Ireland is among 22 entries for the 2022 edition of the Golden Globe Race that will be hosted again by the Vendée City of Les Sables d'Olonne it has been announced this week.
As Afloat previously reported back in April, Pat Lawless of Ballyferriter in County Kerry aims to finish what Conor McGuckin started in the 50th anniversary of the Golden Globe Race and become the first Irishman to do a non-stop, unassisted solo circumnavigation of the world.
Entries have been received by Austria (1), Australia (5), Canada (1), France (2), Ireland (1), Italy (1), New Zealand (1), Norway (1), UK (7) and USA (2), four of which remain confidential.
"Pat Lawless is a great guy and has a very competitive boat and at this stage, he looks like he certainly knows how to use it. He may make his late father very proud, so watch this space! Good luck Pat and let's hope the luck of the Irish holds a little better for 2022", the race founder, Don McIntyre told Afloat.
Following the success of the 2018 Golden Globe Race, the Vendée City of Les Sables d'Olonne and its 3-town Agglomeration have voted unanimously to host the next Golden Globe Race in 2022. At a meeting on July 5, the City’s leaders also took out options to repeat the event in 2026 and 2030. The next start is scheduled for Sept 4th 2022 preceded by a two week Race Village in the Vendée Globe Marina to celebrate the history of singlehanded sailing.
The Race will once again be run under the auspices of the Royal Nomuka Yacht Club in Tonga.
