On September 4th the 2022 Golden Globe Race started off Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, with 16 boats competing in the singlehanded, nonstop race around the world via the five great capes. The race started in fair conditions and then experienced head winds and more challenging seas as the racers made for Cape Finisterre.
American racer Guy deBoer, aboard his Tashiba 36 Spirit, is out of the race after running aground on September 18, 150 feet off the beach on the north coast of the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. With the assistance of local authorities deBoer was rescued from his boat, but Spirit remained on the reef and was not immediately refloated. Canadian racer Edward Walentynowicz aboard Noah’s Jest has retired from the race for personal reasons. You can track the position of the racers during the race on the Golden Globe website at: goldengloberace.com/live-tracker/.
The tagline for this event is “Sailing Like It’s 1968” — based on the fact that the competitors can only outfit their boats based on what was available for Sir Robin Knox-Johnston aboard his 32-foot teak ketch Suhaili in 1968. This means no GPS, no electronic charts, no computer weather routing, etc. Racers have to navigate by sextant and paper charts and write their daily log on paper. They cannot use satcom but can only communicate via HF SSB radio. The race boats are also limited to 32 to 36 feet in length and must have full keels with a keel-hung rudder.
The first race was run in 2018 with 18 starters and only five boats finishing. That race was won by French sailor Jean Luc Van Den Heede.