Yachtsman Igor Zaretsky is preparing for a round the world race, the Golden Globe Race

30,000 miles alone with the ocean elements, without modern means of communication and navigation, without assistance and approaches to the shore. These are the conditions of a sailing race Golden Globe Race, which starts July 1, from the French city of Les Sables d'olonne. To overcome this the route the crews will need at least 8 months.

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the famous race "Golden globe" for the prize of the newspaper Sunday Times. "The race of the century" - the so-called this event all the world press. Few believed that man alone, without stops or assistance is able to get around the world. 8 of the launched yachts to the finish reached only "Suhaili" British yachtsman sir Robin Knox-Johnston.
He was the first person who committed a single non-stop circumnavigation. For his victory in the "Golden globe" in 1968 Robin Knox-Johnston was awarded a knighthood. The upcoming race Golden Globe Race - a tribute to the Golden era of sailing, the era of daredevils and romantic, when the sailors were feted as heroes.

This race will have the same terms and conditions as in 1968. All yachts design, mid-century, the size from 10 to 13 meters. At the sail arms and the sails are not allowed to use modern high-tech materials, from navigation — only Sexton, mechanical chronometer, magnetic compass and a paper map. Communication with the shore and other ships, only on the radio on short waves.

For a start, intends to go more than 20 sailors from 14 countries. The organizers are placing the highest demands of experienced and qualified athletes. Plotted in the "roaring forties" to bypass Cape horn and the Cape of Good hope have antiquated methods: the sun, the stars and estimates of the "column". In the age of electronics is capable of on the strength of 5% yachtsmen. Yaroslavl yachtsman Igor Zaretsky is one of them.

In the asset Zaretsky already have a victory in a single race across the Atlantic Jester Challenge 2010. He was the first and only Russian sailor, who was able not just to overcome this distance, but to win the overall classification. And the old 7-footer, which is converted their own hands.

To participate in the upcoming race Igor Zaretsky is preparing a two-masted yacht "Esmeralda" built in 1980. Repair and re-equipment of the yacht took more than six months. 17 April 2018 yacht is scheduled to launch in the Spanish city of Alicante for sea trials and training.

Today, the Russian sailors don't even have a reason for illusions about the chances of participation in races such as Vendee Globe, Volvo Ocean Race or America's Cup, which compete electronical high-tech sailboats and large budgets. In these technologies Russia is hopelessly lagging behind the U.S. and Europe.

But the upcoming Golden Globe race this Race first of all race of the characters. And then the chances of victory of the Russian yachtsman at least equal.

Read more about the upcoming race can be found on the website igorzaretskiy.ru and the pages of "300 days around the world with Igor Zaretsky" in social networks.