THE VOYAGE OF MADMAN- GOLDEN GLOBE RACE 2018 #official #ggr #documentary released #today on YOUTUBE. Credit: GGR2018
In 1968, The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race was the first ever around-the-world solo yacht race. Click here to watch the documentary
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, legendary winner of the 1968 solo circumnavigation, fired the cannon aboard his iconic boat Suhaili to send off the new generation of sailors. Joined by Les Sables d’olonne mayor, Yannick Moreau and GGR Founder Don McIntyre, this powerful salute bridged 50 years of maritime history, honoring the relentless spirit of adventure
Known at the time as a voyage for madmen, lives were forever changed – yachts sank, a suicide occurred and of the nine entries only one man finished – Sir Robin Knox-Johnston becoming the first person ever to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the globe.
No other race had occurred like it in half a century.
The Voyage of Madmen film released on the Golden Globe Youtube channel is the story of Don McIntyre’s 50 year anniversary recreation of the infamous race and his quest to attract amateur sailors to compete in small boats, taking on the perils of the sea entirely against the odds. It’s a race without modern technological aids where actually surviving a non-stop lap of the world is the achievement. Of the 18 solo sailors to depart France in 2018 – five solitary skippers crossed the finish line – the final finisher spending 322 days alone at sea. This is the story of the longest sporting event in history. A display of brutal individualism by characters longing for a by-gone era who are hell-bent on recreating the longest, loneliest and most gruelling sports event on the planet.
Golden Globe Race 2026 - Why Partner With Us?
This film is an independent production funded entirely and produced by Don McIntyre – “McIntyre Adventure”. For the past 10 Years he has invested heavily in supporting adventure, conceiving and organising three around the world races -The Golden Globe Race, Ocean Globe Race and the Mini Globe Race currently underway. All this without major sponsors. Solo sailor Jesse Martin directed the film and was primary cameraman.
The fourth edition of the McIntyre Golden Globe Race starts in 12 months on September 6th 2026 once again from Les Sables d’Olonne. In the past three editions of the Golden Globe only 9 sailors have finished, 43 tried. In 2026, 28 sailors are lining up for the start.
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede wrote his name into the record books by not only winning the 2018 Golden Globe solo non-stop round the world race today, but becoming the oldest in history to complete such a race. Finish time: 211d – 23hr- 12m 19s.
The 73-year old French veteran of six solo circumnavigations takes over both titles from Britain’s Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the sole finisher of the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race 50 years before. Until the finish gun fired at 09:12 UTC, Sir Robin had held the title as the oldest solo circumnavigator in a race, after completing the Velux 5 Oceans Race in 2007 at the age of 68.