Two months to the start of the Golden Globe Race: A frenzy of activity

by Golden Globe Race 2 May 2018 23:15 PDT 1 July 2018

With just 2 months to the start of the Golden Globe Race from Les Sables d'Olonne on July 1st, skippers are working feverishly to complete their preparations ready to take part in the Suhaili 50 Falmouth Parade of Sail celebrations between 11-14th June.

French skippers Antoine Cousot (Métier Intérim) and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (Matmut) have just had their boats baptised and are now busy sailing; Ertan Beskardes (GBR) has reached Vigo with just the Bay of Biscay to cross before reaching Falmouth during his long solo delivery voyage from Sardinia; Istvan Kopar (USA/Hungary) set sail from Oyster Bay New York on April 29 at the start of his long transatlantic voyage to the start - visit; Australian Kevin Farebrother now has his Tradewind 35 Sagarmatha sailing out of Les Sables d'Olonne and was joined last week by Philippe Péché (FRA) after making a 2-day solo passage to test his wind vane self steering system.

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Suhaili 50 Falmouth Parade of Sail - June 11 – 14

Plans are now well advanced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's departure from Falmouth at the start of the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race back in 1968. Sir Robin, returning with his yacht Suhaili, will be joined by two other history-making yachts, Sir Francis Chichester's Gipsy Moth IV and Sir Alec Rose's Lively Lady and the 19-strong GGR fleet, which will be based at Falmouth Haven Marina from 11th-14th June.

For more information visit www.falmouth.co.uk/falmouth-events/suhaili-falmouth

Lively Lady, in which Sir Alec completed a solo circumnavigation around the three great Capes with two stops back in 1968, is currently undergoing a complete refit near Portsmouth. "We've suffered some delays but are determined to join the Suhaili celebrations, even if the paint is still wet!" Says Alan Priddy who has led yacht's restoration. Lively Lady will then return to Portsmouth to mark her own 50th anniversary of Sir Alec's victorious return on 4th July." Visit www.livelylady.org.

The 3-day Suhaili celebrations promise to be well supported with fleets of yachts from France, Netherlands and other parts of the UK joining this jamboree of sail. Included is a group of yachts representing the Cruising Association, for whom Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is Patron. "We are expecting around 30 yachts to gather at Plymouth Yacht Haven over the weekend 8th-10th June and some will then escort Suhaili and her crew on the final stage of her voyage to Falmouth on 11th June." Says Trevor Taylor, the CA's southwest area secretary. Visit www.theca.org.uk

The French branch of the Cruising Association are also planning to escort Suhaili and her crew into Les Sables d'Olonne on her arrival.

GGR Programme in Les Sables d'Olonne June 16 – July 1st

The GGR Race Village will open each day from 10:00am to 8:00pm and until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Visitors will discover the GGR yachts and skippers sailors on the Vendée Globe pontoons, and admire the historic solo yachts – Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's Suhaili, Bernard Moitessier's Joshua and Sir Francis Chichester's Gipsy Moth IV, together with Eric Tabarly's Pen Duick III.

There will be something for all ages: Learn to navigate with the stars and instruments of the past, attend conferences, interviews and demonstrations, participate in workshops and boat baptisms, and enjoy the conviviality of the Bar Guinguette during evening concerts.

The GGR Race Village will open each day from 10:00am to 8:00pm and until 02:00 on Programme:

• June 23: 16:00pm – 19:00: Parade of Sail with the GGR sailors and 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays
• 23:00: fireworks on the small pier of Les Sables d'Olonne
• Start July 1st: 09.45am GGR yachts leave the marina 12:00: Race Start – broadcast live on France 3 and L'ÉQUIPE TV. The broadcast is also free for other stations to air.

Visitors will discover the GGR yachts and skippers sailors on the Vendée Globe pontoons, and admire the historic solo yachts – Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's Suhaili, Bernard Moitessier's Joshua and Sir Francis Chichester's Gipsy Moth IV, together with Eric Tabarly's Pen Duick III.

There is something for all ages. Learn to navigate with the stars and instruments of the past, attend conferences, interviews and demonstrations, participate in workshops and boat baptisms, and the conviviality of the Bar Guinguette during evening concerts.

For more information visit event website, www.goldengloberace.com