Me taking Italy to the Golden Globe in the footsteps of the greats.

His name is Edoardo Raimondo. He is 26 years old and has a dream. That of shooting 35,000 miles and circumnavigating the globe solo. How? Taking part in the 2018 50th anniversary revival of the legendary Golden Globe organized by the Sunday Times in 1968. The legendary Golden Globe won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, that of Moitessier and Carozzo, of Blyth, Tetley, Fougeron, Ridgway and King. And of Crowhurst’s suicide.

As then, departing from Falmouth (UK) on June 14, 2018, and round the world via the Cape of Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn, on boats from 32 to 36 feet(built before 1988 with minimum displacement of 6,200 kg and long keel). Edoardo, from Liguria, is already the spearhead of a structured consortium that will support the Italian challenge. He has been boating since he was five years old: collecting good results in Optimist and especially as a bowman in 420. In 2007 he graduated from the Nautical Institute of Imperia Deck Officer Trainee. After a season where he serves as a coach at the San Remo Yacht Club, he began his working adventure in the world in yachting. Having attained the Yacht Master 200GT he became first mate of the world’s largest auric sloop, Lulworth 1920. Despite his young age, he is certainly not a rookie. He has all the makings to try to win the 75,000 pounds up for grabs for the first boat to cross the finish line. Listen to what he told us.

IT TAKES LOVE OF THE SEA, SELF-CONFIDENCE
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY. MADNESS AND COURAGE
You started on dinghies, first the Optimist and then the 420. Between the buoys, then. How did the “spark” of participating in the Golden Globe ignite for you?
I remember one day when I was a child, at the helm of the 12m S.I. Tomahawk, I was with my father and I felt in heaven. The love of sailing is sacrifice, hours of training in the sea in winter, in 420s with the usual smooth wetsuit running that darn trickle of icy water down your back. Every sailor dreams of setting out to sail around the world. When I heard that the second edition of the mother of all regattas was being organized, my heart leapt with joy. I remember being in Antibes, for the Panerai regattas, at the helm of Leticia do Sol, a beautiful 1958 Sangermani.

How is your project structured in detail?
In 1967 Sir Chichester was the first sailor to complete a round-the-world sailing trip with a stopover. A few months later the Sunday Times organized an epic regatta that would take the man on the first nonstop solo round-the-world race: the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. Only 9 teams accepted the challenge. On April 22, 1969, after 312 days at sea alone and outlasting the big three leaders, Robin Knox Johnston, was the winner and the only one to finish the race. The 2018 regatta includes the same course as in 1968 and the use of the equipment available at the time. 11-meter long keel boats, sextant solcometer, clock, nautical charts and manuals. Fifty years later ITA@goldenglobe2018.com accepted the Sunday Times challenge. Ours is the first Italian challenger consortium at GGR2018, already on the list of 20 participants. A determined, professional, sea-loving and challenging team of which I am the skipper. We believe that Italian sailing has a lot to give to ocean sailing and GGR, we believe it is an opportunity to experiment and innovate. We believe that an Italian team, well prepared, can win.
Italian solo sailing struggles to find sponsors (see Mura, Di Benedetto): are you optimistic?
I am optimistic and I am lucky. From the very beginning a group of friends, sea lovers and true professionals in their field are helping me in this endeavor. Glauco Cossettini, team manager and communication expert, Mario Testai, owner of the eponymous shipyard is our facility manager, and fraternal friend Alberto Corneli is our trusted sailmaker. And many others who will join in this great mobilization of hearts and souls. We are still looking for the main sponsor, needless to say, the media coverage will be worldwide. We also evaluate ‘technical’ sponsors; the equipment needed for such an adventure is a real test-bed for everyday ones, and we are ready to test and certify any item: from clothing to food, from glasses to beverage to sunscreen. We have activated an email box for these insights: partner@goldenglobe2018.com, in case you are interested in the topic.
Who is your legendary sailor?
There are indeed many, and it is difficult to give an answer to this question. By elective affinity even after his last victory at the World Star is undoubtedly Lars Grael.
Who is the sportsperson in general that you most respect?
Valentino Rossi has always shown that with will and tenacity no achievement is impossible, that having a winning mentality makes you always progress and improve.
Do you have ocean experience?
Yes, I have some ocean experience but not solo, these 3 years between now and departure must serve us to accumulate miles and check ‘equipment’ mental and otherwise. The hard training and the path of psychological assistance I have begun will lead me to know and accept myself before the sporting fact.
What characteristics do you think a sailor must have in order to participate in the Golden Globe?
Two hundred and fifty days in the middle of the sea nonstop and solo with an 11-meter boat? Without GPS and with ‘dated’ equipment? One-quarter love of the sea, one-quarter self-confidence–the rest I would say madness and courage.
You’re not going to end up like Moitessier lost in Polynesia eh?
When Moitessier decided to participate in the Golden Globe Race he was 43 years old; I am only 26. Every age has its own stimuli, I for now would be content to get to Plymouth first, for Polynesia we will see….

Read more about the 2018 Golden Globes: http: //mcintyreadventure.com/goldengloberace/