Global Solo Challenge 2027
The Global Solo Challenge is a solo, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world race, sailed from west to east.
The race starts from Vigo (Spain) and takes competitors south of the three legendary capes of the Southern Ocean: the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn. Fewer than 200 people in history have successfully completed this extraordinary challenge!
The Global Solo Challenge offers a unique opportunity to achieve something that has never been accomplished before: to become the first Belgian 12-metre yacht to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.
The Sailing Event That Breaks the Mold
What makes this race truly unique, beyond the course itself, is the freedom competitors have in choosing their boats. Unlike most offshore races, where all participants start at the same time and boat performance ratings are calculated in advance, competitors in the Global Solo Challenge start at different times depending on the speed potential of their yacht. The first sailor to cross the finish line wins. A true race against the clock unfolds: the fastest boats set off in pursuit of the slower ones, making the competition even more exciting to follow.
Offshore racing is no exception to the rule: the world of competition constantly pushes the boundaries of technology.
To win, boats are becoming faster, more sophisticated, and increasingly expensive. While research and development are positive forces for innovation, the environmental impact of this relentless pursuit of performance is significant. That is why the organisers of the Global Solo Challenge encourage competitors to sail boats that are already in circulation and hope that no participant will start the race aboard a yacht built specifically for the event.
MASAI OCEAN RACING fully embraces this philosophy by campaigning a yacht that has already sailed more than 90,000 nautical miles.
Real Club Náutico de Vigo
The start of the Global Solo Challenge 2027–2028 will take place from the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, located on the coast of Galicia, Spain. Situated in the heart of the city and benefiting from a naturally protected harbour, both the start and the finish of the race will be easily accessible to spectators and followers of the event. In 2004, the city of Vigo hosted a stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race, confirming its status as one of Europe’s great sailing destinations.
