By Marco Nannini / Global Solo Challenge
Vigo, Galicia, Spain – The Global Solo Challenge (GSC) is excited to announce that the vibrant city of Vigo and its prestigious Real Club Náutico de Vigo will be the starting and finishing port for the second edition of the event to be held in 2027-2028. After the inaugural 2023-2024 GSC hosted by Marina Coruña, the move to Vigo marks a significant milestone in the event’s evolution, seeking to achieve greater community engagement and leveraging Vigo’s rich nautical tradition.
A historic venue
The Real Club Náutico de Vigo, founded in 1906, is the city’s leading nautical sports institution and a key community social hub. It has been a cornerstone of Vigo’s maritime history. The club has played host to numerous prestigious events, including being the first start port of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2005-2006, won by ABN Amro I, in the golden era of its Volvo sponsorship. Its strategic location within the sheltered Bay of Vigo, near the stunning Cíes Islands, provides an ideal setting for both participants and spectators.
Enhanced support and visibility
Partnering with the Real Club Náutico de Vigo brings unparalleled benefits to the Global Solo Challenge.The involvement of local institutions, the city of Vigo, and the autonomous community of Galicia will help achieve greater media coverage and public engagement, fostering a vibrant community atmosphere around the event. The choice was made by carefully analyzing areas for improvement based on lessons learned from the first edition.
Prior to each start, boats at the Real Club Náutico de Vigo will be moored on a pontoon facing the paseo marítimo, providing maximum visibility to foot traffic. This prime location ensures that the event garners significant public interest and engagement, allowing spectators to get up close to the preparations and departures, thereby enhancing the overall excitement and visibility of the Global Solo Challenge.This marks a significant improvement over the first edition, where many felt the event was isolated from the host city of A Coruña.
Event details and public participation
The GSC offers a unique format where boats of various performance levels set off in staggered starts, creating an exciting pursuit dynamic. Participants will navigate the challenging 25,000-mile route around the three great capes: Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn, before returning to Vigo.
Starting from Vigo will be better for skippers geographically and will help safeguard fairness in the staggered starts. Vigo’s location, south of Cape Finisterre and away from the Bay of Biscay, is not as severely affected by autumn storms as the north coast of the Iberian peninsula minimizing any risk of delays due to adverse weather. The sheltered water of the Bay of Vigo will also allow spectator boats to escort starting skippers up to the exit of the Cíes Islands, the gateway to the Atlantic, and on their return from their circumnavigation.
This will help address another major area where improvement was needed. On-water public participation, filming and live broadcasting of starts and arrivals will be made significantly easier in the naturally sheltered Ría de Vigo.
Sustainability and accessibility
Staying true to its commitment to sustainability, the GSC is ISO 20121 certified, promoting environmentally conscious practices throughout the event. The race is designed to be accessible, with a wide range of boats permitted, encouraging participation from diverse sailing enthusiasts around the globe. Sustainability takes many forms, and the partnership with the RCNV will offer the key opportunity to enhance the cooperation with and involvement of the local community bringing more value to the hosting City and the event itself.
Local enthusiasm and global reach
The decision to move the GSC to Vigo has been met with great enthusiasm from the RCNV, the skippers, the local community and institution. Vigo’s rich maritime culture and the club’s history, including its long list of Olympic athletes, underscore the city’s dedication to nautical sports. The GSC will certainly benefit from the increased visibility and support, ensuring a memorable second edition.
For more information about the Global Solo Challenge and updates on the 2027-2028 edition, visit the Global Solo Challenge and Real Club Náutico de Vigo websites.
