UK Sailor Guy Waites to compete in 2022 Golden Globe Race
by Chris Clark 9 Feb 2022 01:32 NZDT
Guy Waites © SYC
Yorkshire resident and Scarborough Yacht Club member Guy Waites is competing with around twenty-five other international competitors to win the Golden Globe Race 2022.
To authentically recreate the 1968/9 atmosphere, entrants are limited to sailing similar yachts with equipment that was available to Sir Robin in the first race. The yachts differed slightly in that they could be built to slightly later sailing designs prior to 1988, but otherwise they need to sail without modern technology or benefit of satellite based navigation aids. Competitors must sail on yachts between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 - 10.97m) that have a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge.
The first race was run in 2018, 50 years after the sole finisher and winner of the 1968 race, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. This second race begins on 4th September 2022 from Les Sables-d'Olonne in France.
The Golden Globe Race was founded and is organised by Australian Don McIntyre, Race Director and Chair for the 2022 race. He describes the Golden Globe vision as follows:
"I saw Sir Robin Knox-Johnston speaking on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of his record setting 1968 non-stop circumnavigation. Referring to the current space-age building materials, high-tech satellite systems and computers supporting today's solo sailors, he simply said (by comparison to his own experience back then) "This takes the spice out of it!" Well the 2018 (50th anniversary) Golden Globe Race very definitely puts the spice back into it and by world standards, offers a very unique and demanding challenge to any sailor who's up for it."
Guy Waites Sailing sponsorship is essential to get Guy to the starting line, and Guy is keen to see this as broadly a North Yorkshire people and small business powered attempt. The opportunity for local people and organisations to identify with the race was a particular aim, and large brand contributions are being eschewed. However, international people and organisations Guy has collaborated with over the years have donated towards his campaign.
Fuller details about Guy, Guy Waites Sailing, Sagamartha the yacht, Guy's background, the Golden Globe Race itself, and Guy's home club, Scarborough Yacht Club, are included below, along with press contacts with all organisations involved.
Guy Waites Sailing will issue regular progress updates to the national UK media, and it is hoped that sports readers throughout the country will be interested in reading about a uniquely British challenger as the corona virus pandemic and economic challenges get left behind.
Find out more at guywaitessailing.com