Could you imagine sailing out into the open sea all by yourself for a non-stop, 30,000-mile race around the world? No, we can’t either! But that’s exactly what the Golden Globe Race challenges 35 sailors to do.
Agecko are delighted to sponsor fellow Yorkshireman Guy Waites in the 2022 race as he braves one of the world’s most difficult sporting events, less than 200 sailors have ever completed the challenge.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, Guy is no stranger to an open water challenge. He has over 100,000 nautical miles of sailing experience and has made 5 single-handed Atlantic crossings. Guy was Skipper of the boat ‘Dare to Lead’ that Agecko’s Director, Jon Earnshaw, crewed on a journey across the Southern Ocean. They sailed from Cape Town to Freemantle on the Western coast of Australia, covering almost 5,000 nautical miles.
The Golden Globe Race
The Golden Globe Race is a celebration of the golden age of solo sailing. It began in 1968 with nine competitors attempting to race around the world alone in their sailboats. Only one managed to finish: Robin Knox-Johnston.
This year’s race will begin on 4th September 2022. Competitors will set off from Les Sables d’Olonne, France, and embark on their 30,000-mile solo circumnavigation of the world. They must sail to four rendezvous points before racing to return to the starting port to claim their prize.
Sailors must overcome the challenges of retro sailing, relying only on the technology that was available to Robin Knox-Johnston in the 1960s. They must rely on sextants, wind-up clocks, and wind vane steering to complete their journey. No GPS, autopilots, or electronic wind instruments are allowed!
Competitors can take shelter and drop anchor if they need to, but they must not enter a port or get help from outside sources. Of course, for safety, each vessel will have a sealed safety box with GPS and satellite phone for emergencies. All sailors will be always tracked by a satellite, but they will not have access to this information.
Supporting Guy
Guy has been invited to the challenge after working with competition legend Robin Knox-Johnston in 2019. But this recommendation is just the first step in the long journey ahead, and Guy needs a lot more help if he is going to complete the Golden Globe Race!
You can find out more about his sailing adventures and preparation for the 2022 race on his website: Guy Waites Sailing.
If you want to get involved and help support Guy on his voyage, you can donate online today.
Agecko are a second-tier sponsor for Guy’s Golden Globe Race. This retro sailing event aligns with Agecko’s principles. It creates worldwide appreciation and attention towards our amazing oceans and the awareness to further protect them from vast pollution.
The challenge also simultaneously shows man’s determination to achieve against all odds, with just technology from the 1960s and zero polluting technologies. It’s a powerful reminder of the great things we human beings are capable of if we try. Solving the ocean’s plastic pollution problems is within our capabilities and should be on every companies’ agenda. It’s easier than you might think to make real change:
