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