‘Retro’ Ocean Globe Race welcomes Whitbread maxis into the fold

The Ocean Globe Race, the ‘retro’ race which is designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973 with a fully-crewed, multi-stage around the world race in 2023, has announced that it will open entries to Whitbread maxis and Whitbread 60s.

The new ‘Classic’ class has been created in response to requests from maxi owners which were previously excluded from the list of ‘pre-approved’ designs that could enter.

Whitbread skipper Grant Dalton commented: “Those early Whitbread days really were full of passion and completely raw experiences. Every edition put up new challenges with the human element as important, if not more so, than the boat. The stories and characters became legend and we had a lot of fun.

“This new Classic Challenge in the Ocean Globe is going to excite a lot of people on and off the water. Imagine if Steinlager and Fisher & Paykel return!”

Organiser Don Macintyre reports that the race has already attracted 15 entries, mostly Swans. Entrants include Dominique Dubois, owner of the Multiplast Boatyard in Vannes, and Golden Globe veteran Tapio Lehtinen, who sailed in the 1981 Whitbread.

Tracy Edwards hopes her 1989 Whitbread yacht Maiden will participate: “With so many yachts from previous Whitbread races being rescued and restored, as has Maiden, it seems only fitting that we should race them around the world again. Count us in!”

In a similar vein to the single-handed nonstop Golden Globe Race of 2018, the yachts will be expected to be in largely original condition, with complex restrictions on what modern electronics and satellite communications can be used. See more at www.oceangloberace.com