From the Mayflower to the Titanic, the Blue Riband liners to the Whitbread Round the World races, Southampton is synonymous with the start of some of history’s most famous sea voyages. This September, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, the maritime city on England’s south coast will host its latest sailing challenge – the Ocean Globe Race 2023.
On 10 September, more than 160 sailors will depart the Southampton Ocean Village onboard 15 yachts to complete the four-leg, 27,000-mile race around the world via the three great capes – Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, Australia’s Cape Leeuwin, and South America’s notorious Cape Horn.
To celebrate the momentous event, there will be a party atmosphere in the city, with the race village at Ocean Village Marina opening on 26 August 2023 (two weeks prior to the start of the race on 10 September). During the run up to the start, the village will host speakers, pre-race activities, past race screenings, hospitality and entertainment as well as the media centre and sailors’ briefing area.
This retro race (no GPS, computers or satellites, just traditional sextons to be used to navigate) will stop in Cape Town, Auckland and Punta del Este en route back to Southampton. The race is scheduled to finish in Southampton from 1-10 April 2024.
For more information see oceangloberace.com and visitsouthampton.com
About the race
The Ocean Globe Race is an eight-month adventure around the world for ordinary sailors on normal yachts. Racing ocean-going GRP production yachts designed before 1988, there will be no computers, no satellites, no GPS, and no high-tech materials. Sextants, team spirit and raw determination alone in the great traditions of ocean racing are allowed on this truly human endeavour.
Tracy Edwards and her Maiden team are the only UK entrant in the Ocean Globe Race and will be hoping to relive their Whitbread dream once again when they triumphantly brought home the first ever all-female to Southampton. Fifteen yachts including six previous Whitbread entrants and one Whitbread winner are also confirmed for the start on 10 September.
Image credits: Ocean Village Southampton / Ocean Globe Race