2026 Golden Globe Race

*This solo unassisted sailing race starts in France then routes nonstop eastbound around Antarctica.*

THE CHALLENGE - “sailing like it’s 1968”

I am an entrant in the 2026 Golden Globe Race. The provisional list of skippers was announced in November 2023 where you can find my Entrant Profile.

This new challenge is a solo nonstop unassisted sailing race which will start and end at Les Sables d'Olonne on the Atlantic coast of France after sailing south on the Atlantic Ocean and rounding Antarctica eastbound. As an unsupported race, entrants typically complete it in about 230 to 250 days. Only pre-1988 full keel standard production yachts are allowed in this retro race which are restricted to 32-36 feet in length. The use of coastal navigation and celestial navigation methods emphasize traditional seamanship, there is no GPS or chart plotter allowed. Modern conveniences like satellite phones, desalinators or exotic materials like dyneema or carbon fiber are forbidden. The race will start on Sept 6th, 2026.

24 skippers remain in contention for the upcoming race. Only nine skippers in total finished the 1968, 2018 and 2022 iterations of Golden Globe Race nonstop and unassisted:

1968: 1 finisher out of 9 – Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first ever to sail solo, nonstop around the world.
2018: 5 finishers out of 18 starters. Vimeo documentary link.
2022: 3 finishers out of 17 starters.

To date, only 227 solo and nonstop sailing journeys were ever completed around the world by 163 unique sailors.

THE ASK

My humble request for the community at large is to extend my reach to find exciting ways to collaborate in this fabulous branding opportunity. Running a successful Golden Globe Race campaign will require funding by sponsors, and also visibility through speaking engagements and media coverage.

Who as the Platinum Sponsor would want to take over the space occupied by HOWDENS in the below images and rename CLARA? Who as Gold Sponsor would want to share prominent branding on the spinnakers and race village communication mainsail? Multiple Bronze Sponsors could get names displayed along the gunwale of my vessel.

While my own website would look nice on the boom, the Platinum Sponsor will display their branding there. Within the parameters specified in the Notice of Race, we will offer space for branding. There are no restrictions on logos on the spinnakers and skipper apparel.

If you would kindly share this page, I would be grateful. Please feel free to contact us for an information packet.

THE BRANDING OPPORTUNITY

For a discussion of the promotional potential of GGR, please see this article titled: €213 Million Golden Globe Race 2022 Media Value.

GGR has historic significance and being a professionally organized race, it offers worldwide visibility as a perfect branding opportunity for sponsors. The first modern GGR was launched in 2018 on the 50th anniversary of the original 1968 Sunday Times GGR, which gave us the inspiring stories from the golden age of sailing by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Bernard Moitessier, and also that of the tragic end of Donald Crowhurst. Intended to run every four years, the second race started in September 2022, the winners for which arrived in April 2023 and the closing ceremonies took place in late June 2023.

*2022 GGR numbers for PR Value created.*

The race committee published the 2018 GGR media analysis report a long while ago, suggesting 185M USD in PR value created. The Media Analysis Report for the 2022 race published in November 2023 suggests 213 million Euros, a 28% increase in PR value excluding social media and YouTube data. The numbers indicate that the 2022 GGR Live Track page had 30-million views, a tenfold increase from their 2018 numbers. It is reasonable to assume that the appeal of this race will continue to increase.

THE VESSEL

I bought the Biscay 36 cutter S/V CLARA from Simon Curwen who arrived at Les Sables d'Olonne with line honors. Simon had been leading the race until a large wave crashed on his transom short of Cape Horn after which he diverted to Puerto Montt to receive a replacement part. That one stop cost him ten days and demoted him to Chichester Class according to the race rules; two stops would have meant disqualification. Simon rounded Cape Horn in fourth place, yet he still managed to catch the leaders before the finish. According to the race rules, Kirsten Neuschäfer from South Africa who finished the race nonstop, was the official winner.

If I can demonstrate comparable sailing skills, CLARA will serve me well in the 2026 GGR.

*The area showing HOWDENS on the spinnaker is available to a new Title Sponsor.*

CLARA is now a cutter, originally a sloop rigger built in 1976 at Emsworth Yacht Harbour from molds by Robert Ives, to the design of Alan Hill. Acquired in the spring of 2019 in good cruising condition, the rig was changed from sloop to cutter, the wheel steering replaced with tiller steering and the structure substantially reinforced to meet race specifications.

CLARA remained at Lorient in France until I took possession in June 2024. Simon Curwen was kind to arrange the necessary repairs and improvements on CLARA to help me set sail that July.

