James Harayda for Vendée Globe
Young British skipper James Harayda has announced he aims to compete in the Vendée Globe 2024 and wants to win the event in 2028.
Harayda became known last season as Dee Caari’s co-skipper in the UK double-handed oshore series and he will be competing in the Vendée Globe as part of Gentoo Sailing Team, set up in 2020 when he and Caari teamed up.
Harayda said: “The race has always been the ultimate challenge and an event I have always wanted to conquer. It’s the ultimate test of human endurance. On top of this, the Vendée Globe is so much more than just showing up and competing.
“The journey to the start line is considered one of the hardest parts of the race – the funding required, racing calendar, preparation needed, technical know-how, and just the sheer scale of the project cannot be underestimated. For me, this race is about achieving something that very few people ever have. Less people have done this than been into space or climbed to the top of Everest. It is also about using this platform to show the world that being sustainable, in all uses of the word, does not come at a cost to performance. Our aim as a team is build our skills, knowledge, and partnerships through 2024 with an aim to win the Vendée Globe in 2028, making me the youngest and first Brit to do so. I have a fantastic team around me which will be growing as we progress and I am confident that given the right resources, we can win this race in 2028.”
Caari, a veteran of the race, said: “The Vendée Globe takes talent and ability as well as resilience and tenacity. Having sailed with James for the last 18 months I have seen these qualities in him.”
Gentoo Sailing Team has also created a youth development programme. Ten boys and ten girls aged 16-23 from dierent backgrounds were selected to join the programme, which aims to create pathways for them to progress in sailing. The young sailors will benefit from mentoring, coaching, technical workshops and oshore racing in the 2022 JOG and RORC seasons.