Campagne de France - Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron

Frenchman Halvard Mabire has extensive experience of sailing and boatbuilding, with over 300,000 miles of offshore racing experience, and over 30 transatlantic races to his name. 

Miranda Merron has been sailing professionally for the past 14 years, including the Volvo Ocean Race, the Transat Jacque Vabre and Round Britain and Ireland races. Not having managed to beat Halvard on the water, she has adopted the adage: "If you can't beat them, join them"!

Conrad Colman Ocean Racing - Conrad Colman and Hugo Ramon

New Zealander Conrad Colman and Mallorcan sailor Hugo Ramon teamed up to take part in the Global Ocean Race.  Securing a sponsor at the eleventh hour with Cessna Citation meant last minute preparations before the race start. 

Marco Nannini & Paul Peggs

The Anglo-Italian duo of Paul Peggs and Marco Nannini have extensive sailing experience between them. Marco won his class in the Original Single-handed Transatlantic Race (OSTAR) from Plymouth to Newport Rhode Island in 2009, whilst Paul has taken part in two Fastnet races and has experience of building and restoring boats.

Together Marco and Paul competed in the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race, finishing second overall. 

Phesheya Racing - Nick Leggatt and Phillippa Hutton-Squire

Nick Leggatt and Phillippa Hutton-Squire make up the South African team on board Phesheya-Racing (zulu for “overseas”).  They’re particularly looking forward to the first leg as it means they’re heading home!

Ross & Campbell Field

The father and son New Zealand duo, Ross and Campbell Field are skippering BSL.  Ross has 5 circumnavigations under his belt, including 3 Whitbread Round the World Race entries.

Ross’ son, Campbell, has experience of managing racing yachts as well as competing, helping the duo to put together their GOR campaign. Now based in Lymington with his wife and young son, he was delighted to see his son take his first steps the day before the start of the GOR!

Ross is particularly pleased with the sweet chilli sauce from bluQube to liven up their diet of freeze-dried food!

Sec. Hayai - Nico Budel, Ruud van Rijsewijk, Frans Budel, Bas Bax-Kiburg, Erik van Vuuren

The only team option in the Global Ocean Race, Dutch entrant Nico Budel will be swapping co-skippers at each stopover, including two of his sons Frans Budel and Bas Bax-Kiburg. On the first leg he will be joined by Ruud Van Rijsewijk, and Erik van Vuuren on the final two legs.

Arriving in Palma only days before the race start due to bad weather conditions on the crossing from Holland, Ruud and Nico were nonetheless ready to set sail and looking forward to the first leg.