Nominations have opened for the 2026 Cape Horn Hall of Fame following a recent surge in high-profile circumnavigations via the legendary southern cape.
The call comes in the wake of Thomas Coville’s Jules Verne Challenge record, set on 25 January aboard Sodebo Ultim 3. The French team completed the 28,315-mile course in 40 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes.
Crewed by Benjamin Schwartz, Frédéric Denis, Pierre Leboucher, Léonard Legrand and Guillaume Pirouelle, the 32-metre trimaran averaged 27.17 knots. The time beat Francis Joyon’s previous benchmark by 12 hours and 44 minutes.
The International Association of Cape Horners (IACH) is inviting public nominations for its Hall of Fame until 30 April. Entries can include Cape Horners past and present.
The awards are co-sponsored by Les Sables d’Olonne, Spinlock and McIntyre Adventure. This year’s intake may also reflect finishers from the Globe 40 two-handed round-the-world race, due to conclude before the deadline.
An independent panel chaired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston will shortlist 15 nominees. Panel members include Jean-Luc van den Heede, Dee Caffari, Stan Honey and Captain Dilip Donde.
The final six inductees will be chosen by IACH members. The ceremony is scheduled for September in Les Sables d’Olonne during the start week of the 2026/27 Golden Globe Race.
Now in its fourth year, the Hall of Fame honours 46 sailors. Recent additions include Vendée Globe winner Charlie Dalin, Paul Standbridge, Rick Tomlinson, Isabelle Autissier, Catherine Chabaud and Samantha Davies.
The IACH also maintains a definitive register of Cape Horn circumnavigations. Since Irish sailor Conor O’Brien completed his voyage from Dublin aboard Saoirse in 1925, the total has reached 2,374.
Of these, 225 are solo non-stop circumnavigations, 157 solo with stops, and 1,992 completed by crewed yachts.
Among the latest entries is Alexia Barrier’s all-female crew aboard The Famous Project CIC, which set a women’s circumnavigation record of 57 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes.
Her crew included Dee Caffari, Annemieke Bes, Rebecca Gmür Hornell, Deborah Blair, Molly LaPointe, Támara Echegoyen and Stacey Jackson.
