The 2023 Global Solo Challenge

For those that do not know me, I handle public relations for the Costa Blanca Yacht Association. I am a keen sailor and own my own boat, a charming 50-year-old yacht, an Albin Vega called Vegabond.

What you may not know, and may be of interest to members, is that I am also a freelance writer, and I have recently joined the team of the Global Solo Challenge (GSC) as their English language journalist.

The GSC is a solo non-stop sailing circumnavigation starting and finishing in A Coruña, in Galicia, Northwest Spain. It will take in the three great Capes (Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn).

The challenge is quite unique for a couple of reasons, the first is that it is open to smaller and more affordable yachts, and though these will be required to meet the Category 0 safety measures, the organisers are keen that the sailors should use secondhand yachts, or ones that they already own.

Indeed the smallest yachts taking part are only 34 feet!

Of course, there will be different classes of boats taking part, so to make the finish more exciting than the start, The boats will set off in groups, based on their handicap, with the slowest boats setting off on 2 September 2023, and the fastest boats eleven weeks later.

To date, 47 skippers have entered.

If you want to find out more about the challenge, and possibly even read one or two of my articles, please go to www.globalsolochallenge.com, but I will try to keep CBYA members updated.

For those interested in both the race and following my articles, you can follow us on Facebook. Simply join the group Global
Solo Challenge Followers.

Dave Proctor

CBYA Public Relations Coordinator