The Ocean Globe Race (OGR) 2023, founded by Australian adventurer and circumnavigator, Don McIntyre, is the 50th-anniversary celebration of the original Whitbread Round the World Race (WRTWR), the first fully crewed round-the-world race in 1973. It features yachts similar to those used at that time. Except for safety equipment, no modern technology is allowed. The Ocean Globe Race (OGR) set sail with 14 teams on September 10th, 2023, from Ocean Village in Southampton (UK), to circumnavigate the globe with 3 stopovers: Cape Town (South Africa), Auckland (New Zealand), and rounding Cape Horn, Punta del Este (Uruguay), before returning to Cowes (Isle of Wight, UK) in April 2024.

Ranking and Results

The official ranking is determined in IRC (compensated time) to allow yachts of different shapes and sizes to sail a fair race. Later, Line Honors (real-time) were introduced as the second prize. With leg 1 ^[1] and leg 2 ^[2] won Translated 9 is the yacht that won more so far in the OGR 2023 and also set a record in the Italian sailing history: no Italian boat had ever won a leg of a round-the-world race, and the sailing boat co-skippered by Marco Trombetti (also the shipowner), Vittorio Malingri, Simon Curwen, and Nico Malingri won the first two legs, retired on the third leg due to damage to the hull ^[3], and racing in the fourth leg. Triana, the french boat skippered by the entrepreneur and sailor Jean d’Arthuys, won the 3rd leg ^[4]. Leg 4th is still underway.

Line Honors

Line Honors (real-time), which rewards the fastest boat in the fleet without considering the different shapes of the yachts. Leg 1 was won ^[5] by Spirit of Helsinki, skippered by Jussi Paavoseppä, Leg 2 ^[6] was won by Translated 9, co-skippered by Marco Trombetti and Vittorio Malingri, Leg 3 ^[7] was won by Pen Duick VI, skippered by Marie Tabarly, and Leg 4 is still underway.

Classes

The yachts are divided into 3 classes: Flyer, which includes yachts previously entered in 1973, 1977, or 1981 WRTWR, or of 'relevant' historic significance and 'approved' production-built, ocean-certified, sail-training yachts generally 55ft to 68ft LOA; Sayula (56.1ft-66ft); Adventure (47ft-56ft).

The fleet - entrants ^[8]

At the start, the fleet comprised 14 teams from France, Italy, Spain, Finland, the UK, the USA, South Africa, and Australia, with approximately a 30% quota of female sailors ^[9]. Flyer Class: Translated 9 (Italy), Pen Duick VI (France), Maiden (UK), L’Esprit D’Equipe (France), Neptune (France). Sayula Class: Evrika (France), Spirit of Helsinki (Finland), White Shadow (Spain), Explorer (Australia). Adventure Class: Triana (France), Outlaw (Australia) Sterna (South Africa), Godspeed (USA), Galiana WithSecure (Finland).

Rules ^[10]

Each crew comprises 70% non-professional sailors and at least one woman, and one sailor under 24 years old. For this reason, the OGR is defined as an adventure around the world for ordinary sailors on normal yachts. A distinctive feature of the OGR is the limited use of modern technologies onboard: no computers, no satellites, no GPS, and no high-tech materials are allowed. Teams navigate using sextants and receive weather forecast bulletins via radio fax. The OGR is considered a human endeavor based on team spirit and raw determination.

Organisers

Don McIntyre is the founder and Race Director of the Ocean Globe Race. He is also the organiser of the Golden Globe Race 2022, which was awarded the title of '‘Event of the Year’ at the British Yachting Awards 2023.

References