Which Boat Would YOU Choose for Golden Globe Race?

[Steadman Uhlich]

As I wrote earlier, when I started this discussion, I would pick a modern copy of JOSHUA.

It seems I am not alone in thinking that.

Here is a clip of something I found interesting today.

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Joshua one-design class yacht to be inaugurated in the 2022 edition of the Golden Globe Race


The story of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s battle to stay ahead of French yachtsman Bernard Moitessier in the 1968/9 Sunday Times Golden Globe solo round the world Race is one of legend. The 2018 Golden Globe Race, set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Knox-Johnston’s victory in his traditional 32ft yacht Suhaili, has attracted 27 sailors from 14 countries to compete in similar type yachts between 32-36ft in length. This race, starting from Plymouth on June 30 next year has drawn so much interest that competitors, unable to prepare in time, are setting their sights on the 2022 race. This announcement made today, the 49th anniversary of Moitessier’s start from Plymouth on August 22, 1968, will celebrate the huge contribution that the Frenchman made to solo sailing by introducing a second class of 40ft Joshua steel-built one-design yachts to the fleet.

The start of the original Sunday Times race was fluid; competitors could set out from any port in northern Europe between June 1st and October 31st. The winner would be the first to finish back at their start point and take claim to be the first to sail solo non-stop around the Globe. A £5,000 cheque awaited the one with the fastest elapsed time.

Knox-Johnston set out from Falmouth aboard Suhaili on June 14. Moitessier followed 79 days later in his 40ft steel ketch Joshua. By Cape Horn, that lead had shrunk to 17 days, and many expected Moitessier to overhaul his British rival on the final 8,000 mile chase back up the Atlantic. But instead of going on to claim his share of the glory, Moitessier Inexplicably turned east to make a second circumnavigation of the Southern Ocean. The first the world knew of this volt-face was when the Frenchman delivered a message fired by catapult at a ship anchored off Cape Town saying that he had decided not to complete the Race, but to continue on a second circuit “To save my soul” as he put it. By then, Knox-Johnston’s traditional ketch Suhaili was closing on the Western Approaches to the English Channel and he became the sole finisher out of nine starters. Moitessier finally dropped anchor in Tahiti.

Would the Frenchman have overhauled Knox-Johnston on the final leg back up the Atlantic? Fierce discussions continue across the English Channel. Knox-Johnston admits that it would have been close. One mistaken myth even suggests that Joshua was leading Suhaili at Cape Horn.

Now the 2022 Golden Globe Race will provide the litmus test. A maximum fleet of 10 Joshua Golden Globe one-design yachts will make up a Class 2 start on Sunday August 21, 2022 approximately three weeks after the smaller Suhaili class yachts.

The exact date will be determined from the average time that the first six yachts take to complete the 2018 Golden Globe Race. “The leading yachts in next year’s race are predicted to better Suhaili’s 313 day record by 40 – 50 days, so it is important to set a realistic rather than historic time gap between the two classes.” Race founder Don McIntyre explains.

Hull No 1 currently under construction at Asboat Yacht Builder in Izmir, Turkey, will be presented alongside the original Joshua at the start of the 2018 Golden Globe Race in Plymouth. Everything about this new one-design class speaks of the original Joshua. She may be slightly longer, have a little more beam and draft, together with a taller main mast, but the essence remains. She looks, feels and will sail just like the original. Constructed from laser-cut 5mm, 6mm and 8mm steel sheet, these multi-chined class yachts are being built to strict one-design rules. “This is an exciting development for the Golden Globe Race, creating a new class of simple, safe, affordable and competitive one-design yachts to race around the world” McIntyre adds. “They are incredibly strong with five watertight compartments and will make classic high latitude adventure yachts able to cruise safely anywhere in the world, including Antarctica before or after the 2022 Golden Globe Race”

The strict One-design rules also stipulate the number of sails that can be carried during the race, and to make it a completely level playing field, sails for all Joshua class yachts will be supplied by one official loft. And to further the spirit of Bernard Moitessier, competitors can use only replicas of Joshua’s original wind vane self steering system. There will be no room onboard for commercial steering systems.

