Final call for nominations for the 2024 IACH Cape Horn Hall of Fame

Global Solo Challenge winner Philippe Delamare presents the Cup to 2nd placed finisher Cole Brauer – the first American woman to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation © YACHT / M.Strauch

The return of the Ocean Globe and Global Solo Challenge round the world racers provides a timely reminder for sailing enthusiasts everywhere to nominate their favourite Cape Horner for the 2024 IACH Cape Horn Hall of Fame awards.

There are some big names in the hat already, including 2023 Golden Globe Race winner Kirsten Neuschäfer, the first woman to win any round the world race, together with fellow circumnavigators Paul Cayard, William (Bill) Norrie, and the late Bill Pinkney from the USA, Frenchmen Loïck Peyron and his brother Bruno, Russian adventurer Fyodor Konyukhov, the late Rear Admiral Hugo Bruna Greene, who captained the Chilean square rigged training ship Esmeralda on four circumnavigations via Cape Horn, Whitbread/Volvo race veterans Andrew Cape, Roger Nilsen and Stuart Bannatyne, 5-time British circumnavigator Mike Golding, Hungarian/American solo circumnavigator Istvan Kopar, and British double circumnavigators John Chittenden and Richard Tudor

Organised by the International Association of Cape Horners, public nominations close on 30th April. An online nomination form can be found on the IACH website.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of the independent judging panel, which includes 10-time solo circumnavigator Jean-Luc van den Heede, Dee Caffari, American, Stan Honey, Captain Dilip Donde, the first Indian sailor to complete a solo circumnavigation, and Archie Fairley, Chairman of IACH, will select a 20-strong list of contenders which then go forward to be voted on by the entire IACH membership to select the top six inductees. The awards ceremony will be held in Les Sables d'Olonne, France on Saturday 26th October during the build-up for the 2024/25 Vendée Globe Race.

Cape Horners Yacht Club

Now in its third year, the IACH Hall of Fame honours board lists 26 famous Cape Horners, the latest being Dame Ellen MacArthur and Jeanne Socrates - UK, Grant Dalton - New Zealand, and Skip Novak - USA, together with Franck Cammas and Michel Desjoyeaux from France. Their induction last year coincided with the opening of the Cape Horners Yacht Club, known locally as "Le Carre" in Les Sables d'Olonne, home of the Vendee Globe and Golden Globe races, and now the IACH Cape Horn Hall of Fame. The Club has a bar, dining room and large terrace overlooking the Vendee Globe marina and holds a growing collection of memorabilia from famous circumnavigations.

Click here to view the complete list of Cape Horn Hall of Fame inductees.

Circumnavigation Records

The Cape Horners Association also maintains a definitive list of solo and multi-crewed circumnavigations via Cape Horn which are available to view online.

The total number since modern records began with Argentine Vito Dumas became the first to complete a solo circumnavigation of the Southern Ocean via the three Great Capes back in 1944 has now reached 2,222. The latest IACH register update lists 193 who have completed solo non-stop circumnavigations, a further 152 have made similar solo circles of the globe via Cape Horn with stops, and a remarkable 1,877 have now done the same aboard crewed yachts.

Recent names added to the Cape Horners circumnavigation registers include: Arkea Ultim Challenge solo circumnavigators Charles Caudrelier, Thomas Colville, Armel Le Clearch, Anthony Marchand and Eric Peron, together the Global Solo sailors Philippe Delamare, Cole Brauer, Andrea Mura, and Riccardo Tosetto.

For more information visit capehorners.org.