Global Solo Challenge

The race was founded by Marco Nannini, and first ran beginning on September 30, 2023. Nannini is a sailor, writer and consultant in marketing and communication with a financial background. After a career in banking in the City of London he decided to take part in the Global Ocean Race 2011/2012 taking second place overall.{{Cite web |url= https://www.yachtracingforum.com/forum/team/marco-nannini/|title= Marco Nannini|access-date= 7 March 2024|work= Yacht Racing Forum}}

The race was designed with the intent that budget alone would not be a deciding factor in how well each boat does. Each boat's departures date is set according to the boat's performance characteristics. Slower boats start earlier than faster boats. The faster boats then have to try to catch up with the slower boats. Once at sea, there are no classes. The first boat to cross the finish line wins.{{Cite web |url= https://globalsolochallenge.com/about-the-event/|title= What is the Global Solo Challenge?|access-date= 18 January 2025|work= Global Solo Challenge website}}

During the race, boats may anchor, but outside assistance is restricted. Time penalties are imposed for infractions.

{{Cite web |url= https://globalsolochallenge.com/notice-of-event-2027/ |title= Global Solo Challenge 2027-28 Notice of Event |access-date= 18 January 2025|work= Global Solo Challenge website}}

Making way under engine is not permitted except for emergency situations. The organizer may apply a time penalty if it is deemed that the participant has gained an unfair advantage as a result of using its motor.

All boats are monitored using satellite trackers.

External weather routing is permitted.

The race is open to monohull yachts with LOA greater than 32 ft, including one-off open designs and other racing boats such as Class40, Open 50 and IMOCA 60. Boats not meeting this criterion may still apply and may be accepted at the sole discretion of the Organizer.

The course is essentially a circumnavigation along the clipper route: from Vigo, Galicia, Spain, down the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope; then clockwise around Antarctica, keeping Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port; then back to Vigo. There is an exclusion zone set around Antarctica where competitors are prohibited to sail due to risk of ice-bergs.

A circumnavigation by the three great capes is approximately 26,000 Nautical Miles long, and runs from August to the following August, timed to place the competitors in the Southern Ocean during the austral summer.

Skippers must be 18 years of age or older by departure date and are required to have taken medical and survival courses within 18 months of departure.

All skippers must have sailed a minimum qualification passage of 2,000 nautical miles single-handed and non-stop on the boat entered in the event by a passage route approved by the Organizer.

{{portal|border=no|Oceans|Sports|World}}

• Single-handed sailing
• Circumnavigation
• List of circumnavigations

;Notable around the world races

• The Vendée Globe, a non-stop solo race, currently run using the IMOCA 60 Class.
• The Ocean Race, a stopping fully crewed race, currently using the Volvo Ocean 65 and IMOCA 60 class. Previously known as the Whitbread Round The World Race and the Volvo Ocean Race.
• The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, a stopping crewed race for amateur crews using the Clipper 70 Class.
• The Golden Globe Race has returned since 2018 as a retro sailing race without the use of modern technology for navigation.
• The Jules Verne Trophy, a trophy for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions on the size of the crew.

;Former races including:

• The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, held in 1968-1969, the first round-the-world yacht race.
• The BT Global Challenge, was a race held every four years and followed the westward route.
• The Race, was a race held in 2000, involving multihulls.
• The Oryx Quest, held in 2005, starting from Qatar.
• The Velux 5 Oceans Race, a stopping solo race, currently run using the IMOCA 60 Class previously known as the BOC Challenge, later as Around Alone.
• The Barcelona World Race, a non-stop two handed race, currently run using the IMOCA 60 Class.

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://globalsolochallenge.com/}}

{{Offshore sailing races}}

Category:Single-handed crew sailing competitions