The fleet of the third Golden Globe Race will depart from Les Sables d’Olonne in order to solo nonstop circumnavigate in their traditional boats.

The skippers will be gathering in the GGR start zone in the earlier afternoon. The official start will be 1600 local time.

Join the beginning of their journey of Port Olona and through the historic channel of Les Sables d’Olonne.

For spectators on their private boats, the exclusion zone expands half a mile west and south
from the nouch/sued cardinal.

If you don’t have your own boat, you can still join on the water and be closer to the skippers and their boats by booking tickets in the tourist office of Les Sables d’Olonne or via their website.

The SITraN Prologue Race starts in Gijon, Spain, Sunday 14th of August at 1300 at Bahia de San Lorenzo. ETA at the homeport of the GGR2022 in Les Sables D’Olonne, France is the afternoon of August 17th. You can join us live and online via Facebook for the start.

As preparation for the circumnavigation, all the skippers have to test critical communication during the prologue in preparation of the GGR2022: Sat phone messaging and calls, YB tracking and messaging, as well as finding radio beacons.

During the race there are no special rules like in the GGR. It is a fun race for the skippers, their families and friends and everyone interested.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for live updates.

They will have a busy week of final preparations of their boats and attending safety briefings, setting up satellite tracking and communications systems specific to the Golden Globe. These systems are finally checked by the organisers before entrants depart for Les Sables d’Olonne. Entrants will also have time to discover the city and the many events during their stay.

The GGR skippers set sail on Sunday 14th August racing the SITraN Challenge, a 280-mile race to Les Sables d’Olonne, the Capital of Adventure and home of the GGR, in time for the opening of the Race Village on August 20th. That leaves just two weeks for final preparations before the start of the longest, loneliest sporting event on September 4th.

Together with Les Sables d’Olonne we warmly welcome you to the race village of the GGR 2022!

We got some special treats for you, already on the opening day.

August 20 – Opening Day Schedule

• 10:00 Gates open for public
• 10:30 Official Opening ceremony
• 16:00 Presentation of all 16 Entrants: Come see the skippers, listen to their presentations on stage, and feel the excitement of the open sea!
• 19:30 Concert ‘Globalement Vôtre’ – A regional rock-folk band featuring Jean-Luc Van Den Heede!
• 22:30 Fireworks

Don’t miss out. Join us on this very special day.

The following two weeks are packed with events around the race and its Skippers, animations for all ages, concerts and more. There is something for everyone: Learn to navigate with the stars and instruments of the past, attend conferences, interviews and demonstrations, participate in workshops and boat baptisms, and enjoy the Bar Guinguette during evening concerts.

The GGR Race Village will open each day from 10:00am to 8:00pm with special events taking place until late, please check our schedule for details. The bar will be open until 02:00am. The village is open to the public and is free of charge. Activities are planned for each day as well as entertainment specifically for children.

Download Race Village Programme

Animations

Manège Accrovoile

Climbing the mast has been part of the sailing sports since the dawn of time. Here you can try to climb the masts (from 5 years). At the top of the mast at a height of 8 meters a strong mind is needed. Everyone will be able to test their sea legs and rediscover the sensations of the sailors of the Tall Sailing Ships.

Manège Gazelles

A maritime carousel, consisting of 4 sailboats (2 Gazelles des Sables and 2 Lascars) with manual propulsion. Two people have to turn the carousel using a winch column, called a “coffee grinder”. Each ride is staged by one’s very own fantasy: Imagine a trip from where you are, a cruise, an expedition, a regatta, a crossing of the Atlantic.

L’Heure Solaire par la Méridienne / Meridian sun sight (starting August 27)

Hands-on introduction to solar navigation and the use of a sextant by Association Méridienne.

Association des Plaisanciers des Sables d’Olonne (APSO)  

L’APSO is an association that revolves around yachting and the pleasure of sailing. On the program of the “Budding Navigators” workshops you will be introduced to cartography and to nautical knots and you will be a able to follow lifeboat mission demonstrations (16h30)

Association Water Family

Common Objective of this association is the preservation of water, health and all living beings. Three different subjects will be explained at their stand: Domestic water cycle game (questions about good or bad use of water at home), Great Water Cycle game (questions about water in its different forms of appearance on the planet: valley, mountain, plain and ocean) and the Land-Ocean Odyssey game (understanding the connection of land, ocean and living beings).

Concerts

Globalement Vôtre – 20.08.22, 7:30pm

A regional rock-folk band. Jean-Luc Van Den Heede and his fellow musicians enchant you on Keyboard/Accordion, Guitar, Bass & Drums. Come and welcome the skippers of the GGR2022 while singing with the winner of the 2018 edition: Jean-Luc Van Den Heede!

Concert of Sea Shanties / Un concert de chants marins – 24.08.22, 7:30pm

Join us in the evening after the fun regatta for a concert of sea shanties of the Olonnois.

SHOWYS – 27.08.22, 9pm

A diverse and colourful show is awaiting you to join for dancing to music from now and then.

The group consists of two singers and three musicians: guitar, bass and drums.

Come dance and celebrate ‘la Fête des jumelages’.

Idle Finger – 29.08.2022, 8:30pm

The trio diverts and returns from vintage to modern. It’s hard to imagine that their acoustic configuration can deliver such a powerful and unique sound. Not just covers, but an electrifying acoustic show that has already amazed thousands of people during more than 600 concerts in France and abroad. 

Force 5 – 31.08.22, 8pm

A group of passionate singers and musicians (accordion, banjo, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bouzouki, harmonica, cajon, mandolin, percussion, synthesizer). Come dance and sing along the sea shanties.

DJ Loran – 02.09.22, 9pm

DJ Loran is a musician and producer known for his specific style, Celtic Electro, which is a mix of traditional music and electro. Come and discover this unique universe: Le Moby Breton.

SGT Pepper – 04.09.22, 5:30pm

The three talented members share the same passion for the timeless pop of the Beatles. The trio tackles the Beatles’ repertoire by offering a total rediscovery of the Liverpool band’s greatest hits, relying on acoustic instruments and 3-voice vocal harmonies. Come to the village of the GGR2022 and celebrate after the departure of the skippers.

Spectacle

Les Olonnois – 24.08.22, 3pm, Bay of LSO 

A fun regatta: 20 boats from Les Sables d’Olonne will go out for a friendly regatta in the bay. On each classic wooden boat, the skipper will welcome a GGR entrant for the channel parade and a fun ‘race’ around the buoy.

Mozz, Ile aux trésors – 26.08.22, 7:30pm

Known and broadcasted in many places around the world: Treasure Island is a great show with several acts of art such as aerial artists, juggling, balance and on top characteristic music around the world of pirates.

The ‘guinguette des loupiots’ by ‘la roue tourne’ / La guinguette des loupiots par la compagnie « la roue tourne » – 31.08.22, 5pm

The popular cabaret show by Luciole, Gaspard and Gédéon are inviting families to a special movement that quickly takes on meaning in the collective. On Grandma Lulu’s boat, children, parents and grandparents poetically wonder about the human relationship to time, to nature and other… In a positive and gracious atmosphere, all generations are invited to dream, sing and make the parquet resonate!

Just in time for the start of the GGR 2022, the premiere of the 2018 edition will take place in Les Sables d’Olonne. ‘The Voyage of Madmen’ is a film by Jesse Martin and Don McIntyre. It tells the stories of the skippers on their circumnavigation in the spirit of the original 1968 Golden Globe Race.

The film will be available on streaming portals as well.