Golden Globe Race - Entering the Orca Zone!

[Halcyon Yachts]

I was lucky enough to be in Les Sables the day before they set off. It was great to meet a few of the guys entering this amazing event...

The fleet are about to enter orca alley...

Live Tracker

Pete

 

[capnsensible]

Great reminder thanks.

Will nip down for a look at any who pass Rubicon in daylight.

 

[E39mad]

I see that the Rustler 36 is the main boat of choice in there. A couple of Tradewind 35's and Biscay 36's, a Barbican but slightly surprised there isn't one Vancouver 32/34 in the fleet.

 

[Frogmogman]

It is a heck of a challenge. If I were to do it, I’d choose an S&S Swan 36. Still very solid and seaworthy, extremely high ballast ratio, but an absolute weapon compared to the Rustlers and the like.

Best wishes to all of the competitors for a great experience, and above all a safe race.

 

[Concerto]

It is a heck of a challenge. If I were to do it, I’d choose an S&S Swan 36. Still very solid and seaworthy, extremely high ballast ratio, but an absolute weapon compared to the Rustlers and the like.

Best wishes to all of the competitors for a great experience, and above all a safe race.

A Swan 36 is not a long keel boat with a rudder attatched, so you would not be allowed to enter.

 

[Frogmogman]

AIUI the race is open to the type of boats that would have been available at the time of the original event. The first Swan 36 was launched in 1967….

FWIW, the first Rustler 36 was splashed in 1980.

 

[Concerto]

This is quoted from the Golden Globe web site.

Approval for Production yacht types for entry into the Golden Globe Race has now been restricted to the following 22 yachts with the following general specifications:

• Of fibre reinforced plastic construction.
• Designed prior to 1988 with a minimum series of 20 yachts built from one mould.
• Have a hull length of between 32ft and 36ft. Bowsprits, wind vanes and outboard rudders, boomkins, pushpits and pulpits are not measured.
• Have full-length keels with rudders attached to the trailing edge.
• A minimum design displacement is 6,200kg.

The Rules

So the Swan 36 is not an acceptable design for the race.

 

[Frogmogman]

This is quoted from the Golden Globe web site.

Approval for Production yacht types for entry into the Golden Globe Race has now been restricted to the following 22 yachts with the following general specifications:

• Of fibre reinforced plastic construction.
• Designed prior to 1988 with a minimum series of 20 yachts built from one mould.
• Have a hull length of between 32ft and 36ft. Bowsprits, wind vanes and outboard rudders, boomkins, pushpits and pulpits are not measured.
• Have full-length keels with rudders attached to the trailing edge.
• A minimum design displacement is 6,200kg.

The Rules

So the Swan 36 is not an acceptable design for the race.

Fair enough. It seems very revisionist to me; a yacht that one of the original competitors could have bought at the time is excluded, yet one that first saw the light of day 12 years later is ok.

FWIW, these rules would exclude 3 of the 4 original entrants. Bernard Moitessier’s Joshua (40 ft steel hull), Bill King’s Galway Blazer, (wood construction, fin and skeg),and Donald Crowhurst’s Teignmouth electron (41ft trimaran, wood IIRC).

Why, therefore, is it called the Golden Globe Challenge ?

 

[Concerto]

Fair enough. It seems very revisionist to me; a yacht that one of the original competitors could have bought at the time is excluded, yet one that first saw the light of day 12 years later is ok.

FWIW, these rules would exclude 3 of the 4 original entrants. Bernard Moitessier’s Joshua (40 ft steel hull), Bill King’s Galway Blazer, (wood construction, fin and skeg),and Donald Crowhurst’s Teignmouth electron (41ft trimaran, wood IIRC).

Why, therefore, is it called the Golden Globe Challenge ?

They set the rules, but remember you have to be invited to participate as well, so not quite an open race to start with.

 

[Wansworth]

Maybe a better rule would be any boat that costs say 50,000 euros?

 

[RivalRedwing]

I see Moitessier is in the lead.... got to give it to the old timers

 

[capnsensible]

Looks like hard yakka to get around Finisterre.

 

[Wansworth]

Looks like hard yakka to get around Finisterre.

The old sailinginstructions said to make as much westing as possible crossing the bay……..they started from the wrong place?

 

[Frogmogman]

I see Moitessier is in the lead.... got to give it to the old timers

….but he’s been disqualified for having a 40ft steel yacht.

 

[Minerva]

Fair enough. It seems very revisionist to me; a yacht that one of the original competitors could have bought at the time is excluded, yet one that first saw the light of day 12 years later is ok.

FWIW, these rules would exclude 3 of the 4 original entrants. Bernard Moitessier’s Joshua (40 ft steel hull), Bill King’s Galway Blazer, (wood construction, fin and skeg),and Donald Crowhurst’s Teignmouth electron (41ft trimaran, wood IIRC).

Why, therefore, is it called the Golden Globe Challenge ?

It would also preclude Suhali from entering too as she's wood!

***edit***

Would that mean that none of the original entrants would be allowed to participate in the new Golden Globe Races? Seems rather like it's more a marketing wheeze to use the "Golden Globe" name in that case!

 

[Wansworth]

Someone ought to buy up say ten nic 32s and then refurbish to hire out as this magical al round the world race boat

 

[Frogmogman]

It would also preclude Suhali from entering too as she's wood!

***edit***

Would that mean that none of the original entrants would be allowed to participate in the new Golden Globe Races? Seems rather like it's more a marketing wheeze to use the "Golden Globe" name in that case!

Is it a conspiracy by the Rustler 36 owners’ club to boost second hand values of their boats ?

 

[Frogmogman]

It would also preclude Suhali from entering too as she's wood!

***edit***

Would that mean that none of the original entrants would be allowed to participate in the new Golden Globe Races? Seems rather like it's more a marketing wheeze to use the "Golden Globe" name in that case!

I stand corrected. Not a single one of the original entrants would be eligible.

 

[Bajansailor]

I stand corrected. Not a single one of the original entrants would be eligible.

Which really rather defeats the whole concept of the race.....

I agree re a Swan 36 in preference to a Rustler 36 any day.
But they are not allowed..... hey ho

 

[GHA]

I stand corrected. Not a single one of the original entrants would be eligible.

And moitessier wouldn't have touched such a commercial event costing many thousands just to take part with a very long barge pole. I'd completely agree with that. Heading for the southern ocean and not being allowed weather gribs is somewhere between silly and suicidal.