The Golden Age of fully crewed ocean racing around the world seems a distant memory.

Huge budgets and elite professionals racing custom carbon yachts costing upwards of €1m, that 'fly' on foils steered by sophisticated autopilots, not sailors, where shore teams via satellite are making tactical decisions are the new norm. Technology moves so fast that sailors the world over, while marvelling at these advances, have been left behind and look back fondly at the Corinthian days of the 1973 Whitbread Race and dream.
A time when adventurous sailors put together their own campaigns, skippers and crew made all decisions and the fleet was evenly matched. A time when budgets played a small part, technology was minimal and humans dared to achieve.
Well it’s time for a reality check. Time to step back, slow down, take a deep breath and experience life defining moments!
Following the hugely successful 50th anniversary Golden Globe Race in 2018, and again in 2022, McIntyre Adventure is proud to launch the 50th anniversary celebration of that first fully crewed round the world race. This retro Ocean Globe Race (OGR) takes to the high seas with 14 teams on September 10th from Ocean Village, following the same route as the clipper ships and the inaugural 1973 Whitbread Race in similar, affordable yachts.
The Ocean Globe Race is the future of accessible around the world ocean yacht racing for any sailor and has a huge future. This opportunity returns after nearly 30 years and is set to inspire and capture the imagination of sailors and passionate followers the world over. Already nine teams are preparing for the 2027 OGR as sailors grasp what this opportunity truly means.
Turning the tide for ordinary sailors with a dream.

Don McIntyre
Ocean Globe Race Founder
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Pen Duick VI or Translated 9? Too hard to call
McIntyre OGR – still fighting after 6,000 miles of Southern Ocean Racing Hours Separate Leaders In Nail-Biting Finish toward Auckland If there was ever an appropriate time to roll out…
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McIntyre OGR – 2,000 miles to go and getting tougher!
Storms, Strategies, and Stunning Sunsets pushing hard toward Auckland It’s Hold Your Breath Time In Too Close To Call Rankings TWENTY FIVE days out from Cape Town and one could…
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Spectacular OGR Southern Ocean Sleigh Rides
McIntyre Ocean Globe fleet halfway, surfing and driving hard’n fast to Auckland. It doesn’t come much better, or closer racing than this at the bottom of the world, deep in…
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One out, two down, 11 racing the McIntyre Ocean Globe
Big Highs and Low Lows for Ocean Globe Sailors Southern Ocean Leg 2 Rewards and Punishes There are winners and losers in every game – and never more so in…
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McIntyre OGR Heading Deep South! Beyond the Roaring 40’s
Top Speeds In Competitive Southern Ocean Leg 2 Diversions, Whales and Big Waves in McIntyre Ocean Globe Race to Auckland Five days into Leg 2 of the McIntyre Ocean Globe…
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Historic Scenes at Start of Leg 2 McIntyre Ocean Globe Race
Naval Ships, Tears, Nerves, and Iconic Yachts in Cape Town Sailing history was made in Cape Town under the stunning vista of Table Mountain as the iconic yachts starting Leg…
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Two Navy Ships Honour OGR Leg 2 Restart
2 days to go for McIntyre Ocean Globe – restart 5th November The McIntyre Ocean Globe Race (OGR) will set off with a bang thanks to the unique, even extraordinary…
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Countdown to Southern Ocean – Six Days to Go!
Wild Winds, Broken Bones, Code Reds, Penalties, Busy, Busy, Busy, in Cape Town After 7,000 miles and 46 days of intense racing, just 33 minutes separated Neptune FR (56) and…
Featured Video
Outlaw (AUS) arrive in Cape Town
Outlaw (08) - Spirit of Adelaide - are sixth to cross the OGR finish line in Cape Town on Thursday 26 October.
OGR Family
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With so many of the beautiful yachts from previous Whitbreads being rescued and restored, as has Maiden of course, it seems only fitting that they should be raced around the world again!
Tracy Edwards MBE, Maiden -
I'm delighted to hear that a 50th anniversary edition of the Whitbread is being launched. The Ocean Globe will be a great adventure as well as a great race for the participants. What a challenge one can set themselves? My congratulations to the organisers - it's such a bold and exciting move.
Sir Chay Blyth -
Of all the challenges, this Ocean Globe Race beats all its predecessors, the Whitbread and those that followed in its wake.
The late Bob Fisher, veteran yachting journalist and author -
This supreme challenge is an opportunity for those who could usually only dream of participating in such an event. Take it from me, this will offer an experience of a lifetime with lasting memories that will forever remind you of a unique and outstanding achievement.
Ashley Manton, Chairman International Association of Cape Horners -
What a brilliant idea to give people another chance to have the fun, to make the friends and to share the experiences we had fifty years ago. There will be days and weeks of being terrified, exhausted, cold, wet and miserable; other times you will be excruciatingly bored, but you will make friends for life, with a deep friendship born of the shared experience of danger, exhaustion and discomfort, and at the end you will realise it was the best thing you have done in your entire life.
Butch Dalrymple Smith, Crew Sayula Winner 1973 -
The first Whitbread Race in '73 was a huge adventure and became a major milestone in the history of ocean racing. This retro Ocean Globe Race marking the 50th anniversary of that first race will be just as exciting and provides a unique opportunity for ordinary sailors to test themselves in the rolling surf of southern oceans once more.
Barry Pickthall, Author of five Whitbread Race books -
Those early Whitbread days really were full of passion. Every edition put up new challenges with the human element so important. The stories and characters became legend and we had a lot of fun. I have lots of memories of 'Fisher & Paykel', many of which are about coming only second! This new Classic Challenge in the Ocean Globe is going to excite a lot of people on and off the water. Imagine if Steinlager and F&P return!
Grant Dalton, Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Race legend