break, a slick, professionally edited video projects onto an oversize inflatable screen on the beach. It’s a visual feast of tropical high- performance cat sailing—as if we need to be reminded how lucky we are.

Every time I go and as soon as I step on the island, the smile on my face is permanent for days—no, weeks—afterward. All of us have regatta memories, but this has become a dream I want to relive every year. Thankfully, there are plenty of event videos to hold me over until next year.

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What Are Catamaran Races? (Discover the Exciting World of Catamaran Racing)

Have you ever wanted to experience the thrill of sailing and racing? Then catamaran racing is the perfect activity for you! Catamaran racing is an exciting and adrenaline-filled sport that anyone can enjoy.

In this article, well explore the exciting world of catamaran racing and explain the rules, regulations, and benefits of participating.

Well look at the different types of catamarans used in racing and popular catamaran races around the world.

So, if youre ready to take your sailing and racing skills to the next level, lets dive into the thrilling world of catamaran racing!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Catamaran races are competitive sailing events featuring two-hulled vessels known as catamarans.

These events usually involve several boats competing against each other in a race to the finish line.

The boats are often outfitted with specialized sails and equipment to maximize speed and maneuverability.

It is a popular sport among sailing enthusiasts, and some of the largest catamaran races take place in the Caribbean and South Pacific.

What is a Catamaran?

A catamaran is a type of boat that is characterized by its two hulls and is often used for racing.

Catamarans come in a variety of sizes and designs, ranging from small sailing dinghies to larger racing models.

The two hulls provide stability and allow the boat to move more quickly and efficiently through the water.

Catamarans are usually powered by sail or motor and have a large open deck area, providing plenty of space for people to move around and enjoy the ride.

The two hulls also allow for greater maneuverability, allowing the boat to turn quickly and easily.

This makes catamarans ideal for racing, as they can be maneuvered around tight turns and obstacles with ease.

How do Catamaran Races Work?

Catamaran races are thrilling competitions that involve two-hulled boats, also known as catamarans.

These races require skill, teamwork, and strategy to navigate the course and reach the finish line first.

Competitors must work together to keep their boat balanced and maneuver it around the course quickly and efficiently.

The catamarans used in racing are designed to be lightweight, nimble, and fast.

They have two hulls, one in the front and one in the back, connected by a trampoline-style deck.

This design reduces drag and increases the boats speed.

It also makes it easier for the crew to move around the boat and adjust its trim.

In a typical catamaran race, the competitors will start at the same time and move around a predetermined course.

The course can vary in length and difficulty, and can involve a variety of obstacles such as buoys or other boats.

The goal is to complete the course in the shortest amount of time.

Catamaran races are often held in coastal areas, although they can also take place on lakes and other bodies of water.

The boats used in catamaran racing can vary in size and type, from large racing catamarans to smaller sailing dinghies.

Racing catamarans are typically equipped with a variety of sails, including a spinnaker that is designed to increase the boats speed.

The crew must work together to adjust the sails and trim the boat in order to keep it moving quickly and efficiently around the course.

In addition to having strong sailing skills, the crew also needs to work together as a team.

Each crew member must understand their role on the boat and be able to communicate with the other crew members in order to make quick decisions.

Catamaran races are exciting and fast-paced events that require participants to think strategically and work together as a team.

This type of competition is great for sailors of all skill levels and is sure to provide an adrenaline-filled and thrilling experience.

Rules and Regulations of Catamaran Racing

Catamaran races are competitive sailing events that require strict adherence to rules and regulations. The rules of catamaran racing vary depending on the governing body, but they all have the same overall goal: to ensure the safety and fairness of all participants.

In most cases, a minimum overall boat length is required, usually between 10 and 12 feet.

Boat weight is also regulated, with some governing bodies requiring a minimum weight of 1,500 pounds.

During the race, a crew of at least two people is required, and the crew must remain on the boat at all times.

In addition, all boats must be equipped with certain safety equipment, such as life jackets, flares, and a first-aid kit.

Safety briefings are also required before the race begins, and all participants must be familiar with the local rules and regulations.

Finally, all boats must adhere to a set of rules and regulations regarding the course and race format.

For example, the length of the race, the number of laps, the starting and finish line locations, and any other rules specific to the event must be followed.

