DAY 295: Jean-Luc Van Den Heede crowned winner of the 2018 Golden Globe Race - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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DAY 295: Jean-Luc Van Den Heede crowned winner of the 2018 Golden Globe Race

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Don’s speech on Prize Giving day

Thousands drawn to the open air presentation in Les Sables d’Olonne
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston publishes Report on lessons learned from dismastings.
2022 GGR skippers announced
Dateline: 22/04/2019, Les Sables d’Olonne, France

Don’s speech on Prize Giving day

Today is a day full of history and celebration, not only here in beautiful le Sables d’Olonne, but in Falmouth England and around the world! Our international GGR family have joined us on Facebook Live and great to see you all here joining the

Tapio Lehtinen crosses the Equator - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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DAY 284: Golden Globe Race Update
Tapio Lehtinen crosses the Equator
GGR Prize-giving timetable 19-22nd April
Dateline: 11/04/2019 Les Sables d’Olonne, France

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As Tapio Lehtinen, the last of the Golden Globe race skippers, crossed the Equator on Tuesday to start the last part of his solo circumnavigation back to Les Sables d’Olonne, plans are now well advanced for the GGR prize-giving celebrations in the Vendee port over the Easter Weekend 19 – 22nd April.

The Finnish skipper who has been slowed by increasing barnacle growth on his Gaia 36 Asteria since crossing the Indian Ocean last October will miss the party – he is not expected to reach the finish line until late May at the earliest – but will join the other skippers via a

Istvan Kopar secures 4th place in the Golden Globe Race - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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DAY 263: Istvan Kopar secures 4th place in the Golden Globe Race

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Dateline: 21/3/2019 Les Sables d’Olonne, France

American Hungarian solo yachtsman Istvan Kopar finally reached the finish line off Les Sables d’Olonne, France at 13:58 UTC today to take 4th place in the 2018 Golden Globe Race.

“This is the happiest day of my life… And this [Les Sables d’Olonne] is the best place to be…The Capital of offshore sailing.” He said on arrival at the

MEDIA ALERT: Istvan Kopar due to reach Les Sables d’Olonne finish at 09:00 UTC on 21st March - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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MEDIA ALERT: Istvan Kopar due to reach Les Sables d’Olonne finish at 09:00 UTC on 21st March

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Dateline: 18/3/2019 Les Sables d’Olonne, France

Day 260: At 04:00 UTC today, American/Hungarian Istvan Kopar and his Tradewind 35 yacht Puffin was within 250 miles of the finish line and expected to reach Les Sables d’Olonne around 09:00 UTC on Thursday 21st March.

Kopar was making 5.1knots, having managed to cover 120 miles during the previous 24 hours – a remarkable performance given the steering problems that have plagued his solo circumnavigation almost from the start of the Golden Globe Race last July. And he is still having issues, reporting yesterday that his replacement rudder blade on his wind vane self steering is too

Uku Randmaa claims 3rd podium place in Golden Globe Race - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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Uku Randmaa claims 3rd podium place in Golden Globe Race

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Dateline: 10/3/2019 Les Sables d’Olonne, France

Uku Randmaa crossed the Les Sables d’Olonne finish line at 09:00 UTC today to secure third place in Golden Globe Race. Thousands lined the river entrance to catch a glimpse of this quiet spoken 56 year old Estonian solo circumnavigator and his boat.

Waiting for him at the dock was his wife Maibi and young twins Thor and Orm who were born shortly before his departure, together with the family of fellow circumnavigators who he had kept each other going through good times and bad over the radio. Winner Jean-Luc Van Den Heede was one of the first to shake his hand followed by Dutchman Mark Slats, and two who were rescued in mid-ocean, Loïc Lepage and

Uku Randmaa now within 1,200 miles of the finish - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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Day 241 – Uku Randmaa now within 1,200 miles of the finish. ETA in Les Sables d’Olonne 11-12th March
Istvan Kopar stalled in calms
Barnacles slow Tapio Lehtinen in his virtual race against Suhaili
Mark Slats receives a hero’s welcome home
American philanthropist steps in to support salvage of Gregor McGuckin’s yacht
GGR prizegiving programme

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Dateline: 12:00 UTC – 27/02/2019 Les Sables d’Olonne. France

Third placed Estonian sailor Uku Randmaa is hungry…Hungry because he has caught no fish during the past week to supplement the last of his food stocks…Hungry to finish…and Hungry to see his young family after more than 8 months alone at

Uku Randmaa handed 72 hour penalty for weather routing violation - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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Day 234 – Uku Randmaa handed 72 hour penalty for weather routing violation
Istvan Kopar suffers broken tiller – now down to his emergency rudder
Tapio Lehtinen neck-and-neck in virtual race against Suhaili

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Dateline: 14:00 UTC – 20/02/2019 Les Sables d’Olonne. France

Third placed Estonian skipper Uku Randmaa has escaped disqualification from the Golden Globe race after breaching the strict rules forbidding outside assistance, but has been handed a 72-hour penalty for asking and receiving weather routing information during radio contact with a Ham radio operator.

