Sailing like it’s 1968
In the world of ocean racing, money and sponsorship have created and continue to support spectacular professional ocean racing events.
These elite skippers and modern-day ocean gladiators are champions, the best of the best and rightly so who become pilots of amazing technology. But has something human been lost? The integrity fades for ordinary sailors watching as high tech wins ahead of the sailor. How can these ordinary sailors, inspired by the action, dream of ever participating? Often sailors lose that dream, knowing it is just for the few. The dream fades and does not happen.
The retro nature of the 1960s rules and conditions of entry into the Golden Globe Race have opened a fresh new page. It has created great enthusiasm, comment and opinion in sailing circles around the world. They say this retro style is the right idea at the right time and may well begin a movement toward RETRO SAILING. We hope it does. The plain idea of racing in simple strong boats, using no technology and combining the traditional seamanship skills of the sailor with his ingenuity, passion and determination to drive him across the finish line first, is both simple to understand and intensely satisfying. It is also a very affordable adventure and challenge for all! The dream is back!
You sail refitted older proven production boats of a similar style, length and type, with no high tech anything allowed, no satellite gear and your costs are controlled. All entrants face the same challenges and more money will not necessarily help you to the podium. There is no rating system, so the person in the lead is winning and wow, you have a great production family boat and when you want to sell, you do not lose your shirt!
As a RETRO Race, for the Golden Globe, generally speaking, only equipment that was available to Robin Knox-Johnston on Suhaili in 1968 may be used. That means NO GPS, chart plotters, electronic wind instruments, electric autopilots, electronic log, iPhone, satellite phones, digital cameras, computers, cd players, pocket calculators electronic clocks and watches, watermakers, carbon fibre, Kevlar, spectra etc… so it is back to film cameras, cassette tapes, sextants, wind up clocks, trailing logs and Dacron sails, wind vanes and typewriters.
There is a place for all types of sailing races in the world and just maybe, RETRO sailing is the new kid on the block!
For all technical details download the Notice of Race.
