Global Solo Challenge Explained

Start:Vigo, Galicia, Spain
Finish:Vigo, Galicia, Spain
Type:single-handed non-stop round-the-world yacht race
Length:26,000 nmi (48,000 km)

The Global Solo Challenge is a single-handed (solo) non-stop round the world yacht race. The race was founded by Marco Nannini. The Second edition will be 2027-2028, starting and finishing in Vigo, Galicia, Spain.

History

The race was founded by Marco Nannini, and first ran beginning on September 30, 2023. Nannini is a sailor, writer and consultant in marketing and communication with a financial background. After a career in banking in the City of London he decided to take part in the Global Ocean Race 2011/2012 taking second place overall.[1]

The race

The race was designed with the intent that budget alone would not be a deciding factor in how well each boat does.

Boats are grouped by performance characteristics and set off in successive departures from August to December. Once at sea, there are no classes. All boats sail the same event. The faster boats have to try to catch up with the slower boats. The first boat to cross the finish line wins. After their group departures all boats sail in real time without time correction except for any time penalties imposed by the Organizer. The time limit for finishing the event is 270 days from the first departure date and time.

Any type of assistance at sea including embarking, provisions, sails, repair materials, fuel or anything else en route is not allowed, with the following exceptions:

A boat may pull into a port or anchorage for:

A boat pulling into port must then observe a minimum 120 hours time penalty or longer as decided by the Organizer.

No time penalties are applicable if a boat anchors to carry out repairs, find shelter from bad weather, or other reason without receiving any kind of outside assistance.

Skippers may receive any type of medical assistance at sea or by pulling into port both from other competitors or persons embarking the vessel. No time penalties will be imposed for bona fide medical assistance.

External weather routing is permitted.

Making way under engine is not permitted except for emergency situations (for example collision avoidance, man overboard recovery, providing assistance at sea) or pulling into port. The organizer may apply a time penalty if it is deemed that the participant has gained an unfair advantage as a result of the circumstances.

Each boat is provided with two satellite trackers which must be carried on board during the event. One unit is activated prior to the assigned departure. The second unit acts as a spare and must be activated on request by the Organizers.[2] [3]

Yachts

The race is open to monohull yachts with LOA greater than 32ft, including one-off open designs and other racing boats such as Class40, Open 50 and IMOCA 60. Boats not meeting this criterion may still apply and may be accepted at the sole discretion of the Organizer.

A boat must be covered by public liability insurance for participation in the event to a minimum value of €3 million (Euros).[3]

Course

The course is essentially a circumnavigation along the clipper route: from A Coruña, Spain, down the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope; then clockwise around Antarctica, keeping Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port; then back to A Coruña. There is an exclusion zone set around Antarctica where competitors are prohibited to sail due to risk of ice-bergs.

A circumnavigation by the three great capes is approximately 26,000 Nautical Miles long, and runs from August to June, timed to place the competitors in the Southern Ocean during the austral summer.[3]

Qualification

Skippers must be 18 years of age or older by their event departure date.

Skippers are required to undergo medical and survival courses. They must provide evidence of proficiency in medical care undertaken within 18 months of the departure in the Event. They must provide a Personal Survival Training course certificate gained at a World Sailing / ISAF Approved centre and undertaken within 18 months of the departure in the Event.

All skippers must have sailed a minimum qualification passage of 2,000 nautical miles single-handed and non-stop on the boat entered in the event by a passage route approved by the Organizer.[3]

Results

1st Edition, starting and finishing at A Coruña, Spain: 2023-2024[4]
Pos. Boat Name Skipper Start Time Finish Elapsed time Distance sailed (NM) Cause for retiring
1 Mowgli 2023-09-30-13:00 2024-02-24-14:03 147d 01h 03m 26,522
2 First Light 2023-10-29-04:38 2024-03-07-07:23 130d 02h 57m 27,759
3 Vento di Sardegna 2023-11-18-13:00 2024-03-17-15:44 120d 02h 44m 27,146
4 Obportus 2023-10-29-08:00 2024-03-30-08:04 153d 00h 04m 28,792
5 Kawan 3 - Unicancer 2023-10-29-09:25 2024-04-04-11:09 158d 01h 44m 27,881
6 Koloa Maoli 2023-10-29-09:45 2024-04-21-12:03 175d 2h 18m 27,040
7 Le Souffle de la Mer III 2023-09-30-09:00 2024-07-03-14:32 277d 5h 32m 29,825
8 Aspra 2023-10-29-08:13 17,850 Rigging
9 Roaring Forty 2023-11-23-12:30 13,060 Late for Horn
10 Phoenix 2023-10-21-13:00 18,524 Flooded, rescued
11 Shipyard Brewing 2023-10-29-08:02 21,250 Dismasted
12 Espresso Martini 2023-10-21-13:00 14,690 Medical
13 SolarWind 2023-09-17-13:00 13,780 Rudder failure
14 ZEROchallenge 2023-10-21-13:00 11,460 Dismasted
15 Bendigedig 2023-08-26-13:00 13,084 Autopilot
16 Sorolla 2023-10-29-07:56 1,408Autopilot

See also

Notable around the world races
Former races including:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marco Nannini. 7 March 2024. Yacht Racing Forum.
  2. Web site: What is the Global Solo Challenge?. 15 May 2024. Global Solo Challenge website.
  3. Web site: Global Solo Challenge 2027-28 Notice of Event. 15 May 2024. Global Solo Challenge website.
  4. Web site: Achieving the dream / Rankings . Global Solo Challenge . 6 July 2024.