By adhering to the rules and regulations of catamaran racing, participants help to ensure a safe and fair race for all involved.

Not only do these regulations ensure the safety of the competitors, but they also help to level the playing field and make the competition more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Benefits of Catamaran Racing

Catamaran racing offers a unique and exciting way to enjoy the sport of sailing.

Not only is it a thrilling and adrenaline-filled experience, but it also has several other benefits that make it a great activity for both beginners and experienced sailors alike.

For starters, the two-hulled design of catamarans provides stability on the water, making it easier for beginners to learn the ropes of sailing.

Secondly, the aerodynamic design of the two hulls allows for faster speeds, which makes for more exciting races and a greater chance of winning.

Finally, the teamwork involved in catamaran racing is an excellent way to build camaraderie among crew members and create a sense of accomplishment when the team succeeds.

Whether youre a seasoned sailor or just getting started, catamaran racing can be a great way to have fun while learning valuable sailing skills.

Preparing for a Catamaran Race

Preparing for a catamaran race requires a great deal of time, dedication, and practice.

Before entering a catamaran race, you must have a thorough understanding of the basics of sailing, as well as the specific rules and regulations associated with the event.

You should also be familiar with the type of boat you will be using, and any other necessary equipment such as sails, safety gear, and navigation instruments.

When preparing for a catamaran race, it is important to take the time to practice in advance.

This will help you become more comfortable with the boat and familiarize yourself with the racecourse.

You should also make sure that all of your safety equipment is in good condition and that the boat is properly maintained, as this will help ensure that you and your crew are protected during the race.

It is also important to have a good understanding of the winds and weather conditions you may encounter during the race.

Knowing how to read the wind and understand how it will affect your boats performance is essential for success.

Before the race, you should also take the time to review the race rules and regulations, as well as any other information that may be relevant to the event.

This will help you identify any potential risks and develop a strategy for success.

Finally, it is important to stay focused and remain calm during the race.

Though it can be exciting and intense, it is important to remain focused on the task at hand and keep your cool.

With the right preparation and a strong team, you can have a successful and exciting catamaran race experience.

Types of Catamarans Used in Racing

Catamaran racing is an exciting and fast-paced sport that requires skill, teamwork, and strategy.

As the name implies, catamarans are two-hulled boats that are used in racing.

There are a variety of different types of catamarans used in racing, ranging from large racing catamarans to smaller sailing dinghies.

For larger racing catamarans, the main hulls are usually between 20 and 40 feet in length, while the bridging deck that connects the two hulls is usually between 10 and 15 feet.

These boats typically have a large, open cockpit that is perfect for maneuvering the boat around the course quickly and efficiently.

The hulls are typically made of fiberglass or aluminum and are designed to provide excellent stability and speed in the water.

Smaller catamarans, such as sailing dinghies, are typically between 10 and 15 feet in length.

These boats are more maneuverable and can be used in smaller coastal areas.

The hulls are typically made of fiberglass or wood and are designed to provide excellent stability in the water.

Regardless of the type of catamaran used, the key to successful catamaran racing is teamwork and strategy.

The crew must work together to keep the boat balanced and maneuver it around the course quickly and efficiently.

This requires a team that knows how to communicate and work together effectively.

With the right strategy and teamwork, catamaran racing can be an exciting and rewarding experience.

Popular Catamaran Races Around the World

Catamaran races are a thrilling and exciting way to explore the world of sailing.

The two-hulled boats provide a unique form of competition that can take place in a variety of coastal areas around the world.

From the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, there are a number of popular and well-known catamaran races that draw in sailing enthusiasts from all over.

One of the most popular catamaran races is the Americas Cup, which takes place in the United States.

This event is held every four years and pits the best catamaran sailing teams from around the world against each other in a series of races.

The competition is fierce as teams battle to take home the title of Americas Cup champion.

Another popular catamaran race is the Cruising Yacht Club of Australias Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

This event is held every December and takes participants from Sydney to Hobart, Australia.

This race has been running since 1945 and is one of the most competitive and prestigious sailing events in the world.

In Europe, the Fastnet Race is a popular catamaran race that takes place in the British Isles.

This event is held every two years and takes sailors around the famous Fastnet Rock, a famous landmark off the coast of Ireland.

