SO YOU WANT TO RACE AROUND THE WORLD?

AROUND THE WORLD RACING IS BOOMING, WITH SIX NEW PRO-AM EVENTS SET TO BRING THE ULTIMATE SAILING FEAT WITHIN AFFORDABLE REACH. ELAINE BUNTING INVESTIGATES

- ELAINE BUNTING

Have you ever dreamed of racing round the world, passing Cape Horn or surfing down the face of a breaking wave deep in the Southern Ocean? In your imagination you’ve pictured yourself standing behind the wheel of a yacht racing under a spinnaker tight as a snare drum, hosed by spray and wearing a rictus grin of fear and exhilaration.

In real life? No chance. But now, maybe you could, even if only for that one, giant-slaying leg.

From next year a clutch of new round the world events are set to start that open up big ocean racing possibilities at costs that align with private yacht ownership. There are double-handed races, solo races, non-stop and stopping, through the Tropics and deep into the Southern Ocean. Some mix professionals with experienced amateurs and offer a chance to race against the pros, or hire pros to race alongside you. Several are specifically tailored to older yachts and in the process are remaking a ready market for well-found evergreen cruiser racers.

Compared to pinnacle races such as the Vendée Globe or Ocean Race, each with a ticket price of €10-15 million to reach the podium, a variety of epic events are now taking off with very different entry costs.

GOLDEN GLOBE GOES AGAIN

Next year will see the second edition of the Golden Globe Race. The ‘retro’ solo round the world set up by Australian sailor and adventurer Don McIntyre may initially have been seen as a one-off celebration of the 50th anniversary of the famous 1968/69 race, but it proved to be a hit worldwide, earning a mass audience and producing a queue of sailors wishing to take part.