The McIntyre Ocean Globe Race 2023 sailed off from the Solent to the sound of cannons at the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, yesterday (Sunday, September 10).

The inaugural McIntyre Ocean Globe echoes the 1973 Whitbread Race.

In all, 14 yachts, 144 crew and hundreds of spectators gathered off the Isle of Wight, for the start of the debut leg to Cape Town.

Seven former Whitbread yachts are among the fleet.     

Where are the competitors headed?

  • Leg 1: 6500 miles. Southampton to Cape Town
  • Leg 2: 6650 miles. Cape Town to Auckland. Start date – 5th November 2023 
  • Leg 3: 8500 miles. Auckland to Punta del Este. Start date – 14th March 2024
  • Leg 4: 5500 miles. Punta del Este to Southampton. Start date – 5th March 2024
  • Finish Expected: 1-10 April 2024

After four legs, the fleet is due back in the Solent in April, returning from Uruguay's Punta del Este, over a distance of 5,500 miles.

The only UK entrant is Maiden, crewed by an all-female team, which was waved off by former 1989 skipper, Tracy Edwards MBE.

Pictured above, L’Espit d’équipe won the Whitbread race in 1985.