This race is considered to be one of the toughest offshore sailing races in the world, and it attracts sailors from all over the globe.

The San Francisco to Los Angeles Catamaran Race is another popular event in the US.

This race takes place every year and takes sailors from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

This race is known for its challenging conditions and unpredictable weather.

No matter where you are in the world, you can find an exciting catamaran race to participate in.

From the Americas Cup to the Fastnet Race, these events are sure to be a thrilling experience for sailing enthusiasts.

Final Thoughts

Catamaran races are an exciting and unique way to experience the thrill of sailing while testing your skills and teamwork.

From the small sailing dinghies used in coastal races to the large racing catamarans used in international events, there is something for everyone.

With the right preparation and understanding of the rules and regulations, anyone can join in on the fun.

So, if you’re looking for a new way to experience sailing, why not give catamaran racing a try?

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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Ultim Challenge : Around the world solo in 40 days with monster trimarans

Andreas Fritsch

 ·  05.01.2024

40 million euros for a boat

Records should tumble with the new ultims, rapid technical development of ultims, cockpits like on the huston mission.

"Later I will be proud to say that I was part of this development when flying boats started to sail across the Atlantic in five to six days and around the world in under 40!" This is how Thomas Coville, "Sodebo" skipper and one of the race participants, summed it up when he described what the Ultim Challenge means to him. And it will indeed be a race of superlatives, a turning point:

Never before in the history of sailing have such large boats competed in a single-handed non-stop race around the world.

So far, only four sailors have managed to circumnavigate the globe in such a large multihull monster, and only in record attempts: Francis Joyon, Ellen MacArthur, Thomas Coville and François Gabart. The Vendée Globe, on the other hand, is almost a popular sporting event.

And from 2017, the year in which Gabart broke his existing record of 42 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes, a new era began: that of the fully foiling monster tris. Then "Edmond de Rothschild" was completed, a design by Guillaume Verdier and the Gitana team. It was the first to fly stably horizontally over the sea at an altitude of several metres. This was followed over the next four years by further new constructions by the Banque Populaire, Sodebo and SVR Lazartigue teams.

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As it is not only a Herculean task to build such a boat, but also to finance it, the number of teams remained manageable. François Gabart's SVR Lazartigue team recently estimated the budget for the construction and four-year operation of such an Ultim at over 40 million euros.

In the newly founded Ultim class, which comprises boats up to 32 metres long and 23 metres wide, this was the starting signal for the new generation of boats that had previously only ever been lonely record chasers. Now, after the Atlantic races, there will be a race around the world. The start and finish is off Brest, more precisely the island of Ouessant, because if one of the skippers manages to beat Gabart's 2017 record during the race, the result will be ratified as a record. In contrast to the Vendée, however, there are some rules that are different.

The skippers are allowed to be routed ashore by the team, as they considered the risk of getting caught in storms with the huge boats too dangerous, and technical repair stops are permitted, but must last at least 24 hours.

However, nobody seriously believes that there is still a chance of victory after that. In this time, the competition would easily gain 600 to 700 miles in good conditions. Charles Caudrelier sailed 880 nautical miles in 24 hours on the return passage of his Tris "Edmond de Rothschild" from the Caribbean after the 2021 Transat. It is likely that the existing record of 908.2 nautical miles set by "Banque Populaire" (2009) will fall in the race. This is because the record holder was not a foiler. The enormous technical development of the boats is demonstrated by the figures that the design office VPLP compared for the race. The engineers compared the polar data of Francis Joyon's "Idec Sport", the record holder for the fastest crewed circumnavigation of the world (40 days, 23 hours), with that of "Edmond de Rothschild". The result: in foil mode, the new ship is 35 per cent faster.

And the technical arms race between the teams continued right up to the start of the race. Three boats already have their second set of foils, while the Gitana team's have even been reworked four times in between. François Gabart, skipper of "SVR Lazartigue", vividly explained just how big the technical challenge is: "There are six foils on the boats whose angle of attack can be adjusted. It takes years to find the best combinations for all conditions!"

At the same time, an aspect that was unusual for offshore sailing began to attract a lot of attention: aerodynamics. A boat that sails at top speeds of around 45 and average speeds of around 35 knots often has gale force on deck due to the sum of real and apparent wind. And so the backs of the beams are clad aerodynamically with foils, furlers and rudders are concealed under covers, and main booms are connected to the deck with flexible panelling.

