Sensational news! The initiator of the Golden Globe Race-2018/19 don McIntyre has announced that in 2023, will start another “retro-around the world” – called Ocean Globe Race. This time in honor of the 50th anniversary of the race, the Whitbread Round the World Race (which was later renamed the Volvo Ocean Race and is now in Ocean Race).
As written by McIntyre for the current sailing is the ability to feel great racers of the past such as Eric Tabarli, Peter Blake, United Chay Blythe, Connie van Richten, Robin Knox-Johnston and, of course, the Mexican Ramon Carlin, skipper, won the very first Whitbread yacht Swan 65 Sayula II.
So, what awaits those who dare to go around the world in 2023?
Start date is already known – 10 Sep 2023. Distance of 27,000 nautical miles with four stops. The classic route: from Europe to the southern tip of Africa, then Australia, and then, skirting Tierra del Fuego, up the coast of South America and back to Europe. However, where there will be stops not yet defined. McIntyre intends to announce a competition, which will involve cities in Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. The exact route is announced, expected by the end of 2020.
The race will be retro, and therefore technologies that can be used is limited to those that existed in 1973. No satellite phones and GPS as well as mobile phones. Navigation – using sextan for communication – radio band VHF. Want to listen to music – use with tape decks!
Now on the courts. The race will be made not more than 30 yachts, and their projects need to be developed not later than 1988. They will be divided into two groups – the ADVENTURE (from 47 to 56 feet) and SAYULA (56 to 66 ft). A third group called the FLYER will be the yachts that took part in the first three Whitbread races.
There are, of course, and other conditions. For example, the riders from stage to stage can replace each other, but the skipper is obliged to go through the whole world as a whole.
But if you are seriously interested in this race (and I hope that among our readers there are), then it is better to read the official document. It can be found at –
https://oceangloberace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/OGR-pre-NOR-EN-2023-190701.pdf
Here is a link to material about the first Whitbread Round the World Race, Yacht published in Russia in 2015 –
https://www.yachtrussia.com/articles/2015/01/28/articles_148.html
