The 2022 Golden Globe Race was the third edition of the original Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. The race, a solo around-the-world sailing race, started on 4 September 2022 from Les Sables-d'Olonne in France. Similar to the 2018 event, the solo-sailors gathered for the SITraN Prologue in Gijón (Spain) on 14 August 2022, before sailing to Les Sables-d'Olonne for the GGR Race Village, which opened on 21 August 2022. The race was won by South African Kirsten Neuschäfer, who returned to Les Sables-d'Olonne on 27 April 2023, after an official time of 233 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes and 47 seconds at sea, approximately one day ahead of her closest rival.
The race set a number of records: Neuschäfer was the first woman to win any round-the-world race via the three great capes, including solo and fully crewed races, whether non-stop or with stops. She was the first South African sailor (male or female) to win a round-the-world event. She was also the first woman to complete the GGR in the race's history, the first woman to win the GGR, and the only woman skipper who participated in the 2022 GGR.
Retro sailing As with the 2018 Golden Globe Race, entrants were limited to sailing similar yachts and equipment to what was available to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the winner of the original race in 1968–69. That means sailing without the use of modern technology such as satellite-based navigation aids. Safety equipment such as EPIRBs and AIS were carried, however the competitors were only allowed to use the technology in an emergency.
Competitors could apply to have their class of boat approved, providing it complied with the following rules:
Constructed of fibre reinforced plastic. Designed prior to 1988, with a minimum series of 20 yachts built from one mould. Has a hull length of between . Bowsprits, wind vanes and outboard rudders, boomkins, pushpits and pulpits are not measured. Has a full-length keel with rudders attached to the trailing edge. A minimum design displacement of
Route The race started on 4 September 2022 in Les Sables-d'Olonne and leads around the world eastward, leaving Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port. There were four "film gates" along the route - Lanzarote, Cape Town, Hobart and Punta del Este - where the skippers could be interviewed as they sail past without stopping and where they passed over films and letters.
Entrants The following 16 skippers started the race: +SailorYachtType1 Arnaud GaistFeï of ShanghaïBarbican 33 MKII (Long Keel Version)2 Damien GuillouPRBRustler 363 Abhilash TomyBayanatRustler 364 Edward WalentynowiczNoah's JestRustler 365 Elliott SmithSecond WindGaleForce 346 Ertan BeskardesLazy OtterRustler 367 Guy deBoerSpiritTashiba 368 Guy WaitesSagarmathaTradewind 359 Ian Herbert-JonesPuffinTradewind 3510 Jeremy BagshawOlleannaOE3211 Kirsten NeuschäferMinnehahaCape George Cutter, CG3612 Mark SinclairCoconutCaptain Coconut Mark Sinclair has resumed his 2018 Golden Globe Race voyage, and will be sailing his Lello 34, Coconut solo from Australia to Les Sables d'Olonne, Katy Strickland, Yachting Monthly, 2021-12-07, accessed 2021-12-28Lello 3413 Michael GuggenbergerNuriBiscay 3614 Pat LawlessGreen RebelSaltram Saga 3615 Simon CurwenClaraBiscay 3616 Tapio LehtinenAsteriaGaia 36
The race The race started on 4 September 2022, with the competitors passing a rolling gate between the yachts Galiana and L’Esprit d’Equipe. The official starter was Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the winner of the original Golden Globe Race. The race concluded on 15 June 2023 with the last competitor, Jeremy Bagshaw, arriving back at Les Sables d’Olonne.
Competitor Cape Town gate Storm Bay Tasmania gate Cape Horn Finish Kirsten Neuschäfer 8 November 25 December 15 February 27 April Abhilash Tomy 10 November 27 December 18 February 28 April Michael Guggenberger 12 November 3 January 26 February 12 May Chichester class (one stop) Simon Curwen 6 November 24 December 25 February 27 April Jeremy Bagshaw 17 November 16 January 14 March 15 June Retired (in order of retirement)+ Competitor Date Details Edward Walentynowicz 9 September 2022Retired "due to personal reasons". Guy de Boer 18 September 2022 Hit a rock north off Fuertaventura. Mark Sinclair 23 September 2022Retired near Lanzarote, citing "family reasons". Pat Lawless 9 November 2022Retired, after reaching Cape Town gate, due to failure of self-steering system Damien Guillou 14 November 2022Retired, after reaching Cape Town gate, also due to failure of self-steering system Ertan Beskardes 16 November 2022Retired in Cape Town, explaining "I was looking for the unknown, and I found it," Tapio Lehtinen 18 November 2022Boat sank in the Southern Indian Ocean, sailor was rescued by Kirsten Neuschäfer. Arnaud Gaist 2 December 2022 Retired due to barnacles and rigging issues. Elliott Smith 19 January 2023 Retired in Australia after breaking the bowsprit. Guy Waites 10 February 2023 Retired in Hobart after losing the life raft during a knock-down (in Chichester class since Cape Town). Ian Herbert-Jones 11 April 2023 Rolled and dismasted in the Southern Atlantic (in Chichester class since Cape Horn).
References
External links Official website