National affiliation
My primary goals in the 2026 Golden Globe Race:
(a) to reach the starting line on September 6th
(b) to avoid breaking the boat and
(c) to cross the finish line.
My personal goals:
(a) to sail well while diligently maintaining my gear
(b) to have a regular exercise regimen during the race to return in good physical shape, and
(c) to practice my French while underway to become a capable speaker at the end.
I already dread journaling with the anticipation of a book or recording videos with a documentary in mind. Given my past experience, both of these will reopen the depressing can of worms, creating undue pressure and mental anguish during and after the race. I want to sail for myself; external affirmation be damned.
I do not have sponsors, not that we have not tried. It is not difficult to feel bitter however I do question how many more backflips one has to do... 18 Guinness World Records, Guinness Hall of Fame, historic firsts and counting. You can find these listed under [RECORDS] in the menu. Being competent at what one does. Keeping promises. Being a good well-meaning honest person in a society. Do these even matter? All of my 18 Guinness World Record certificates indicated (TUR) next to my name. Would it have mattered if I had asked GWR to register those as (USA)?
I am a Turkish man. I was born in Cyprus, raised in Turkey, now a dual citizen in USA. I initially registered in the GGR with the Turkish flag. For two years I sought support in Turkey yet was treated like a beggar and dismissed. Excuses were plenty to avoid supporting the flag on the open seas. The decision makers simply do not have faith that a Turkish man will succeed, nor do they see any value in such success. That shame is not mine to own.
The 2026 Golden Globe Race will launch on September 6th, 2026. 1060 days before that on 12 October 2023, my registration indicated that I intended to represent Turkey.
As of September, I asked the race committee to change my registration to USA. Since then, my skipper profile on their website shows the US flag. Will a recent immigrant to the US receive support in the current political climate, especially now that just 147 days remain before the start? Is my name that they cannot properly pronounce still marketable? Should I even waste my time?
On 14 September 2025, 357 days before the day that the GGR would start, the race committee honored my request to change my country affiliation to USA.
I know this: should the ocean allow me passage and I finish the race, I will have my wife Nancy Board to thank. Without her steadfast presence in my life, the bedrock that she provided from which I have always thrust forward and the homing beacon that she offered in all of my past adventures, I would not have succeeded.
The Golden Globe Race is no different. We made intentional financial and personal decisions to maintain our deliberate pace toward the start line at Les Sables-d'Olonne. We committed significant family resources to this endeavor which will require hard work after the race to restore the same. We remain committed to reach the start line.
I still am among the Corinthian Class of GGR skippers, meaning no sponsors. Also accessible by the [DONATE] link in the menu, our crowdfunding page is one way that you can make a difference in our campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/2026-GGR
Thank you.