A 16-minute recording of the radio communication was received at Race HQ yesterday (19th February). The first five minutes covers a legitimate publicly available weather information, but at -9:15, Randmaa asks: “I have a question…How can I say it…I’m heading 90°. Can I be sure that I can take the wind if I’m

The Race for 3rd continues - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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Day 227 – The Race for 3rd continues
Uku Randmaa overcomes rigging failure and sliced finger, but sees lead over Istvan Kopar shrink
Kopar struggling with emergency steering and health issues
Tapio Lehtinen makes most ground after rounding Cape Horn but now faces a fishing blockade and calms

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Dateline: 14:00 UTC – 13/02/2019 Les Sables d’Olonne. France

There has been good and bad news from 3rd placed Uku Randmaa and his Rustler 36 One and All. Now within 2,500 miles of the Les Sables d’Olonne finish line, the Estonian skipper has solved his immediate hunger problems by catching two large marlin during the past week, which should extend his meagre supplies of basic freeze dried food to the end of the

The Race for 3rd - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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The Race for 3rd
Istvan Kopar now within 500 miles of 3rd placed Uku Randmaa
Uku running out of food with 3,100 miles to the finish
Tapio Lehtinen due to round Cape Horn this week
J-L Van Den Heede and Mark Slats struggle with life ashore

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Dateline: 16:00 UTC – 04/02/2019 Les Sables d’Olonne. France

As Jean-Luc Van Den Heede and Mark Slats struggle to come to terms with life ashore, a race is developing for the final podium position between Estonian Uku Randmaa and the US/Hungarian Istvan Kopar. While Randmaa and his Rustler 36 One and All was struggling to cross the Equator today, having managed to cover just 111 miles during the past four days, Kopar has been enjoying strong Tradewind sailing to close the gap by 398 miles during the

Van Den Heede regains the initiative… - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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Day 204 – Van Den Heede regains the initiative… for now
Leader within 1,000 miles of finish. ETA – 31st January
Kopar’s challenge for 3rd place runs out of steam
Lehtinen battles with Southern Ocean storms
Accusations of illegal weather routing and position reporting lack evidence
Van Den Heede and Slats dropped from Ham radio broadcasts

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Dateline: 14:00 UTC 21. 01. 2019 – Les Sables d’Olonne, France

The elastic between Jean-Luc Van Den Heede and Mark Slats has stretched in the Frenchman’s favour over the weekend allowing him to open up a 215-mile lead over his Dutch rival. A week ago, the difference in terms of distance to finish was just 28 miles. Both skippers have used up what remained of their 160 litre supply of diesel fuel, with Slats expending the last drop pushing his way through the windless high pressure system sitting over the

Van Den Heede serves 18 hour penalty - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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Day 190 – Van Den Heede serves 18 hour penalty
Mark Slats closes to within 417 miles
Uku Randmaa survives South Atlantic storm
Istvan Kopar makes most progress during past week
Tapio Lehtinen asks for the record books – who has been the slowest solo circumnavigator?

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Dateline: 15:00 UTC 07. 01. 2019 – Les Sables d’Olonne, France

French race leader Jean-Luc Van Den Heede served out his 18 hour penalty (for improper use of his satellite phone) on Saturday and is now clear to race the remaining 2,150 miles to the finish at Les Sables d’Olonne. He expects to arrive there on

Istvan Kopar rounds Cape Horn - The Golden Globe Race - 2018

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Day 185 – Istvan Kopar rounds Cape Horn

Jean-Luc Van Den Heede extends lead over Mark Slats

Uku Randmaa attempts to out-run South Atlantic storm

Tapio Lehtinen continues to be slowed by barnacle growth

Igor Zaretskiy: health check will determine plans to re-start in Chichester Class

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Dateline 17:00 UTC 02. 01. 2019 – Les Sables d’Olonne, France

Istvan Kopar rounded Cape Horn at 19:00 UTC yesterday, giving the 65-year old American/Hungarian a perfect New Year boost. To have got this far has been a triumph over adversity in every sense since the start from Les Sables d’Olonne on July 1st last year.

Kopar’s Tradewind 35 Puffin has suffered continued self-steering issues from Day 1 that led him to consider throwing in the towel at the Cape Verde islands. His SSB radio has been on the blink almost as long, preventing him from picking up weather forecasts or communicating with other skippers; his freshwater tanks became contaminated, and Kopar had to fashion new cogs to replace those that were breaking up in the