Solo, Non-Stop, Monohull
Vendée Globe
The big one. A quadrennial solo race from Les Sables d'Olonne, France, around the world via the three Great Capes in IMOCA 60s. No assistance. No stopping. Branded as 'the Everest of the Seas', it sits at the very heart of the French offshore ecosystem.
Golden Globe Race
A deliberate step back in time. This is a re-creation of the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe: solo, non-stop, using long-keel production boats with no modern electronics or weather routing. Old-school in every sense.
Global Solo Challenge
A staggered-start solo non-stop circumnavigation from A Coruña, open to 'sensible' performance cruising and racing monohulls. Operates under a safety and handicap framework designed to broaden the field beyond purpose-built racing machines.
Solo or Double-Handed with Stopovers
Race Around
A new Class40 round-the-world race – solo and double-handed – with stopovers, run under World Sailing special regulations. The first edition is targeted for 2027: four legs, primarily eastabout via the Southern Ocean.
Globe40
Double-handed Class40 racing with multiple legs, mixing Atlantic, Southern Ocean and Pacific routes. The first edition ran in 2022–23 across eight stages, positioning itself as adventurous but professional.
Fully Crewed
The Ocean Race
One of the originals with a long and rich history. The successor to the Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Race. Fully crewed IMOCA (and occasionally VO65) boats racing around the world in stages. First held in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race, it markets itself as 'the toughest team challenge' in sailing.
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
Founded by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, this is a pay-to-play circumnavigation using one-design racing yachts. Split into multiple legs that amateur crew can tackle individually or as a full round-the-world campaign.
Ocean Globe Race
A retro crewed race in the spirit of the original Whitbread: multi-leg, classic or 'vintage' designs, with limited modern electronics. The first edition ran in 2023–24.
