Join us at Royal Cape YC farewell and press conference for Jeremy Bagshaw and Kirsten Neuschafer
by The Royal Cape Yacht Club 12 Apr 2022 07:18 BST
Jeremy Bagshaw and Kirsten Neuschäfer speak to the media and supporters before they depart SA for the Golden Globe Race 2022.
Only 23 sailors from all over the world will embark on an adventure of a lifetime for more than 200 days - away from the rest of the world, navigating with a sextant and the stars - and two of them are from South Africa.
Aside from the massive challenge of a solo navigation, the competitors are only allowed technology on their boats from 1968. The boats they can use are true to the history of the event and must be traditional, heavy displacement, long keel, production sailboats between 32' and 36' overall, and they must have been designed before 1988.
Jeremy Bagshaw and Kirsten Neuschäfer will leave SA shores within a fortnight to sail to Les Sables d'Olonne (France), the starting point of the Golden Globe Race 2022. They are at the mercy of Cape Town weather conditions and we encourage all media and supporters to follow social media for last minute updates on their departures.
Interestingly, in 1968-1969, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston won the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, the first solo, non-stop, round-the-world race in history, sailing for 312 days.
In 2018, 50 years later, this legendary adventure was reborn in Les Sables d'Olonne for a second edition with the same navigation aids as available in 1968. Famous French sailor Jean-Luc Van Den Heede won the race in 211 days.
How many days will our SA competitors take to complete the race, and who will be crossing the line first? Let's hear from Kirsten and Jeremy - who do they think will be bringing back gold?
You are invited to join us for an informal chat with both sailors to see how they prepare for this epic race, in the Main Hall at RCYC.
Let us know if you will be attending -