Golden Globe Race 2018: Susie Goodall sponsored by Seldén Masts Ltd

Seldén Masts Ltd has announced they are sponsoring young British sailor Susie Goodall in the Golden Globe Race

TAGS:

Golden Globe Race 2018: Susie Goodall sponsored by Seldén Masts Ltd

04 October 2017

Seldén Masts Ltd has announced it is sponsoring Golden Globe Race sailor, Susie Goodall by supplying her with a new rig for her Rustler 36, Ariadne.

At 27, Susie is the youngest competitors in the race, which starts from Plymouth on 30 June 2018.

She is also one of only two women to take part – the other is 51-year-old Brazilian Izabel Pimentel, who in 2014 became the first South American woman to complete a solo circumnavigation via the three great Capes – Good Hope, Leeuwin and Cape Horn.

Susie, who will be flying the flag for the UK along with Robin Davie, completed her 4,000 mile qualifying sail earlier this year.

All 30 race competitors must show prior ocean sailing experience of at least 8,000 miles and another 2,000 miles solo in any boat, by 30 April, 2018.

Competitors are limited to sailing production yachts sized between 32ft and 36ft overall which were designed prior to 1988.

Entrants are also only allowed to use equipment that was available in the very first race – so no GPS or modern technology on board.

Commenting on the sponsorship by Seldén Masts, Susie said: “I can’t thank Seldén enough for their help, not just with the provision of the mast but also their advice and expertise which, at this stage of the preparation, has been invaluable.”

Seldén Managing Director Steve Norbury remarked: “The Golden Globe Race really does take us back to the Golden Age of adventuring, where the experience and the challenge was the primary focus rather than winning. We are so pleased to be able to support Susie in her quest and wish her all the best with the epic voyage which lies ahead”.

The 2018 Golden Globe Race will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s historic 1968/9 world first solo nonstop circumnavigation.

Robin Davie, 65, is the other entrant from the UK. He grew up in Cornwall and followed the original Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, which inspired a passion for solo sailing.

The former British Merchant Navy sailor has already taken part in several round the world races – competing against Don McIntyre in Class 2 of the 1990 BOC Challenge Around Alone Race in his yacht, Spirit of Cornwall.

He made further circumnavigations in 1994 and 1998.

He is no stranger to the challenges of solo sailing having been dismasted thousands of miles from Cape Horn during the 1994 Around Along Race. He sailed under jury rig around the Cape to the Falkland Islands.

Davie is now preparing his Rustler 36 for the 2018 race.

“Having done three races with stops, Don’s Golden Globe Race reignites the passion, presents a rare opportunity to finally complete the original dream of sailing around the world solo without stops,” Davie wrote on the Golden Globe Race 2018 official website.

 

2 June

British sailor Susie Goodall is preparing to take part in the Golden Globe Race 2018 as one of 30 solo skippers. She is one of three British skippers, one of the youngest – there are three 27-year-olds taking part – and the only female taking part. She will be up against solo and ocean racing veterans including Jean-Luc van den Heede and Eric Loizeau.

The Golden Glove Race 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race in which Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first man to sail solo non-stop around the globe. Competitors in the 2018 Race will all be sailing traditional production yachts without the benefit of modern electronic navigation aids. The only communication allowed is via long-range radios, as in 1968. There are four rendezvous gates around the course through which competitors must pass.

Susie Goodall’s campaign recently received a boost with the announcement that global logistics company DHL will be sponsoring her. She said:

‘I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome DHL on board and have the support of a global company with me on this round-the-world race. It’s reassuring knowing you’ve got a safe pair of hands behind you all the way! I’m looking forward to developing an ongoing relationship with DHL and celebrating our achievements upon my return.’

Ken Allen, CEO of DHL Express, said: ‘Susie is an inspirational woman and personifies many qualities that have been pivotal to the success of DHL Express on our own global journey. She has an unbridled passion for what she does, she has a desire to continuously conquer new frontiers, and she recognizes that thorough, diligent preparation is the key to great performance.’

Susie Goodall is currently in the Azores, following a shakedown cruise across the Atlantic and back, and will be delivering her Rustler 36 to Falmouth for a complete refit at the end of June.

The Golden Globe Race will start from Plymouth on June 30, 2018 and the winner is expected to complete the 30,000-mile solo circumnavigation in around 260 days.

Before the start, the Golden Globe Race fleet will congregate in Falmouth on June 14, 2018 to salute Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and his yacht Suhaili and mark the 50th anniversary of his departure at the start of his race back in 1968.