The trailblazer: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Don McIntyre
To mark the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's victory in the Sunday Times Golden Globe 1968/69, the British agency Golden Globe Race Ltd and the Australian initiator Don McIntyre (McIntyre Adventure), who was already the young circumnavigator JessicWatson, invite them to their much-noticed round helped around the world to reissue the legendary classic. Almost half a century ago, the British newspaper "Sunday Times" announced that nine solo sailors set out for the first regattum. The rules were formulated quite simply back then: the start could take place at any time between June 1st and October 31st. The "Golden Globe" beckoned the skipper, who would be the first to complete the circumnavigation of the world along the three large capes non-stop and without outside support. There was also prize money of 5000 pounds.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and his "Suhaili", already badly damaged by this point, crossed the finish line of the Golden Globe Race 1968/69 for the last few miles
Four sailors had to give up the venture in the Atlantic. Among the other five participants, Chay Blyth, who was completely inexperienced at the time, made it to the Cape of Good Hope before leaving. Nigel Tetley's boat sank when it was only about 1,000 nautical miles to go. Donald Crowhurst went down as one of the greatest swindlers in the history of regatta sailing with forged logbooks, the failed attempt to pretend to sail around the world and his suicide. And Bernard Moitissier finally refused to complete the regatta, the commercial approach of which he refused, and sailed around the world one and a half times to Tahiti. So Sir Robin Knox-Johnston remained the only starter who brought the race to an end and was immortalized in the history books as the first person to circumnavigate the world alone and without stopping.
Just like Knox-Johnston's successful adventure 50 years ago, the new edition is set to start in Falmouth on June 14, 2018. The framework conditions are simple, based on the example of the time: For single-handed sailors to and from Falmouth, it's once around the world. Yachts based on the model of the time are required. Modern technology or satellite navigation aids are prohibited. Only boats between 9.75 and 10.97 meters that were designed before 1988 and resemble Knox-Johnston's "Suhaili" are permitted. The prize money is £ 75,000. Every skipper who reaches the finish line before April 22, 2019 (3:25 p.m.) - i.e. the 50th anniversary of Knox-Johnston's finish line - will receive a Suhaili trophy and entry fee back.
Click here to go to the organizer's website
Golden Globe 2018: Always along the route of yesteryear