“I continue non-stop to the Pacific Islands because I am happy at sea, and perhaps also to save my soul.” So, famously, wrote French solo sailor Bernard Moitessier in February 1969 as he abandoned the finish of the original Golden Globe Race and, instead, set a course east for a second lap of the southern hemisphere.
This September the modern iteration of the Golden Globe Race also sets off for its second lap, with 16 skippers taking part in the 2022 running of the ‘retro’ ocean race. The event was originally created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s triumph as the first man ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world. That 2018 race was truly unique, a curious experiment to see how the yachts, tools and isolation of ocean racing in the 1960s would translate to the 21st century. The results were mixed: just six boats finishing, five without stopping. Now, four years later, the Golden Globe Race is going again. The second crop of skippers are not the first to participate in this psychological and seamanship test, nor will they be the fastest, by any standard. So why are they doing it?
This second re-running loosely pays homage to Moitessier’s achievements. It falls on the 60th anniversary of the launch of his yacht Joshua and changes to the course, passing Trinidade to port and adding compulsory film drops, now follow Moitessier’s route. (Combined with a later start date, it should also help the fleet avoid some of the worst South Atlantic conditions experienced last time).
BEING PREPARED
The answers to the question