The tris now often sail at three times the wind speed. From 15 to 16 knots of true wind, the 15-tonne, 105-foot-long colossi lift themselves out of the water.

An Ultim is like a fighter jet for the crew

But what is life like on board? During the last Route du Rhum, YACHT had the opportunity to visit two of the flying projectiles, Thomas Coville's "Sodebo Ultim" and "SVR Lazartigue", skippered at the time by François Gabart. The tour initially leaves visitors in awe. Brute size meets elegant beauty, and the "SVR Lazartigue" in particular appears almost fragile. Boarding the monster, you feel like a dwarf in the land of giants. Foils that rise four metres above deck level. Hydraulic cylinders as thick as your thigh. Masts that two people can't grasp. Winches that look more like oil drums. Trampolines the size of tennis courts.

"SVR Lazartigue" also looks like a fighter jet: instead of a classic cockpit, there are two glass domes. And there are actually car steering wheels, reminiscent of a Formula 1 racer. The boat is a flush decker, so the boom can end just above the hull. The trim and navigation centre are located underneath, hidden deep in the belly of the centre hull. This is better aerodynamically.

It gets really futuristic when you stand in the closed cockpit. Batteries of screens with columns of numbers for dozens of pieces of data: Angle of attack of foils, loads on stays, inclination of the masts that can be tilted to windward. Autopilot, wind displays, plotter, speed are all on top. In between, a plethora of hydraulic rotary switches: Foil rake, outhaul tensioner, forestay pressure - there are up to 20 hydraulic cylinders in use on the boats. All of them are operated using muscle power via a grinder. This makes it impressively clear what a mammoth task the skipper has to master. His futuristic bucket seat stands alone in the centre of it all.

The race will now show which of them is best able to tame their monster. They will also need a bit of luck. Given the high speeds of the boats, collisions with even small pieces of flotsam became the main problem. Four record attempts had to be cancelled as a result. None of them got further than the Kerguelen Islands. Thomas Coville foresaw this when he added to his assessment of the historic event of the race around the world: "Of course, the beginning of this era can be a bit chaotic." It will be interesting to see how much.

More about the Ultim Callenge:

• These are the favourites for the solo race around the world
• "Changing sails is a nightmare, you're completely exhausted afterwards!"

Most read in category Regatta

The boom in around the world racing for all

• Elaine Bunting
• July 27, 2021

There is something of a boom currently in around the world racing, with six new pro-am events set to bring the ultimate sailing feat within affordable reach. Elaine Bunting investigates

Have you ever dreamed of sailing in an around the world race, passing Cape Horn or surfing down the face of a breaking wave deep in the Southern Ocean ? In your imagination you’ve pictured yourself standing behind the wheel of a yacht racing under a spinnaker tight as a snare drum, hosed by spray and wearing a rictus grin of fear and exhilaration.

In real life? No chance. But now, maybe you could, even if only for that one, giant-slaying leg.

From 2022 a clutch of new round the world events are set to start that open up big ocean racing possibilities at costs that align with private yacht ownership. There are double-handed races, solo races , non-stop and stopping, through the Tropics and deep into the Southern Ocean.

Some mix professionals with experienced amateurs and offer a chance to race against the pros, or hire pros to race alongside you. Several are specifically tailored to older yachts and in the process are remaking a ready market for well-found evergreen cruiser-racers.

Compared to pinnacle races such as the Vendée Globe or The Ocean Race , each with a ticket price of €10-15 million to reach the podium, a variety of epic events are now taking off with very different entry costs.

Golden Globe goes again

Next year will see the second edition of the Golden Globe Race . The ‘retro’ solo event set up by Australian sailor and adventurer Don McIntyre may initially have been seen as a one-off celebration of the 50th anniversary of the famous 1968/69 race, but it proved to be a hit worldwide, earning a mass audience and producing a queue of sailors wishing to take part and experience around the world racing.

With a home in Les Sables d’Olonne, where this race alternates with the Vendée Globe, the Golden Globe is now set up to be a perennial of the racing calendar. While it is not an event aspired to by elite professionals, it is a raw and relatively affordable around the world race for the everyman sailor.

