Ireland’s Pat Lawless has arrived in Les Sables-d’Olonne as preparations intensify for the 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe Race, which starts from the French Atlantic port on 6 September.
Lawless, sailing the Saltram Saga 36 Green Rebel, is among 16 skippers who have reached Les Sables-d’Olonne ahead of the solo, non-stop and unassisted round-the-world race. The Irish skipper returns to the Golden Globe after taking part in the 2022 edition, when his circumnavigation ended after steering-gear problems forced him to retire in the Indian Ocean.
A total of 17 provisional entrants are expected for this year's race. US-listed skipper Colm Walker, a dual Irish-American citizen sailing the Tayana 37 Mo Chuisle, was the only entrant still at sea as the fleet assembled.
All 17 remain provisional starters until they have completed the race's conformance requirements and received their Golden Globe Race Green Card.
Prologue Test Ahead of Start
Before September's departure, competitors face the GGR SITraN Prologue, which starts from Les Sables-d’Olonne at 2 pm on Sunday, 16 August.
The three-day, two-night offshore passage will provide a final opportunity to test boats and equipment under sailing conditions. Skippers may take two or three people aboard for the prologue, which will also test the race's transmission systems before competitors face the circumnavigation alone.
The Golden Globe Race deliberately restricts the use of modern technology. Competitors sail production yachts of traditional design and navigate with sextants and paper charts rather than GPS and modern electronic navigation systems. The circumnavigation covers approximately 30,000 nautical miles and could keep competitors at sea for around eight months.
Nine Finishers From 43 Starters
The Golden Globe's previous editions demonstrate the scale of the challenge. Of 43 sailors who have started the race across its three editions, only nine have completed the circumnavigation.
Race Briefing: Golden Globe Race founder Don McIntyre addresses the media in Les Sables-d’Olonne as preparations build towards the 2026 solo, non-stop round-the-world race. Photo: JJ/ GGR2026
Race founder and director Don McIntyre believes the 2026 fleet is particularly well prepared.
“I would love to see at least half of this fleet cross the finish line,” McIntyre said. “They are more prepared than any fleet we have seen across the previous three editions. But this race has a habit of writing its own story. The oceans always have the final say.”
Golden Globe Marina Opens
The Golden Globe Marina in Les Sables-d’Olonne will open to the public on Saturday, 22 August, giving visitors an opportunity to see the competing yachts and meet their skippers. The programme will include celestial navigation demonstrations, skipper question-and-answer sessions and guided pontoon visits.
Two yachts with major places in solo sailing history are also scheduled to arrive from 29 August: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's Suhaili and Bernard Moitessier's Joshua.
The 2026 race will introduce the GGR Live Window, a one-way satellite video system that enables selected yachts to transmit live footage while preserving restrictions on information supplied to competitors.
Lawless Faces September 6 Departure
The Golden Globe will begin on Sunday, 6 September, with a Parade of Sail scheduled for 2 pm. Rather than a conventional fleet start, the yachts will depart individually from 2.30 pm at two-minute intervals, echoing the format of the original 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race.
After completing a course off Les Sables-d’Olonne for spectators, Lawless and his rivals will head offshore on a circumnavigation taking them through the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn before returning to France. Elapsed times will determine the winner.
