Final countdown to Falmouth celebrations and start in Les Sables d'Olonne
by Golden Globe Race 6 Jun 2018 11:41 BST
11-14 June & 16 June - 1 July 2018
Igor Zaretskiy (Russia) battling towards Falmouth aboard his Endurance 35 Esmeralda for the Suhaili 50 Falmouth Parade of Sail between 11-14th June © Golden Globe Rac
With less than month to the start of the Golden Globe Race from Les Sables d'Olonne on July 1st, skippers are working feverishly to complete their preparations ready to take part in the Suhaili 50 Falmouth Parade of Sail celebrations between 11-14th June to mark the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's departure from the port to start the original GGR back in 1968.
Best news – three skippers, Mark Slats (Ned) Gregor McGuckin (Ire) and Igor Zaretskiy (Rus) have won full sponsorship last week. Slats' Rustler 36 has been renamed Ohpen Maverick following support from Ophen, builders of the world's first cloud based core banking engine. McGuckin's Biscay 36 yacht is another to have undergone a colour change, this time to green and been renamed Hanley Energy Endurance. Hanley Energy is a global specialist in the design, source, supply, install and commission of critical power, energy management and IT infrastructure solutions. Igor Zaretskiy, currently sailing his Endurance 35 Esmeralda from Alicante directly to Falmouth, has won support from The Russian paper and packaging group Double V
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Suhaili 50 Falmouth Parade of Sail - June 11 – 14
Click here for full diary of events
GGR Programme in Les Sables d'Olonne June 16 – July 1st
The GGR Race Village will open each day from 10:00am to 8:00pm and until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Visitors will find the GGR yachts and skippers on the Vendée Globe pontoons, and admire the historic solo yachts – Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's Suhaili, Bernard Moitessier's Joshua and Sir Francis Chichester's Gipsy Moth IV, together with Eric Tabarly's Pen Duick III and Pen Duick VI. There is something for all ages: Learn to navigate with the stars and instruments of the past, attend conferences, interviews and demonstrations, participate in workshops and boat baptisms, and the conviviality of the Bar Guinguette during evening concerts.
The Race Village is open to the public from June 16 to 30, and is free of charge. Activities are planned each day and entertainment specifically for children will take place on:
- Wednesdays 10:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 17:00
- Saturday 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 17:30
- Sundays 16:00 to 17:00
Click here for full programme of events
Live TV coverage at start and free satellite feed to rest of the world
France 3, Chaine Team, TV Vendée, Tébésud, Tébéo, and TVR will carry live coverage of the start. Events within the Race Village and the start will also be available in English on the GGR Facebook page.
The live feed is also available free to any TV station in the world. Click here for details.
For more information visit event website, www.goldengloberace.com