Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

2018 Golden Globe Yacht Race - Entry list now stands at 30

by Barry Pickthall on 16 Dec 2015
HRS, Crown Prince Tupouto’a Ulukalala, (centre) with founding members of the Royal Nomuka YC celebrate the Club's formation on the beach at Nomuka IKA on October 21, 2015 Barry Pickthall
2018 Golden Globe Yacht Race - French champion Eric Loizeau and Estonian solo circumnavigator Uka Randmaa are the latest entrants to set their sights on winning the 2018 Golden Globe yacht race. They made their announcements at the first Golden Globe competitor conference, held at the Little Ship Club, London today.

Four more potential competitors: Graham Applin (52) from Addlestone, Surrey, UK; Francesco Cappelletti (37) from Montevarchi, Italy; Loïc Lepage (59) from France and a confidential entrant from New Zealand, now brings the number who have paid the initial A$3,000 entry fee to 30.

Other entrants hail from America, Austria, Australia, Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Palestine, Russia Switzerland and UK.

Race to be run under the burgee of the Royal Nomuka YC

The 2018 Golden Globe Race will be sailed under the auspices of the Royal Nomuka Yacht Club in the Kingdom of Tonga. His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto’a Ulukalala has agreed to become Patron of the Race, and Sione Sonata Topou, the Tongan High Commissioner in London attended today's GGR Conference.



Race founder Don McIntyre has close links with these Pacific islands. In 2012 the Australian adventurer led a 4-man re-enactment of the Mutiny of the Bounty voyage from Tonga to West Timor, in a similar boat and with same limited supplies available to Captain Bligh 221 years before.

The Royal Nomuka Yacht Club is the world’s youngest Royal club, formed on October 22 this year as part of a joint initiative between HRH The Crown Prince and McIntyre to establish a sailing base and adventure centre on the otherwise deserted island of Nomuka IKI to encourage Tongan youth to take up sailing as a sport and cultural activity.

“For Nomuka and Tonga to be involved with the Golden Globe Race is exciting,” said HRH the Crown Prince Tupouto’a Ulukalala, adding. “Tonga was once a great sailing nation. I wish all entrants safe sailing and extend an open invitation to visit our beautiful Islands and the Royal Nomuka Yacht Club”.

Start and finish port confirmed

Falmouth is now confirmed as the start and finish point for the 2018 Golden Globe Race, where Sir Robin Knox-Johnston set out and completed his pioneering voyage back in 1968/9.

Competing yachts will be based in Pendennis Marina, and the Race will be started by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club using the historic gun emplacement on Pendennis Point overlooking Falmouth harbour.

In addition, three of the yachts that competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race – Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Suhaili, Bernard Moitessier’s Joshua, and Loïck Fougeron’s Captain Browne – are also expected to attend the start.



Race founder Don McIntyre stands down as a competitor to take charge of race management

Don McIntyre had planned to compete in the 2018 Golden Globe Race and has already bought a Tradewind 35 yacht to prepare for the event, but the unprecedented interest in the Race has made him realise that the event requires his fulltime leadership.

“When I first came up with the idea to mark the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s success in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, I thought we would be lucky to match the nine entries that started in the first race back in 1968. But interest in this retro race has struck a chord with so many sailors around the world.

We already have 28 on the entry list and there is a further 150 who have expressed interest in competing. Management of the Race has to match everyone’s expectations, it has to be run on a very professional basis and it is simply not possible to create the event and compete. My role has to be to manage this race through to its conclusion – and perhaps wait to take part in the next one in 2022”.

Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeTrofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025Mackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

New Maxi Edmond de Rothschild gears towards flight
The future 32-metre giant is gradually taking shape, a day at a time In December 2023, Ariane de Rothschild officially announced the start of construction for a new oceanic maxi-trimaran designed to venture ever further along the path towards offshore flight initiated by her predecessor, Gitana 17.
Posted on 5 May
iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games Preview
Over 200 athletes from 23 nations gather at Lake Garda following a high-level Coppa Italia opener The international iQFOiL Class is surging into the 2025 season with record participation and growing global engagement.
Posted on 5 May
2025 Yachting Cup at San Diego YC overall
Awarding 7 class winners along with the overall award to J/24 Wharf Rat Day 2 of SDYC's Yachting Cup started with a bit of rain and overcast coastal skies. The race management team was concerned about the forecast conditions - specifically the sea state, which built as a result of an overnight offshore front.
Posted on 5 May
The Stop-Start SailGP Season So Far
Season 5 of SailGP has already had more than its fair share of drama and excitement Season 5 of SailGP has already had more than its fair share of drama and excitement, and is currently on pause ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, which is set to take place on 7th & 8th June.
Posted on 5 May
An evening honouring the Vendée Globe heroes
On Saturday, May 10, Les Sables d'Olonne will once again come alive to celebrate On Saturday, May 10, Les Sables d'Olonne will once again come alive to celebrate the epic journey of the Vendée Globe and pay tribute to the skippers of the 2024 edition, during a spectacular evening filled with emotion and festivity.
Posted on 5 May
Sail America Industry Conference concludes
Attendees hailed from around the country and enjoyed all that Annapolis has to offer The annual Sail America Industry Conference (SAIC) landed in Annapolis, MD, in mid-April, bringing the industry together for an engaging two days of camaraderie and learning.
Posted on 5 May
IMA challenges resume with Sandberg PalmaVela
The event has traditionally started the Mediterranean maxi yacht racing season There was huge anticipation from within the maxi community with Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones' new Verdier 100 Magic Carpet E making her debut at Sandberg PalmaVela that concluded yesterday.
Posted on 5 May
Monnin Victorious in 60th Congressional Cup
Defeating defending champion Chris Poole 3-2 in a closely contested final Switzerland's Eric Monnin and his Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team of Ute Monnin Wagner, Mathieu Renault, Jean-Claude Monnin, Simon Brügger, Julien Falxa, and Maxime Mesnil clinched a long awaited win of the 60th Anniversary Congressional Cup on Sunday.
Posted on 5 May
For the love of slightly larger, even faster boats
Bring it on. No chicken chutes allowed. Celestial, the newest Cape 31 in Oz is up and racing Thank you. You have let For the love of small, fast boats run before the breeze like a superlight planning hull under way too big a kite, with immense sheep in the paddock, and the Sailing Master grasping the flare gun in his pocket... No chicken chutes.
Posted on 4 May
21st Sandberg PalmaVela overall
A breezy finale in the Bay of Palma A thrilling and intense final day at Sandberg PalmaVela was enjoyed with choppy seas and wind conditions ranging from gentle airs to gusts of up to 23 knots. Several broken masts are evidence how tough the day was for some.
Posted on 4 May