2018 will be the year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Knox-Johnston's victory over its traditional 32-foot sailing ship, the Suhaili. Indeed, in 1968, the Sunday Times organized a single-handed race around the world. In order to have more participants, the start was free. From a port in the south of England and between the 1 er june and October 31, 1968.
Knox-Johnston left Falmouth aboard his Suhaili on June 14. Moitessier followed 79 days later on Joshua with his 40-foot steel ketch. 312 days after his departure Knox-Johnston crossed the finish line. Moitessier on Joshua never arrived, having chosen after rounding Cape Horn to continue and undertake a second circumnavigation of the world. He would eventually drop anchor in Tahiti. Of the nine participants in this race, only Knox-Johnston finished it..
The Golden Globe Race is organized in 2018 as a tribute to Knox-Johnston. The boats allowed to race it measure the same size as Suhaili (32 to 36 feet) with a long keel. The means on board will be those of the race at the time (sextant, paper charts, SSB...). 15 skippers (including 1 woman) have signed up to take the start in Les Sables-d'Olonne on the 1st of October er july 2018.
But already the race of 2022 (every 4 years) is organized. This time with a tribute to Moitessier and his Joshua. Indeed, legend has it that if the sailor had not continued on his way, he would have arrived before Suhaili in England. Setting out 79 days behind Knox-Johnston, he crossed Cape Horn only 17 days after him
For 2022, the Golden Globe Race has created a Joshua class in which 10 boats will be allowed to race. These boats will be built in steel "in the image" of Joshua. Indeed, it is not the same plan, but a slightly longer ketch than the original. Unlike Joshua built in steel in shape by the Meta shipyard, the Joshua GGOD will be chine built and will measure 12.40 m (compared to 12.07 m for the original).
This yacht is currently under construction in Izmir, Turkey, at Asboat Yacht Builder. The n°1 copy should take part in the parade next July in Les Sables alongside Joshua.
This Joshua Class GGOD will be one-design. The boats will all be identical with a similar set of sails. Even the autopilot will be identical to Moitessier's. This sailboat will have a very simple and reliable design as Moitessier advocated.
The organisers wanted to recreate the 1968 race by having the Joshua's leave some time after the Suhaili Class boats to check if the last ones would catch up with the first ones.
Demonstration in 2022!