A fully equipped Joshua GGR yacht and entry in the 2022 Golden Globe Race will cost around 300,000 Euros."

[Steadman Uhlich]

Some numbers:

312
DAYS
That was the time Sir Robin Knox-Johnston took to complete the first solo nonstop circumnavigation. The winning yacht in this Race can be expected to complete the same distance in 260 days.

72
OLDEST COMPETITOR
Jean-Luc van den Heede
(France)

28
YOUNGEST COMPETITOR
Susie Goodall (UK)


200
The number of individuals to have sailed solo around Cape Horn and other Great Capes in the Southern Ocean. This compares to almost 700 astronauts who have been shot into Space!

[Steadman Uhlich]

Golden Globe Race Live Tracker

Livetracker - Golden Globe Race

If you are using an iPad, you will need to download an app that allows viewing the tracker. Link to one via the link above.

[Snowpetrel]

I'd go a wetsnail 32... opps I mean westsail 32. I delivered a ketch rigged wooden Eric from Adelaide to Hobart. About 900 miles or so. Great little boat as long as the wind isn't on the nose.

[Sailmonkey]

Of all the boats competing, I’d take the lello 34. Longest waterline, narrowest bear and deepest draft. However of any other suitable boat on the planet? I’ve got no idea.

[boatman61]

For its Lloyds 100A hull and large variety of sail combinations..

[Steadman Uhlich]

Apparently the new one design class boat does have some difference in specs and build.

But it is modeled after the original JOSHUA.
Here is an article from 2017 that mentions the changes (someone) made to the design.

“Organisers say everything about this new one-design class “speaks of the original Joshua.”

“She may be slightly longer, have a little more beam and draft, together with a taller main mast, but the essence remains. She looks, feels and will sail just like the original,” they add.

Constructed from laser-cut 5mm, 6mm and 8mm steel sheet, these multi-chined class yachts are being built to strict one-design rules.

Read more at http://www.ybw.com/boat-events/golde...eFHTOgBypFC.99

My question is: “Why make changes to the boat design, that was carefully designed and chosen by Moitessier?” A changed boat will not be the same boat.

NOTE! The CAD drawings are of the new boat design.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by boatman61

For its Lloyds 100A hull and large variety of sail combinations..

Also.. It'll be the prettiest in the fleet..

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Also.. It'll be the prettiest in the fleet..

Yes, that is a pretty boat you proposed.

[steamgoat]

Interesting,the lead boats are all around cape finnisterre and heading south,the first five boats are all Rustlers !!

[Snowpetrel]

Actually, been thinking about it.. A Cape George 36, would be ideal. Long waterline, narrow, transom hung rudder. Built very strong. Great motion in a seaway. A good freind has a Tally Ho Major. its a fantastic boat. Very very fast and exceptionally well mannered.

https://capegeorge36millie.weebly.com

Now I just need a sponsor with deep pockets...

I am very much enjoying watching the boats sailing past the first mark and video drop. They are all being sailed fast, and its nice seeing these heavy long keelers show what they can do.

http://www.capegeorgecutters.com/36/images/sp_large.gif

Edit, and to answer the original question. Rather than my own interpretation of it... Joshua. She is metal, she is the largest, strongest and most well proven. Suihali had a fair few structural defects. The fact that RKJ managed to nurse her around the world is a real feat. Read A world of my own for details.

Teignouth Electron could have been very fast. And if she was properly built, tested and sail could beat a Joshua. Nigel Tetley did a great job of getting his sistership around the roaring forties. He proved they can cope with the southern ocean. But I haven't sailed enough multi's to be comfortable offshore singlehanded in one.

