The Ocean Globe Race begins the countdown
–Marie Tabarly announces the inscription of “Pen Duick VI” and Vendée Globe legend Jean Le Cam, with her Swan 59 “Mad Atao / Yes we Cam”.
– Home to great ocean racing, France provides the largest contingent for the inaugural OGR, as it did for 1st Whitbread.
– OGR participants bring their family, friends and young sailors from around the world, shaping the future hopes of the sport.
On June 29, organizers, sponsors, media and participants were delighted to finally meet in person at the OGR Conference in Les Sables d’Olonne, home port of iconic ocean racing such as the Vendée Globe, the Golden Globe Race. and the Mini Transat.
France, home to major nautical events, is providing the largest contingent for the inaugural OGR, as it did 50 years ago during the first Whitbread Round the World Race.
–Dominique Dubois, owner of the Multiplast shipyard, builder of IMOCA and racing multihulls, will go around the world aboard his Swan 651 “Future” with a crew made up of his family and friends.
–Lionel Reignier, OSTAR winner Les Sables skipper, and Pierre-Yves Cavan, brought back “L’Esprit d’Équipe”, winner of the 85-86 Whitbread from Ushuaia to kick off their campaign.
–Arnaud Lizop, Tabarly’s partner in the “Pen Duick” in 1973, will dribble aboard his S&S 55 “Nakamal” against two other Swan 55s, the British “Ariana” and the “Galiana” of Tapio Lehtinen.
–Jean Christophe Petit, a two-time Transquadra participant, is campaigning from Barcelona, Spain, with Armancio Macia and finalizing the purchase of his boat.
“The” Pen Duick 6 “is going to turn 50 this year, I had a program around the world with my Elemen’Terre project that was canceled by Covid, and I was looking for what to do to commemorate the anniversary of the Ship” announced Marie, ” The “Pen Duick” cannot miss a round-the-world regatta like this. We have a crew of 12, the boat is showing its age well and after a repair it will be ready to go. ”
In addition to “L’Esprit d’Équipe” and “Pen Duick VI”, several glories of the Whitbread will participate in the first edition of the OGR in 2023, among which the Farr 60 “Maiden” by Tracy Edwards, the Swan 65 “Translated 9” by Marco Trombetti, ex “ADC Accutrac”, the Norwegian Swan 651 “Second Wind”, ex “Fazer Finland”, and as a guest star the “Evrika”, the old Swan 65 by Nick Wrights, member of Pink Floyd .
More important than the boats, the spirit of the Whitbread is very much alive in the OGR family, made up of owners who take their boats around the world, with crews made up mainly of friends, family and budding sailors, far from the totally professional sport that is has become today.
“The stories of our participants are truly amazing and welcoming Marie Tabarly to OGR, feeling her passion and attitude towards racing is truly inspirational,” said Don McIntyre, OGR founder and regatta organizer. “It was an exciting day, finally getting the OGR out of the Covid cloud, meeting the OGR participants in person, and welcoming Nick Bice to our team!”
Regatta director Nick Bice from Australia participated in all 5 Volvo Ocean Race campaigns as both a boat builder, navigator, manager and finally head of the Boatyard Vor, he certainly knows how to lead a fleet around the world. .
With 14 nations represented, the Adventure class closed, the Sayula class practically complete and two seats remaining in the Flyer class, the Ocean Globe Racese is becoming the largest crewed race in the world … since the Whitbread!
