Irish solo sailor Pat Lawless has received his official Green Card for the 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe Race, clearing one of the final hurdles before Sunday’s start of the 30,000-nautical-mile solo, non-stop circumnavigation.
Lawless was the second of the 16 skippers to receive the organiser’s final clearance. The Green Card confirms that the skipper and yacht have completed the required safety, administrative and compliance checks and are cleared to start.
The Irish sailor is now preparing for departure from Les Sables-d’Olonne on Sunday, 6 September, when the fleet will begin an adventure expected to keep competitors alone at sea for around eight months.
16 Skippers Ready for Golden Globe Challenge
Thirteen of the 16 entrants have completed their safety inspections, with the remaining three awaiting final equipment checks. Race organisers expect to complete those outstanding inspections within 48 hours.
Final Countdown: The 2026 Golden Globe Race fleet fills the Vendée Globe Marina in Les Sables-d’Olonne as 16 skippers complete preparations for Sunday’s 30,000-mile solo circumnavigation. Photo: Don McIntyre
The main race and safety briefings, including medical procedures, security and crisis management, have also been completed. A final departure briefing is scheduled for Friday.
The Golden Globe Race deliberately turns back the clock on modern offshore racing. Competitors sail without GPS or modern electronic navigation aids, relying instead on sextants, compasses and paper charts to find their way around the world.
Its attrition rate underlines the scale of the challenge. Across the previous three editions, 43 sailors have started, but only nine have finished.
Final Farewells in Les Sables-d’Olonne
Final preparations are now intensifying around the Vendée Globe Marina, where skippers are loading fresh provisions and completing last-minute work before leaving their families and shore teams.
Golden Globe Race chairman Don McIntyre said the final days reduce years of preparation to a handful of moments, with excitement around the marina tempered by the prospect of the long separation sailors and their families face.
Safety First: Golden Globe Race skippers put their survival suits through their final checks as safety preparations continue ahead of Sunday’s departure from Les Sables-d’Olonne. Photo: Don McIntyre
The final pre-start press conference takes place on Thursday and will bring all 16 entrants together with two of the race’s most celebrated figures: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, winner of the original 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, winner of the 2018 edition.
30,000 Miles Around the World
Sunday’s programme begins with a Parade of Sail at 14:00 CEST. The 16 yachts will then leave the Vendée Globe Marina at two-minute intervals from 14:30.
Once the fleet leaves Les Sables-d’Olonne, the preparations, inspections and celebrations will give way to a 30,000-nautical-mile circumnavigation in which each skipper must sail solo, non-stop and unassisted.
For Lawless, receiving his Green Card means the formalities are almost over. The next stage is the one he has been preparing for: sailing alone around the world.