[Benz]

^^^Snow, a CG36 would be a good choice. Slap a decent gaff rig on it, or even turn it into a schooner (that's what I'd do), and you'd be unbeatable.

But to the race in general:
Doesn't having a "one design" and all sorts of rules about where you can get your sails and kit kind of destroy the ethos of the original GG? Some of the original entries were plywood mutihulls, length didn't seem to be an issue, it appears to have been pretty loosely-structured, at least in comparison with the requirements for today's edition.
I was mildly interested in the race until I saw the parameters and realized that my full-keel, stern-hung-rudder, gaff rigged cutter wouldn't qualify, being one foot too small, built too recently, and not handicapped with a bunch of lame electronics which would cost some serious $$$$ to add. Ironic, since they want to reproduce the feel of the original race, where there were no spot trackers, EPIRBS, satphones, AIS, etc.
I think this edition is an insult to the spirit of the original race; a watered-down nanny-state sham of a glorious thing that, being perhaps unrepeatable in our day, should have just been left alone.

[danielamartindm]

Originally Posted by Steadman Uhlich

Which one would I pick?

I would pick Joshua.

I like the idea of a steel hull in the higher latitude sailing around the capes.
I liked the ketch rig.
I like the size.
I like the "bubble" hatch so the sailor can remain below but check on the status of the sails and rig during heavy weather.
And as I recall, it had a watertight compartment in the bow.
I even like the red paint job.

Definitely the steel ketch, mostly for hull strength where there's ice and you're sailing alone; but also for the flexibility afforded by the sail plan. You know, I can't even imagine the stress that being in a race would add to decisions about weather windows rounding the Horn and such.

[Snowpetrel]

2018 Golden Globe Race approved designs: Westsail 32 • Tradewind 35 • Saga 34 • Saltram 36 • Vancouver 32 & 34 • OE 32 • Eric (sister ship to Suhaili) • Aries 32 • Baba 35 • Biscay 36 • Bowman 36 • Cape Dory 36 • Nicholson 32 MKX-XI • Rustler 36, Endurance 35, Gaia 36, Hans Christian 33T, Tashiba 36, Cabo Rico 34, Hinckley Pilot 35, Lello 34, Gale Force 34.

Hrm, no Cape Georges in there..

I don't personally have any issue with the organisation or the rules. They seem more than fair for such an event, and Don is trying to make it a level playing feild as far as possible. The mandatory electronics make sense in this modern age for safety, and also enable us back home to follow the race.

I guess fortunately we still live in a world where if we dont like the GGR rules we can always sail around non stop our own way.

[Benz]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

2018 Golden Globe Race approved designs: Westsail 32 • Tradewind 35 • Saga 34 • Saltram 36 • Vancouver 32 & 34 • OE 32 • Eric (sister ship to Suhaili) • Aries 32 • Baba 35 • Biscay 36 • Bowman 36 • Cape Dory 36 • Nicholson 32 MKX-XI • Rustler 36, Endurance 35, Gaia 36, Hans Christian 33T, Tashiba 36, Cabo Rico 34, Hinckley Pilot 35, Lello 34, Gale Force 34.

Hrm, no Cape Georges in there..

I don't personally have any issue with the organisation or the rules. They seem more than fair for such an event, and Don is trying to make it a level playing feild as far as possible. The mandatory electronics make sense in this modern age for safety, and also enable us back home to follow the race.

I guess fortunately we still live in a world where if we dont like the GGR rules we can always sail around non stop our own way.

Sure but how interesting would the original have been if everyone from home could have been following? What if Donald Crowhurst could have called a suicide helpline with his satphone? The whole point of the GG was to be self-reliant sailors solo circumnavigating, and if everything went south (so to speak), there was little hope of external rescue. It was a pretty big commitment, one which has been taken away by the big-brothering nature of the organizers. No doubt there's still cool stuff about the Nanny Globe, but it is not and cannot be comparable to the original.