Finnish skipper Tapio Lehtinen and his Gaia 36 Asteria pass Hobart during the 2018/19 Golden Globe Race. Photo: Jessie Martin/PPL/GGR

Being slow by nature of its eligible pre-1988 long keel designs, the GGR replicates the exact ‘lonely race for madmen’ experience that initially ignited our enduring fascination for around the world racing.

Stripped of modern technology, from autopilots to communications to weather routing, and with no stops, it is comparatively inexpensive. Jean-Luc Van Den Heede ’s winning yacht in 2019 was a Rustler 36, of which secondhand models change hands for around £80-100,000. “You can’t win the race with money, as boats and equipment are restricted,” says Don McIntyre.

There is already a strong line-up for the 2022 race. “The [next] edition is going to have a different feel,” says McIntyre. “Those entering this one know what to expect and there are three distinct groups: the ones who are passionate about winning, others with a wholesome attitude focussed on doing as well as they can, and a third group who just want to get round.

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“PRB will come back with Damien Guillou, an IMOCA skipper and seven times Figaro racer, with a fully funded campaign – the PRB boss went looking for a skipper. Then we have Graham Dalton [Grant Dalton’s brother and former Around Alone competitor]. He has bought Matmut , Van Den Heede’s old boat, and will spend months working it up.”

Finnish sailor Tapio Lehtinen is returning, and Indian sailor Abhilash Tomy, capsized and dismasted in the Southern Ocean , is also rumoured to want to come back.

Undoubtedly the most experienced sailor will be the enigmatic David Scott Cowper , whose multiple solo circumnavigations and polar expeditions in small boats over 40 years is the stuff of legend.

Some pundits are still sniffy about the GGR, its slow boats and proportion of older skippers. Others point to the lack of technology increasing the risks of this race, which had a 27% finish rate last time with five dismastings and four abandonments out of a fleet of 18.

The race is not endorsed by a national sailing federation or subject to World Sailing safety requirements. However, it’s hard to make a watertight argument about safety considering the historic retirement rate of the Vendée Globe.

Whitbread rebooted

Of all the races set to go round the world in the next two years, the Ocean Globe Race in 2023 is causing the biggest stir. The largest of the retro races imagined by Don McIntyre in terms of boat size and likely fleet numbers, the OGR has caught light in the imaginations of sailors of all backgrounds, from boat owners to professionals, and others who see potential to make this the ultimate ‘pay-to-play’ experience.

Accutrac competed in the 1977/78 Whitbread Round the World Race and has been reimagined as Translated 9 for the Ocean Globe Race. Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

The OGR unashamedly places its heritage in the Whitbread Round the World Races of the 1970s and 1980s, when amateurs and professionals raced together, cruiser-racers could win, and before niche specialisms replaced all-round seamanship.

McIntyre argues that it also stands against the inbuilt obsolesce of modern races by giving new life to older boats, in this case chiefly pre-1988 glassfibre production yachts of 47-68ft.

The route is a simple one that mirrors the Whitbread Races over four legs, stopping in South Africa, Australia or New Zealand, before rounding Cape Horn and back to Europe.

McIntyre says: “We are nearly full with a maximum of 35 boats already. We knew it would be big.”

ADC Accutrac in the 1977/78 Whitbread Round the World Race Photo: Jonathan Eastland/Ajax News

There are several classes: the Adventure class for listed yachts such as the S&S-designed Swan 47, 48 and Frers Swan 55, 46, 51 and 53, for which entries have already closed.

There is also the Sayula class for 56-66ft yachts, with a range of Swans plus the Nicholson 55 eligible; and the Flyer class, which can include any yacht of any length that entered in the 1973-81 Whitbreads or historically significant sail training yachts.

A further Classic Challenge is for approved Maxis from the 1985 Whitbread and Whitbread/Volvo 60s.

The Adventure, Sayula and Flyer classes share the ‘back to basics’ concept of the Golden Globe Race (although with a weird rule that modern equipment such as GPS, chartplotters, AIS and PLBs are all behind a locked screen that “two people on board sworn to secrecy can look to check this equipment and use it for MOB situations,” says McIntyre).

