GGR Day 295: Jean-Luc Van Den Heede crowned at GGR prizegiving

Exactly 50 years to the day that Sir Robin Knox-Johnston returned to Falmouth UJK after 312 days at sea to become the first man to sail solo non-stop around the Globe, 73-year old Frenchman Jean-Luc Van Den Heede was crowned winner of the second Golden Globe Race in Les Sables d'Olonne, France
And all but two of Van Den Heede's rivals made the pilgrimage to the Race finish port to applaud his performance in besting Sir Robin's original circumnavigation by 100 days aboard his Rustler 36 Matmut. 5th placed Finnish skipper Tapio Lehtinen is still more than 2,000 miles from the finish, but made a live satellite call broadcast to the thousands of spectators thronged the open-air seafront presentation. "I'm maximising on my entry fee for this race and enjoying every minute of the Race." he joked.

Sir Robin also joined the celebrations via a live link from Falmouth to congratulate everyone, saying that their efforts have inspired so many people around the world to challenge themselves in this and other adventures.

Prize winners
WINNER GGR 2018 Jean-Luc VDH (FRA)  Matmut  211D 23H 12M Suhaili timber perpetual model and trophy model RALF TECH Winners' watch BOATSHED.COM £5000 winners purse

2nd: Mark Slats  (NED) Ohpen Maverick  216D 00H 18M
Trophy model of Suhaili

3rd: Uku Randmaa (EST) One and All  254D 18H 40M
Trophy model of Suhaili 1st Corinthian (Unsponsored) entry trophy

4th :Istvan Kopar (USA/HUN)  264D 01H 38M 

Susie Goodall (GBR): Kay Kottee Trophy for First Woman in 2018 GGR 

Tapio Lehtinen  (FIN): McIntyre Adventure Spirit of GGR Trophy

2022 GGR
Already, 20 sailors from 10 Countries have signed up to compete in the next Golden Globe Race slated to start on 4th September 2022, and many more have expressed an interest to compete.

2022 GGR entrants to date.
1      John Clarke  (47) GBR  - Nicholson 32 MKX
2      Ian Herbert Jones  (49) GBR - Tradewind 35
3      Guy Waites  (52) GBR
4      Ertan Beskardes  (57) GBR - Rustler 36
5      Simon Curwen (60) GBR  - Biscay 36 
6      Robin Davie (67) GBR - Rustler 36
7      Confidenial   GBR 
8      Arnaud Gaist  (47) FRA Barbican 33 MKII (long keel version)
9      Confidential   FRA
10    Guy deBoer  (63) USA
11    Doug Dean JOHNSON  (53) USA - Rustler 36
12    Matthew Wright  (49) AUS
13    Michael Date (57) AUS Aries 32
14    Confidenial   AUS 
15    Michael Guggenberger (41) AUT - Endurance 35
16    Gaurav Shinde (32) CAN
17    Pat Lawless (62) IRE Saga 36
18    Guido Cantini  (50) ITA Vancouver 34
19    Confidenial   NZL - Rustler 36
20    Confidenial   NOR
Total: 10 Country, 7 British, 3 Australian, 2 France, 2 American, 1 Austria, 1 Canada, 1 Irish, 1 Italy, 1 New Zealand, 1 Norway. 
12 with Boats already."

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston also published his long awaited Report considering the tessons learned from sailing small yachts in extreme conditions including the 5 dismastings suffered during the 2018 GGR.