Globe40: A third chapter to be written in 2028/2029

A third chapter to be written in 2028/2029 © Jean-Marie LIOT / Globe40

The excitement hasn't subsided after the epic finish in Lorient last April of the final leg of the GLOBE40, which also marked the end of the second edition.

The Franco-Belgian duel that enlivened the entire event reached its peak with the start from the Brazilian city of Recife, both boats tied on points, for a final showdown. The Class40 CREDIT MUTUEL, skippered by Ian Lipinski, ultimately prevailed by two hours, avoiding one of those close finishes that had become a hallmark of the event. But the emotion was the same for all the skippers, all winners for having completed this round-the-world race, and all without exception returning to the port they had left on September 4, 2025.

After two editions of construction, the future now lies ahead for the GLOBE40, which is looking ahead with serenity, towards significant development in all its aspects, but above all, remaining worthy of the history written since 2022. And to make this new start, the 2028/2029 Preliminary Notice of Race is published today, setting the general framework for the event, before the publication of the full Notice of Race scheduled for September 1st. The course is set for all the projects already preparing for this 3rd edition; it is now up to them to write its story.

The fundamental principles of the race reaffirmed

The Pre-Notice of Race published today reiterates all the principles of the two previous editions: a double-handed race in Class40s, the possibility of changing one crew member at each leg or both under certain conditions, a course in Category 1 of the International Federation's offshore racing rules, a supplementary list of safety equipment adapted for a round-the-world voyage without major boat modifications, a points-based ranking with coefficients assigned to legs according to their difficulty, technical assistance provided by the organizer to support the teams; and the same qualification principles to take into account the geographical diversity and experience of the candidates, considering their profiles and, if necessary, allowing for a request for an additional course. A pre-registration procedure is therefore being implemented today to promote projects and support them in their preparation. The full Notice of Race will be published on September 1st.

The strength of an original and tailored route

A 5- to 6-stage route, with or without a prologue, incorporating the fundamentals of the event: a circumnavigation via the three great capes, a descent into the lower latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere, but remaining within the spirit of Category 1 of the international equipment regulations and avoiding extreme latitudes; and offering legs that allow passage back to areas that are generally more hospitable. By limiting the number of legs, the aim is to increase their duration and allow for the exploration of different regions, as was the case during this edition on Réunion Island and in Chile. The Atacama Desert in Chile, the underground exploration of volcanoes on Réunion Island, the breathtaking sight of entering Sydney Harbour—these will be moments in the skippers' minds as powerful as the sea legs. The aim is both to rediscover some of the most beautiful legs from the first two editions and to offer one or two new legs that will be the "gems" of this upcoming third edition. The stopovers will be announced gradually in the coming months, but some exciting events are already on the horizon...

A mix of professionals and (highly knowledgeable) amateurs

With its dual ranking system—a general ranking and a specific ranking for the classic, or "sharp," Class40s—the event appeals to both professionals and highly knowledgeable amateurs seeking an extraordinary sporting and human adventure. The 2025/2026 edition proved that the latest generation of Class40s, known as "scows," can also compete in major ocean races around the world. With a significantly higher level of competition in both categories, as well as improved technical preparation, the GLOBE40 represents a new frontier for professional crews looking for an international, round-the-world race (with 10 nationalities represented in 2025/2026), featuring stopovers, and, above all, a manageable budget. For amateur crews, it's also a new playground, offering the chance to experience the thrills of the Southern Ocean, previously reserved for larger classes and those with substantial budgets. Above all, it's the combination of these two groups that creates the spirit of the race, with relatively small gaps between the two categories (4 days for a transpacific race), where everyone experiences the same challenge, both at sea and on land. While the duel between CREDIT MUTUEL and BELGIUM OCEAN RACING-CURIUM at the front of the pack enlivened the entire event, it would never have had the impact it did without the heroism of the Réunion-based crew, or the presence of female skippers Lisa Berger (WILSON) and Mélodie Schaeffer (WHSIKEY JACK), for whom this was their second participation; all were equally committed to the race, making no concessions on the water and sharing the same adventure on land.

A witness to the territories traversed

While social and environmental commitments have become standard practice in the communication of major offshore racing projects, the recently concluded GLOBE40 went further, experiencing and putting these commitments into practice. Whether in Cape Verde, struck by a cyclone a few weeks earlier, on Réunion Island, in the magnificent Sydney Harbour, or in Valparaiso Bay, the sporting interest was always accompanied, in equal measure, by a desire to discover the cultural and human aspects of the territories traversed. After two editions, the GLOBE40 remains true to its values, and the communication efforts dedicate equal energy to both aspects. Finally, the media results of this second edition will be published in the coming weeks: one figure stands out: the explosion of social media engagement with nearly 20 million views, four times the result of the first edition. On September 15, 2025, during a memorable evening on the quays of Cadiz bringing together at least 50,000 people, the GLOBE40 saw its name written in the sky by the drones of the superb show organized by the Andalusian city: we wish all those who are already preparing the 3rd edition not to leave this sky and to live their dreams racing around the world.