Golden Globe Race enter partnership to host the GGR Prologue

It was announced today in Gijón, that the Golden Globe Race is partnering with the Spanish Port City of Gijón for a week of activities starting 6th August. It will conclude with The SITraN Challenge Race to Les Sables d'Olonne and the start of the 2022 Golden Globe Race.Gijón, a successful tourism destination in Asturias, northern Spain, has hosted numerous nautical events over the past 30 years, positioning itself as a traditional destination for numerous French offshore races and rallies such as La Barquera, Pornic-Gijon, Gascogne-Asturias or Royan-Gijon.
It is also the stop-over for many short-handed offshore racing classes, such as the Figaro, Mini 6,50, Class 40 and IMOCA 60, making the city a natural choice to host the GGR fleet for a week of festivities and preparation around the values of solo-sailing and adventurous voyages.

Ana González Rodríguez, Mayor of Gijón/Xixón welcomed the GGR: "It is a great honor to host the prologue of the Golden Globe Race in our city. Gijón offers all the necessary conditions to welcome the sailors and the entire organization, who will find here the perfect venue to prepare for this important nautical event".

"The Golden Globe Race are grateful to the City of Gijon and Gijon Turismo for partnering with us for this event." Said Don McIntyre, President and Founder of the Golden Globe Race "This will be the first time that all GGR entrants have assembled in one place and the first time for most to visit Gijon, a maritime city renowned for its hospitality, culture, and gastronomy".

The GGR fleet of 22 yachts representing 12 nationalities will be hosted by the Puerto Deportivo de Gijon, well versed in welcoming sailors from all over the world with modern installation in the heart of the city. They will have a busy week of final GGR preparations of their boats and attending safety briefings , setting up satellite tracking and communications systems specific to the Golden Globe. These systems are finally checked by the organizers with entrants at sea sailing to Les Sables d'Olonne. Entrants will also have time to discover the city and the many events during their stay.

"This is a clear commitment of our city to all activities related to the sea, and reinforces that intimate link with the Bay of Biscay which is, perhaps, the main characteristic of our identity as Gijoneses and Gijonesas" said Daniel Martínez Junquera, Director of Visita Gijón/Xixón.
The GGR skippers set sail on Sunday 14th August racing the SITraN Challenge, a 280-mile race to les Sables d'Olonne, the Capital of Adventure and home of the GGR, on time for the opening of the Race Village on August 20th. That leaves just two weeks for final preparations before the start of the longest, loneliest sporting event of the planet on September 4th.

"I am delighted that the beautiful city of Gijón will be carving its name in the History of the GGR, a legendary race. Our Spanish cousin city will launch the prologue of an adventure that promises to be thrilling." added Yannick Moreau, Mayor of Les Sables d'Olonne. "On the other side of the Bay of Biscay, the pontoons of Les Sables d'Olonne will be waiting for the skippers for two weeks of festivities before D-day... The pressure is mounting for those who are about to take the start of the longest sporting event in the world."

2022 GGR entrants to date:

1. Abhilash Tomy (43)  / India / Rustler 36
2. Aleix Selles Vidal (34) / Spain / Rustler 36
3. Arnaud Gaist (50) /  France / BARBICAN 33 MKII  (long keel version)
4. Damien Guillou (39) /  France / Rustler 36
5. David Scott Cowper (80) / UK / Tradewind 35
6. Edward Walentynowicz (68) / Canada / Rustler 36
7. Elliott Smith (27) / USA /  Gale Force 34
8. Ertan Beskardes (60)   / UK /  Rustler 36
9. Gaurav Shinde (35)  / Canada /  Baba 35
10. Graham Dalton (68) / New Zealand / Rustler 36
11. Guy deBoer (66)  / USA /  Tashiba 36
12. Guy Waites (54)  / UK / Tradewind 35
13. Ian Herbert Jones (52) / UK / Tradewind 35
14. Jeremy Bagshaw (59) / South Africa / OE32   
15. Kirsten Neuschäfer (39) / South Africa / Cape George 36  
16. Mark Sinclair (63) / Australia / Lello 34
17. Matthew Wright (52) / Australia / Rustler 36
18. Michael Guggenberger (44) /  Austria  / Biscay 36  
19. Pat Lawless (66) / Ireland / Saga 36
20. Robin Davie (70) / UK /  Rustler 36
21. Simon Curwen (63) / UK /  Biscay 36  
22. Tapio Lehtinen (64) / Finland / Gaia 36 Masthead sloop