Final safety checks, parties then OFF! for McIntyre Ocean Globe entrants- 9 Days To Go!!
There’s been ribbon-cutting, cannon fire, astro navigation demonstrations, medical training, safety inspections, and a Pimms or two on the pontoons. With the 14 iconic yachts taking part in the McIntyre Ocean Globe docked in MDL Ocean Village Marina, Southampton, there’s never a dull moment with the 218 crews frantically preparing to sail around the world.
Activities kicked off with Lord Mayor Cllr Valerie Laurent, opening MDL Race Village, a symbolic moment for skippers and crew who’ve worked for years to get to the start line of the McIntyre OGR. But they’re not there yet! There’s still much to be done before the international fleet, representing sailors from 23 countries, depart on their eight-month adventure.
This fully-crewed retro race in the spirit of the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, marks the 50th anniversary of the original event. At 13:00 hr, 10th September, the yachts will set sail from the Royal Yacht Squadron start line, Cowes, UK, to circumnavigate the globe, using no computers, satellites or GPS navigation aids or high-tech materials and use Cassette tapes for music. For eight months, they’ll take on the world’s toughest oceans powered only by humans – all in the name of adventure, sailing like it’s 1973!
Ensuring the yachts are up to the momentous challenge of the three great Capes, Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, Australia’s Cape Leeuwin, and South America’s notorious Cape Horn means inspecting every lifejacket, counting fire extinguishers, opening ‘grab bags’ and testing navigation lights – and that’s the easy bit!
Every yacht is subject to a forensically-detailed safety inspection – which must be passed before receiving the coveted ‘Green Card’ required to take part in the race.
