McIntyre Golden Globe Les Sables d’Olonne
Fifteen of the 26 McIntyre GGR entrants meet for the first time in Les Sables d’Olonne during a two-day conference.
- 240,000 people visited Les Sables d’Olonne for the start of the 2022 GGR. Ulysses the Greek Sailor who looks out to sea from the shores of Les Sables d’Olonne was the venue for Golden Globe ENTRANTS to extend an invitation to the world, to visit Les Sables d’Olonne for the start of this fourth GGR on Sunday 6th Sept 2026!
- NO start gun! The McIntyre GGR start will move back in time to 1968, in the same way the original nine sailors raced the clock and themselves for Glory!
- Pre-start Race village in doubt, but a GGR pavilion with displays, daily poster signing and an open marina free for visitors to meet the skippers, chat and grab a selfie. Or simply be amazed by these “Classic” small yachts with a big heart, open every day starting 22nd August 2026.
- A “Solo Sailing Safety and Heavy Weather Tactics” symposium, open to all sailors is scheduled for Les Sables d’Olonne three days before the GGR starts on Wednesday 2nd Sept. 2026.
The mood of McIntyre Golden Globe entrants and managers who met for the first time over two days in Les Sables d’Olonne was a mix of excitement, emotion and pure passion. There was an air of urgency and apprehension for some. For the first time it hit all in attendance that this grand adventure is really happening, and soon! The sailors from 13 countries are all at different stages of preparedness. Some busy in refit or sailing could only attend by Zoom. There were many questions amongst each other, with the organisers and within themselves! Already nine of the original entrants have withdrawn their entry, beaten by time and money. The 26 remaining look strong, but it is still a battle to meet the strict qualifying and training requirements in this initial “Race to the Start”.
“It is very exciting to see the calibre and diverse nature of this group of enthusiastic sailors out to prove something to themselves” said Don McIntyre, Founder and Race Director of the GGR.“The bond between them is developing and while the conversations were thick, fast and fun over the past two days, not many mentioned the word fear. Each is processing what lay ahead in different ways. They are all coming at it with the knowledge and experience gleaned from three previous editions of the GGR. Only 21% of those sailors made it to the finish. The GGR is a gruelling mind game of attrition without comparison, and it has started already! “
In 2014 Don McIntyre coined a now well-known GGR phrase, not usually heard in yacht racing. “It’s all about the stories, human stories” Now adopted by other events, it started at the launch of the 50th anniversary edition of the Sunday Times Golden Globe. It highlighted the fact that it was not money, satellites, technology or computers driving GGR Yachts around the world. It was one HUMAN, and sextants, paper charts, radios and cassette music tapes being part of the game. This ethos still holds true 11 years later. Most importantly the GGR is the only solo race around the world that absolutely allows no outside assistance.
The Sunday Times Golden Globe in 1968 was the first ever yacht race around the world. Like that first edition with nine bigger than life characters, this fourth 2026 edition is loaded with real sailors and colourful back stories. No longer are they simply white-haired old men or dreamers! For the first time two women are up for the challenge, 34-year-old Helga Marie (MARA) from Norway and 44-Year-old film maker Olivia Wyatt from America.
42 yo professional sailor Damien Guillou from France has his sights firmly fixed on repeating Jean Luc Van Den Heed’s 2018 GGR victory, returning the GOLDEN GLOBE to France from South Africa, won in 2022 by Kirsten Neuschäfer. Damien was forced out of the 2022 edition in Cape Town when his Rustler 36 PRB experienced windvane failure.
20-year-old French sailor Louis Kerdelhué is training hard on his Biscay 36 Nuri. Recently graduated from University, he now sails full time and is about to announce his title sponsor in the weeks ahead. 73-year-old Edward Walentynowicz from Canada, is the old man of the fleet and has white hair!! He has sailed his Rustler 36 20,000 miles during five solo transatlantic voyages in the past few years training for the GGR. He will complete the 6th sailing to the start next year.
34-year-old Daniel Pinsky from Israel, is the latest to join the GGR. He had been cruising the Atlantic and Med for eight years. By chance he bumped into Louis Kerdelhué on a marina in Portugal. Louis was out training and had just completed another solo ocean voyage. Daniel was so inspired by the young sailor; he immediately sold his boat, bought a Baba 35 in America and entered the GGR!
Historic Start back to 1968.
In the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe there was no start gun! The nine entrants could start any time between June 1st and October 31st. The fastest time around the world would receive a £ 5000 prize (£140,000 in 2025) They raced against themselves and the clock! So, it is that we return to history. There will be no start gun for the 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe. Entrants will depart in line from the Vendee marina at three-minute intervals. They will motor down the famous Les Sables d’Olonne river at three knots to the cheer of spectators wishing them farewell and safe return. When abeam the end of the starboard break water lighthouse they cross the start time and set sail for Les Sables d’Olonne via Cape Horn! Just like in 1968 the fastest time wins.
No GGR 2026 Village for now?
Unlike 2018 and 2022, the usual GGR village is not planned for this 2026 edition (Unless a title sponsor budget is found). A GGR Pavilion will be established at the public entrance of the Vendee Marina. This will provide all the usual information and displays telling the McIntyre Golden Globe story. Detailed Information boards introducing all entrants and their yachts, and the adventure ahead will be set up around the perimeter of the marina and opposite each classic yacht. Daily poster signing and open boats sessions, as well as official welcome and farewell events are planned. International fans will be able to follow the Les Sables d’Olonne final buildup to the start with multiple daily LIVE Reports and interviews simultaneously in English and French on GGR Facebook and YouTube.
McIntyre GGR “Solo Sailing Safety and Heavy Weather Tactics” Symposium.
A “Solo Sailing Safety and Heavy Weather Tactics” full day GGR symposium and dinner is open to all sailors and non-sailors. It’s scheduled for Wednesday 2nd Sept. 2026, three days before the start of the GGR. Details announced in April 2026. It will feature among other things, past and present GGR entrants and well-known solo sailors and survivors in first person presentations, panel discussions, forums and Q&A sessions. The heavy weather report authored by Golden Globe Patron Sir Robin Knox-Johnston after the loss of four boats and numerous dismasting’s in the 2018 GGR will be discussed, as will the loss of three yachts in the 2022 edition. Safety incidents in the 2023 McIntyre Ocean Globe Race and 2025 McIntyre Mini Globe Race will be discussed. Solo sailing equipment and safety gear will be on display and discussed.
