gunnar sails christensen ggr 2026 yacht race sponsorship donations portal

Golden Globe Race 26 GGR Contestant

GUNNAR CHRISTENSEN

Gunnar Sails official website serving as a hub for fundraising efforts and a "message in a bottle" to track the journey leading up to and during the challenging Golden Globe Race (GGR).

Join the adventure and sign up for updates to follow every wave and Jibe-ho of this incredible 2026 voyage.

gunnar sails christensen ggr 2026 yacht race sponsorship donations portal

Breaking News

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£8k Sponsorship For Food

Sailing in the Golden Globe Race 2026 is hungry business and I will need 4000 calories a day for almost 9 months!

Freeze dried food packs cost £10/meal. £50/day , £350/week. Thats £1400/month- not including chocolate bars..!

Please contribute here to "GoFeedMe" because any donation towards my provisions would be so helpful and extremely appreciated!

Visit Gunnar's GoFeedMe Page

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    News And Updates
    Les Sables-d’Olonne — The Final Countdown

    Gunnar and Pompoen have arrived in Les Sables-d’Olonne as the final countdown begins to the 2026 Golden Globe Race on 6 September.

  • TrinityBridge logo, sponsor of Gunnar Christensen’s Golden Globe Race campaign
    News And Updates
    TrinityBridge Joins Gunnar as Gold Sponsor

    Gunnar Christensen’s Golden Globe Race campaign receives a major boost as TrinityBridge joins the project as a Gold Sponsor.

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    News And Updates
    Seafarers Mental Health Named Title Sponsor

    Gunnar is proud to welcome Seafarers Mental Health as his title sponsor, launching a partnership to champion mental health and wellbeing throughout the professional sailing community.

the mighty pumpkin is currently undergoing an intensive refit gunnar sails ggr 2026
GGR 2026

About The Golden Globe Race

The Golden Globe Race (GGR) covers a course of approximately 30,000 nautical miles. The race follows a route around the world that includes passing through the Southern Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn before returning to the starting point.

This challenging route tests the endurance and skill of solo sailors as they navigate some of the world's most treacherous waters.

the mighty pumpkin is currently undergoing an intensive refit gunnar sails ggr 2026
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sextant navigation

Old School Long Distance Round The World Endurance Yacht Race

The use of coastal navigation and celestial navigation methods emphasises traditional seamanship, there are no GPS systems or chart plotters allowed.

Modern conveniences like satellite phones, desalinators or exotic materials like Dyneema or carbon fibre are forbidden. The race starts on the Sept 6th, 2026.  view more info in the race trailer.

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SAME RACE CONDITIONS AS 1968

GGR 1968: The First Race - Unchanged Challenges for GGR 2026

The essence of the Golden Globe Race remains unaltered from its inception in 1968 to the upcoming 2026 edition.

Sailors still face the same formidable challenges: navigating the world's oceans solo, non-stop, and without modern technology.

The spirit of endurance, skill, and resilience that defined the original race continues to be the cornerstone of this timeless maritime adventure. Here are some FAQ's from the original race.

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Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was the first person to complete the Sunday Times GGR 

The original 1968 Golden Globe Race was created by the Sunday Times to be the first solo, non-stop, round-the-world yacht race.

It aimed to push the limits of human endurance and seamanship by challenging sailors to complete the circumnavigation without making any landfall or receiving outside assistance.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was the first person to complete the race, finishing on April 22, 1969, aboard his 32-foot ketch, Suhaili. He became the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world, winning the race and gaining international recognition.

The original race had nine entrants, but only one finished. Bernard Moitessier, a strong contender, chose to abandon the race near the end and continued sailing to Tahiti for personal reasons.

Donald Crowhurst faced severe difficulties and ultimately committed suicide after falsifying his progress.

Other competitors withdrew due to boat damage, health issues, or other challenges.

Participants in the 1968 race faced numerous challenges, including extreme weather conditions, isolation, equipment failure, and physical and mental exhaustion. The lack of modern navigation and communication technology added to the difficulty, requiring sailors to rely on their skills and resourcefulness to survive.

The original 1968 Golden Globe Race had a profound impact on the world of solo sailing, inspiring future events such as the Vendée Globe and subsequent editions of the Golden Globe Race.

It demonstrated the possibilities of solo, non-stop circumnavigation and set a benchmark for endurance and seamanship in the sailing community. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's achievement also paved the way for greater recognition and development of solo sailing as a sport.

RNLI Lymington UK Gunnar Christensen GunnarSails GGR 2026 USA Contestant
ABOUT

GGR CONTESTANT GUNNAR CHRISTENSEN

Gunnar Christensen is an experienced sailor from New England with a lifelong passion for the sea. Having completed over five transatlantic crossings and navigated challenging waters like the North Sea and the Mediterranean, Gunnar's sailing career spans from luxurious yachts to research vessels.

In 2026, he will embark on his most ambitious voyage yet: the Golden Globe Race, a solo, non-stop, round-the-world yacht race. This journey will test his sailing skills, mental fortitude, and resilience.

Gunnar is preparing meticulously, leveraging his extensive maritime knowledge and actively engaging with the sailing community and potential sponsors to support these endeavour's.

RNLI Lymington UK Gunnar Christensen GunnarSails GGR 2026 USA Contestant

RNLI Lymington UK Gunnar Christensen GunnarSails GGR 2026 USA Contestant

SPONSORSHIP

SPONSOR TEAM GUNNAR SAILS

A range of sponsorship packages tailored to your brand. Whether you are looking for high-visibility logo placements, exclusive naming rights, or engaging storytelling opportunities, our packages are designed to provide maximum exposure and value. Join us as a sponsor and align your brand with the adventurous spirit, resilience, and determination that define Team Gunnar Sails. Together, we can create a powerful partnership and make history in the Golden Globe Race 2026.

FIND GUNNAR SAILS On FaceBook

Connect with Gunnar Christensen on FaceBook

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Message In A Bottle. GUNNAR SAILS Team Racing Blog

A treasure trove of stories, insights, and updates from our journey towards the Golden Globe Race 2026. This blog serves as a “message in a bottle,” sharing our experiences, challenges, and triumphs as we prepare for this monumental adventure.

From technical preparations and training routines to personal reflections and anecdotes from the high seas, join us as we navigate the path to one of the most challenging solo sailing races in the world.

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GGR. RACING FAQs

A growing list of nearly everything you need to know about the Golden Globe Race with the Gunnar Sails Team FAQ.

From navigation techniques to boat specifications, the most frequently asked questions with a few from the Racing FAQ Page listed below.

golden globe ggr 2026 race faqs gunnar sails

The Golden Globe Race is a solo, non-stop, round-the-world yacht race that challenges sailors to navigate using traditional methods without modern technology. It retraces the route of the original 1968-69 race.

Skippers must rely on celestial navigation and are not allowed to use GPS or other modern navigation aids. Communication is limited to HF and VHF radios and a limited number of letter pickup/drop-off points. Satellite phones are only permitted for emergency use only.

Participants in the Golden Globe Race navigate using traditional methods, primarily celestial navigation.

The sun, moon, stars, and planets to determine their position at sea. Sailors use a sextant, nautical almanac, and timepiece to take sightings and calculate their latitude and longitude.

Modern GPS and electronic navigation systems are prohibited, in keeping with the spirit of the original 1968 race. This method requires extensive knowledge and skill, adding an additional layer of challenge and authenticity to the race.

The race approximately covers 30,000 nautical miles and can take in between 7 to 11 months to complete, depending on weather conditions and the sailor's strategy.