*The area showing HOWDENS on the boatside is available to a new Title Sponsor. This is British sailor Simon Curwen on S/V CLARA.*

PROGRESS

GGR entry requirements stipulate that entrants must show prior ocean sailing experience of at least 8,000 miles and another 2,000 miles solo in any boat, as well as an additional 4,000 miles solo in their registered GGR boat. The latter is under supervision by the race committee, using wind vane and celestial navigation as a dry run before the actual race.

Majority of my sailing experience was in near shore cruising and buoy racing. Although I had logged about 10,000 nautical miles in offshore sailing in addition to my 1,084 days and 26,705 nautical miles solo ocean rowing, I had not sailed solo offshore until 2024. I elected to buy race-tested CLARA at a premium to complete my solo passage requirements early and to have ample time to improve it.

*The main sponsor will rename CLARA to display at the bow and to mention in race reports. They will also have prominent display on the spinnakers.*

I took possession of CLARA from Simon at Lorient late in June 2024. Simon was kind to help prepare the vessel for launch as she had sat idle since June 2023. On July 21st, I launched alone from Lorient due southwest toward the Azores. With the fickle Azores High, I encountered varying wind conditions allowing me to test all sail configurations. At the same time, I was building my confidence in my Hydrovane, the wind powered steering system which required no power, nor did it get tired or distracted, serving as a reliable crew member. Given the variable wind conditions and my later than expected launch, I carefully monitored the wind forecasts then chose to avoid wind holes. When satisfied that my total distance sailed solo would be over 2,000 nautical miles to count as my GGR qualification voyage, I turned the boat around on a clockwise course then routed toward Lagos on the southern coast of Portugal for a haul out. By the time that I dropped anchor at the marina entrance, the total distance that I had sailed was 2,257M.

I left CLARA at the boatyard in Lagos. I returned there in December 2024 and got busy with various tasks including installing new solar panels, polishing the fuel, installing new water separator and lift pump, replacing the cutless bearing and the shaft seal, and stuffing the propeller hub with grease.

I then sailed from Lagos to Gran Tarajal on Fuerteventura in late January of 2025 in company of my longtime friend John Climaco. From there, I launched solo to route clockwise around Cape Verde Islands, later passing south of the Azores. I had to maintain a safe latitude to avoid March weather patterns further north. For the same reason, I passed south of Madeira before aiming for Lagos. By the time that I returned there on 24 March 2025, I had spent 39 days on my own and covered 4,732 nautical miles.

I followed my 2,257M solo track from Lorient to Lagos with a 4,732M solo sail from Fuerteventura back to Lagos. The right margin above is the prime meridian passing through Greenwich, UK and the bottom margin is the Equator.

We pulled the mast after one of my chain plates was damaged on the long voyage. All six chain plates will be redesigned and replaced. Genoa halyard still chafed near the masthead.

The design of the chainplates with two welded 10mm screws, was a problem making it irreparable while underway. We will instead have a design with four bolts which I can either tighten or replace as necessary.

I returned to Lagos in October 2025. We were able to complete electrical upgrades, but the standing rigging work was delayed. The mast remained on the concrete next to CLARA. I will move CLARA to Portimão at the end of January 2026 where there are multiple shops that can take on various tasks to swifter completion.

Before the mast is stepped at Portimão, I will demonstrate my jury-rig setup, an emergency procedure in case of dismasting. I ordered a duplicate spinnaker pole, a race requirement for this purpose to set up an A-frame. This jury-rig setup has to be used on a triangular course approved by the race committee. I will record and document it to meet the race requirements. This will also be a good opportunity to apply a fresh coat of hull paint.

The new chainplates will use four 12mm thru-bolts to secure them to L-brackets below deck. The chainplate on the very left will hold one of the four diagonal shrouds which reach halfway up the mast. The middle one will receive the vertical shroud from the spreader; it has a loop where I can attach the spinnaker pole to construct the A-frame for the jury rig in case of dismasting.

I intend to relaunch from Portimão by mid-March 2026 to set course toward Lymington in the UK. There, I will complete remaining tasks including applying a fresh coat of antifouling paint and mounting a spare Hydrovane drive unit on the transom. I will also meet an RYA Examiner there to finalize my Yachtmaster Ocean certification.

By late July, I will move CLARA to the French coast, committing to the race calendar. The Prologue Race requires that all GGR skippers meet on August 10th at Les Sables-d’Olonne. We will then sail from there roundtrip to a waypoint which should take about 5 days during which I don’t need to be alone. Nancy is planning to accompany me during all of my summer sailing.

The actual GGR will start on 6 September 2026. If all goes well, I will complete the race sometime in the April of 2027. The closing and award ceremonies will take place toward the end of June 2027.