Golden Globe Race Programme in Les Sables d’Olonne June 16 – July 1st July

The GGR Race Village will open each day from 10:00am to 8:00pm and until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays

Visitors will discover the GGR yachts and skippers on the Vendée Globe pontoons, and admire the historic solo yachts – Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Suhaili, Bernard Moitessier’s Joshua and Sir Francis Chichester’s Gipsy Moth IV, together with Eric Tabarly’s Pen Duick III.

There is something for all ages: Learn to navigate with the stars and instruments of the past, attend conferences, interviews and demonstrations, participate in workshops and boat baptisms, and the conviviality of the Bar Guinguette during evening concerts

The Race Village is open to the public from June 16 to 30, and is free of charge it will occupy. Activities are planned throughout the day and entertainment specifically for children will take place on:

Wednesdays 10:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 17:00

Saturday 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 17:30

Sundays 16:00 to 17:00

On the stage between 12:05 and 17:30 each day, a series of presentations are planned, including interviews with skipper and other key sailing personalities.
Click here to download full programme

Members of the Classic Yacht Club will also be making presentations about traditional navigation techniques and sailing, and there are opportunities to view and perhaps step aboard three historic yachts: Sir Francis Chichester’s Gipsy Moth IV, Joshua, the boat Bernard Moitessier sailed in the first Golden Globe Race, and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s winning yacht, Suhaili.

Diary of events

·      June 16 at 9:30 am: official opening of the GGR Village followed at 12:00 by the broadcast of the France-Australia World Cup match  and sea shanties performed by the Olonnais at 15:00

·      17 June at 16:00: official presentation of the  GGR skippers

·      18 June late afternoon: arrival of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and his yacht Suhaili escorted by a flotilla of yachts representing the Cruising Association

·      21 June at 17:00: broadcast of the France-Peru World Cup match followed at 21:00 with live music performed by the Léonie group.

·      June 22 at 21:00 pm: concert with Jean-Luc Van Den Heede and his Globally Yours group

·      June 23rd at 16:00 – 18:00: skippers parade along the harbour channel followed by a Fireworks display at 23:00

·      June 25th from 17:30: Arrival of  Eric Tabarly’s Pen Duick III and Pen Duick VI yachts

·      26 June: Pen Duick III and Pen Duick VI yachts open to the public. 16:00: France-Denmark World Cup match broadcast live

·      June 27 at 16:00 pm: children's show "Joshua and the Sea of ​​Stories" All practical information

·      June 28:  Arrival of Sir Francis Chichester’s historic yacht Gipsy Moth IV

·      July 1st 09:45:  Race yachts start to leave the harbour. 12:00 Start of the 2018 Golden Globe Race with  live coverage on France 3, Chaine Team, TV Vendée, Tébésud, Tébéo, TVR and in English on Facebook