2026 Golden Globe Race 

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.

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 me for an information packet using my social media links at the bottom of this page.

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.

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.

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 will remain at Lorient in France which for now is the cheapest way to manage this transition period without introducing additional financial complications with importation elsewhere. Simon Curwen has been kind to arrange the necessary repairs and improvements on CLARA, giving me peace of mind until I begin sailing with her in July.

THE PLANS

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 will be 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 have logged about 10,000 nautical miles in ocean 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 this race-ready boat at a premium to complete my solo passage requirements early and to have ample time to improve it.

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 February of 2025 in company of my long time friend John Climaco. I then launched solo from Gran Tarajal to route clockwise around Cape Verde Islands, then to pass south of the Azores. I had to maintain a safe latitude to avoid March weather patterns further north. I rounded Madeira before returning to Lagos. By the time that I returned there, I had spent 39 days on my own and covered 4732 nautical miles.

CLARA is now at Lagos until my return there in February 2026. We pulled the mast after one of my chain plates was damaged on the long voyage. All chain plates will be renewed and replaced. Genoa halyard had been chafing at the masthead during Simon’s race as well. So multiple issues will be addressed before I return there in late February. I ordered a duplicate spinnaker pole to demonstrate my jury-rig setup, an emergency procedure in case of dismasting. 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 also will be a good opportunity to apply a fresh coat of hull paint and antifouling.

I intend to relaunch from Lagos during the first week of May 2026 to set course toward Southampton in UK. I will meet an RYA Examiner there to finalize my Yachtmaster Ocean certification. By mid summer I should move CLARA to the French coast, submitting to the race calendar. The prologue race requires all GGR skippers to meet at Gijon on August 10th. We will then race from there to Les Sables d’Olonne to stage the race start. I hope to do this race with my wife Nancy.

If all goes well, I will complete the 2026 edition of the Golden Globe Race sometime in the April of 2027. The closing and award ceremonies will take place toward the end of June 2027.