The Golden Globe Race of 1968 turned out to be one of the most epic adventures of its time and remains today a subject of fascination for many sailors. It was the beginning or round-the-world, non-stop sailing and gave the sailing world such characters as Chay Blyth, Bernard Moitessier and the overall all winner Sir Robin Knox Johnson. It also gave us Donald Crowhurst about whose madness and demise a new movie, The Mercy, has just been released.
To commemorate the 1968 event’s 50th anniversary a rerunning of the event, which was sailed before the advent of modern GPS, has been organized in exactly the same format as the first. This young Irishman is intending to be one of the contestants. Check out his story from the journal.
IN JUST UNDER 150 days, a Dublin native is setting out to become the first Irishman to sail solo around the world non-stop, using no modern technology. Taking part in the Golden Globe Race in July, Gregor McGuckin, aged 31, will set sail from Les Sables D’Olonne, France in an attempt to survive 270 days alone at sea.
McGuckin will compete against 24 other sailors using just a compass, the moon and stars to guide him around the world. Competitors are restricted to 1960s technology and won’t be permitted to use GPS systems or any technology. Read more.