On the other hand the Classic Challenge in Whitbread/VO60s allows the technology of its era and will possibly sail a different course. Now-classic Whitbread yachts such L’Esprit d’équipe/ Export 33 , Maiden , ADC Accutrac and King’s Legend are already entered.

Some are setting out to take part in a race they always wanted to do. “Dominique Dubois, who owns the Multiplast yard, went and bought a Swan 651 and is getting 25 of his friends together with a chef on board,” says McIntyre. “Some of the big names, front line F1 sailors, want to sail with him.”

Another who is looking at entering is Andrew Pindar, long-time sponsor of round the world yachts and Vendée sailors. He has two eligible VO60s, the former Assa Abloy and News Corp , both from 2000. “This is about reusing and repurposing boats in a world [away from] an arms race, and for people to go back to celebrating what’s been achieved in half a century. It’s wonderful,” he says.

“I’d love to go back to that era of sailors who have ended up in coaching roles but who have at least one more race left in them, people like Brad Jackson or Guillermo Altadill, 50-55-year-olds who are amazing sailors, and team them up with people who have a great competence but who didn’t choose that path and maybe went on to become accountants or lawyers. They would never get a place on an Ocean Race or an Ultime , and wouldn’t want to do it in a Class 40 .”

Pindar can foresee a strong class of VO60s raced on a “high level pro-am basis”, with paying crew coming from people buying a “life experience”. Or, perhaps “a bunch of legends and the other half mentees from something like the Magenta Project [a programme to accelerate women into pro racing].”

Swan 59 Icebear will enter the Ocean Globe Race. Photo: 59° North Sailing

That mix of private owner and their friends, and of professional sailors and paying crew, could make the OGR enduringly popular. Andy Schell, who is planning to race his Swan 59, Icebear , with three other professionals and seven paying crew, says the places he can offer have already been snapped up at US$32,000-$40,000 per leg and $100,000 for all four legs.

Around in miniature

A third race being planned by Don McIntyre in 2024 is a new event called the Mini Globe. This is a race for 19ft one-design plywood kit yachts round the world from northern Europe via the Canary Islands, Panama, Marquesas, Tahiti, Tonga, Indonesia, Mauritius, Cape Town and Cape Verde.

The concept echoes the somewhat cultish microyacht voyagers who have followed John Guzzwell’s circumnavigation in the 21ft wooden yawl Trekka in the 1950s and Shane Acton’s circumnavigation in the 18ft Shrimpy in the 1970s.

This circumnavigation will be via the tropics, at latitudes above 40° and will take around 13-14 months. The schedule is based on a pursuit format, with each start date set only after 15% of the racers finish the previous leg.

The 5.80m one-design created for this event was designed by Polish designer Janusz Maderski. It is actually smaller than the Mini 6.50 class that is raced across the Atlantic in the Mini Transat .

A build package is available either as a kit, or you can buy the plywood, plans and CNC files separately. A builders’ pack with hardware is also available from Plastimo and one-design mast packages from Sparcraft and Seldén. The budget to be ready for the transocean races planned for the class, the Globe 5.80 Transat and Mini Globe Race, is around €45-50,000, including all the safety gear.

McIntyre is about to launch hull No 1, Trekka II , for himself. “It is being built in Poland and I will be doing the first event for this class [the Globe 5.80 Transat from Portugal to the Caribbean November 2021] and testing the one-design sails,” he says. He reports interest from an extraordinary 135 builders in 26 countries.

An affordable challenge?

Another twist on the ‘accessible and affordable’ recipe is a new non-stop round the world pursuit race launched by Italian solo sailor Marco Nannini. The Global Solo Challenge will have a rolling series of starts over eight weeks between September and October 2023.

Marco Nannini has launched the Global Solo Challenge.

Nannini began his solo racing in a Sigma 36 in the 2009 OSTAR and went on to race in a Class 40 in Josh Hall’s Global Ocean Race in 2011/12. He says that experience was hard, and he wanted to turn away from “a format that you either have the fastest boat or there was nothing on earth you could do to win – it was like cycling on bikes with two different size wheels.

“I never wanted to do that again; it was a horrible feeling that you were part of a race… but not.”

