GLOBE 40

Two and a half years after its launch, the GLOBE40 is now in the advanced stages of its preparation for the race start in Tangier on 26 June 2022. The project’s values and concepts: a journey of discovery of the racing world / an affordable round the world race which is competitively accessible / an event able to navigate the current difficult context.

A solid competitive line-up of enthusiasts

The Notice of Race in its revised 2022 start version features 3 registration dates: 1 July 2021, 31 December 2021 and the closing of registration on 1 March 2022. 12 projects signed up in July 2021 and by the end of this year virtually all these projects will still be in the running, with others very likely being finalised. This effectively means that the objective of fifteen or so projects at the start in June 2022 remains topical for the organisation. In a complicated period, which has blurred multiple references, it’s likely that for some, the deadlines will be tight. Indeed, amidst boat purchases (another 2 in recent weeks), technical preparation and training sessions, it’s shaping up to be a busy six months at the start of 2022. However, the teams will doubtless be spurred on by the dream of circumnavigating the globe and venturing forth on the exceptional course as part of a team with the promise of an adventure of a lifetime. The first editions of a major event are always epic (13 crews took the start of the first Vendée Globe) and the GLOBE40 will likely follow suit.

Confirmation of an innovative course

Aside from the finish venue (see below), the course announced in June 2019 has been confirmed and the various locations have been researched on the ground at every one of the stopovers, with the exception of Granada (scheduled for December) and New Zealand. Furthermore, in every host city that makes up the course, a set of top-quality correspondents are working hard on the preparations and are in daily contact with the organisation team. The GLOBE40 was particularly well received during a recent reconnaissance trip to Polynesia – a fantastic journey of discovery around this quite unique maritime space – and the island of Mauritius – a pearl of the Indian Ocean; two regions rather unaccustomed to hosting major offshore events, which up to now have been on a course much further south, amidst the ice. Auckland meantime is well-versed in such races and the event will be accommodated in the exact same site as the America’s Cup teams, at the centre of a new up-and-coming entertainment spot.

Lorient, Brittany: Finish venue and the city hosting the Atlantic prologue

Lorient and its suburbs no longer need an introduction as it has spent the past twenty years or so creating an offshore racing hub, which is the only one of its kind in Europe and is centred around the former submarine base. Here, the top teams, with all the series represented and the whole offshore racing economy at its fingertips, boast an unparalleled skill set. Indeed, with LORIENT GRAND LARGE, the local training cluster is also extremely active, placing its crews at the cutting edge of all the major offshore races. By playing host to the inaugural edition of the GLOBE40, LORIENT LA BASE is demonstrating its desire to be at the forefront of events to inject entertainment and excitement into its economic and sporting construction.

The support of the French Sailing Federation

For the GLOBE40 crews, the decision to go with LORIENT will not only be a technical asset, but also an acknowledgement of the event’s standing in the offshore racing universe, with the official support of the Fédération Française de Voile (French Sailing Federation) expressed by its President Jean-Luc Denechau.

The GLOBE40 is also happy to announce the choice of Christophe Gaumont as race director for the event; at the heart of the management of major nautical events for many years, whether at the Olympic Games or on major ocean racing events (Vendée Globe – Route du Rhum – Transat Jacques Vabre) Christophe takes the sporting helm of this inaugural edition around of the world. An Anglo-Saxon deputy race director will also soon come to assist Christophe Gaumont.