Pat Lawless Among Golden Globe Race Skippers Set for Les Sables Press Conference

11th August 2026

Afloat.ie Team

The 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe Race fleet brings together 17 provisional skippers from 11 countries for a solo, non-stop circumnavigation starting from Les Sables-d’Olonne on 6 September

The 17 provisional skippers preparing for the 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe Race will meet the media in Les Sables-d’Olonne on Thursday, 13 August, less than a month before the solo round-the-world race starts.

The press conference will take place at the GGR Office at École des Pêches, Allée du Frère Maximin, at 5 pm CEST (4 pm Irish time) and will also be broadcast live on the Golden Globe Race Facebook and YouTube channels.

Participating skippers will be joined by race founder and chairman Don McIntyre and French sailor Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, winner of the 2018 Golden Globe Race and holder of the event's 211-day circumnavigation record.

The event will feature skipper interviews, the latest news from the fleet and media photo opportunities as preparations intensify for the 6 September start.

Fleet Gathers in Les Sables-d’Olonne

The provisional fleet of 17 sailors, representing 11 countries, is assembling in Les Sables-d’Olonne ahead of what remains one of the most demanding challenges in offshore sailing.

As Afloat has reported, among the 17 skippers is the Irish skipper Pat Lawless, sailing the Saltram Saga 36 Silvermines Hydro, while Irish-American entrant Colm Walker is entered aboard the Tayana 37 Mo Chuisle.

Competitors face a solo, non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation using traditional production yachts and without GPS or modern electronic navigation aids. Instead, skippers navigate using sextants, compasses and paper charts, determining their positions from observations of the sun and stars.

The race draws heavily on the spirit of the original 1968-69 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race and is regarded as a precursor to the modern Vendée Globe.

Simply reaching the finish is a formidable achievement. Across the previous three editions associated with the Golden Globe format, organisers say 43 sailors have started, and only nine have finished. The 2026 fleet is scheduled to leave Les Sables-d’Olonne on Sunday, 6 September for its solo circumnavigation.

Published in Golden Globe Race

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About the Golden Globe Race

The Golden Globe Race is the original round the world yacht race. In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record breaking voyage of discovery. Off shore yacht racing changed forever with adventurers and sailors, inspired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, following in his pioneering wake. Nine men started the first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. History was made. Navigating with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world. In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly caught the attention of the worlds media as well as adventures, captivated by the spirit and opportunity. The original race is back.

The Golden Globe Race: Stepping back to the golden age of solo sailing

Like the original Sunday Times event back in 1968/9, the 2018 Golden Globe Race was very simple. Depart Les Sables d'Olonne, France on July 1st 2018 and sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables d'Olonne. Entrants are limited to use the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to Robin Knox-Johnston in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or benefit of satellite-based navigation aids.

Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 and having a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge. These yachts will be heavily built, strong and steady, similar in concept to Robin's 32ft vessel Suhaili.

In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the 'Golden Age' of solo sailing. Suhaili was a slow and steady 32ft double-ended ketch based on a William Atkins ERIC design. She is heavily built of teak and carried no computers, GPS, satellite phone nor water-maker, and Robin completed the challenge without the aid of modern-day shore-based weather routing advice. He had only a wind-up chronometer and a barograph to face the world alone, and caught rainwater to survive, but was at one with the ocean, able to contemplate and absorb all that this epic voyage had to offer.

This anniversary edition of the Golden Globe Race is a celebration of the original event, the winner, his boat and that significant world-first achievement. Competitors in this race will be sailing simple boats using basic equipment to guarantee a satisfying and personal experience. The challenge is pure and very raw, placing the adventure ahead of winning at all costs. It is for 'those who dare', just as it was for Knox-Johnston.

They will be navigating with sextant on paper charts, without electronic instruments or autopilots. They will hand-write their logs and determine the weather for themselves.

Only occasionally will they talk to loved ones and the outside world when long-range high frequency and ham radios allow.

It is now possible to race a monohull solo around the world in under 80 days, but sailors entered in this race will spend around 300 days at sea, challenging themselves and each other. The 2018 Golden Globe Race was a fitting tribute to the first edition and it's winner, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Background on Don McIntyre (61) Race Founder

Don is an inveterate sailor and recognised as one of Australia s greatest explorers. Passionate about all forms of adventure and inspiring others, his desire is to recreate the Golden Age of solo sailing. Don finished 2nd in class in the 1990-91 BOC Challenge solo around the world yacht race. In 2010, he led the 4-man Talisker Bounty Boat challenge to re-enact the Mutiny on the Bounty voyage from Tonga to West Timor, in a simil