His race is open to approved yachts of between 33-55ft with a maximum IRC rating of 1.25, “so it effectively cuts out the very latest Class 40s”. Nannini says his race, with a pursuit-style format, will instead feel like “the tortoise and the hare, David and Goliath. This is very easy for the public to understand: first to arrive wins.”

Nannini already has a number of experienced entries with eligible yachts, and the line up has a feel similar to entries in the Golden Globe Race or OSTAR.

For serious racers, the staggered start format makes this something of a curiosity, as does a dispensation to allow engine use within 500 miles of the finish line. The Global Solo Challenge is perhaps best viewed in the organisers’ term, as a ‘fantastic personal adventure’ for those who really want to achieve the feat of a circumnavigation without stopping and with the comfort of some safety in numbers.

Around the world racing for the pro’s?

Chronologically, the first of the six races to set off will be the Globe 40, a double-handed round the world race for Class 40s, which is scheduled to start in June 2022.

This is one of two new events hoping to attract professional racers and provided a possible pathway to the Vendée Globe.

The Globe 40 is run by French company Sirius Events and headed up by Manfred Ramspacher, who was in charge of the Tour de France à la Voile for eight years, has twice run the Transat Jacques Vabre, also organised the Ultimes’ Brest Atlantique Race and set up one of the leading Class 40 events, the Normandy Channel Race.

Since the box rule Class 40 designs launched in 2005, some 163 have been built, around 50 of which are actively being raced in Europe. Despite the pandemic, a surprising 15 new boats were launched last year, and more are in the pipeline.

Globe 40 organiser Manfred Ramspacher also set up the Normandy Channel Race – seen here heading out of Caen – a leading Class 40 event. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot/NCR

However, despite being vastly cheaper for professional sailors than the IMOCA 60s, the Class 40 is far from a budget boat. The design is now on its fifth iteration and a new build costs around €750,000.

Ramspacher has set the rules to allow co-skippers to be changed at each port and, unlike the rival Race Around (see below) it jinks north after the Cape of Good Hope to go through Mauritius and French Polynesia.

“These boats are 12m and you need a minimum of length to be safe in the big waves of the Southern Ocean,” says Ramspacher. “But the Globe 40 will not be an easy race. Some of the legs are 7,000 miles and the race is 30,000 miles.”

So far, French legend Kito de Pavant has expressed interest in racing, US sailor Brian Harris is on board, as is and Dutch sailor Ysbrand Endt.

Another circumnavigation for Class 40s is planned to start in September 2023, The Race Around. This one will go through the Southern Ocean, with both solo and double-handed divisions. A multi-stage event beginning in France it will stop in Cape Town and New Zealand, round Cape Horn to stop in Rio, before returning to Europe.

Organisers Sam Holliday and Hugh Piggin have long links with the Class 40 association and have signed an agreement to provide its official round the world race. The event is also being validated by the Fédération Française de Voile, which would make it the only race of this group to have national body endorsement.

Uniquely, the race is working with the Futures Program to research materials that reduce carbon emissions.

Organisers plan to build a race yacht fully out of recyclable fibres, and will form a mixed gender Futures Ocean Racing Team to compete then go full circle by recycling the boat at the end of the event.

An upwelling of demand

Despite so many new races coming onto the market over the next few years, all of the above have entries and, more importantly, include unsponsored or otherwise self-funded sailors who already have yachts.

Their existence is evidence of an upwelling in demand, with the bell curve fattened by middle-aged or retirement-aged sailors eager not to miss their chance. If anything, the pandemic has sharpened that urge.

These races rely heavily on owner participants rather than sponsors, a formula that the ARC rallies, for example, have also proven to be robustly sustainable, regardless of economic climate. There seems to be no shortage, decade after decade, of private sailors with an unquenchable appetite – and the means – for a challenge.

Risk, however, is another matter and some professionals have raised concerns about the possibility of serious problems and rescues in the Southern Ocean that could threaten regulation for well-established events. The greater the number of yachts racing deep sea, the greater the likelihood of multiple failures and problems. This boom being played out over such a short timespan raises legitimate concerns.

That said, sailing commentators can be quick to misjudge the abilities of sailors they simply haven’t heard of, and usually underestimate the value of older sailors’ long-won experience. Most of these amateur or pro-am races are for well-proven, conservative designs, which may in itself be a risk mitigation.

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