The 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race (OGR) is a retro race inspired by the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, commemorating its 50th anniversary.
Competing without modern technology, the crew navigates using traditional tools like sextants and paper charts.
Fourteen boats embarked on the 27,000-nautical-mile journey from Cowes, covering four legs and passing through three great Capes, with stops in South Africa, New Zealand, and Uruguay before returning to the UK.
This year's race signifies the golden jubilee of the original Whitbread Round the World Race.
Thirty years ago, Skipper Tracy Edwards MBE and her all-female team achieved second place in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race aboard the 58ft Maiden yacht, winning two legs.
This marked the first-ever participation of an all-female crew in a global sailing competition.
In 2018, the Maiden yacht was repurposed for a global tour to support girls' education.
The boat was visited by The Royal Family, including The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and HRH Princess Haya, who facilitated its refurbishment.
In September 2023, Tracy Edwards led Maiden in the Ocean Globe Race with a diverse professional crew from various backgrounds.
With members from the UK, Antigua, USA, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Italy, France, and Afghanistan, the team included the first black female crew and the first Middle Eastern female crew, showcasing a celebration of multiculturalism during their challenging 28,000-mile endeavor.
After 153 days at sea, Maiden once again made history by clinching victory as the first all-female team to conquer an around-the-world yacht race.
Before their departure in September 2023, The Queen sent a heartfelt message to the crew, expressing her pride in their mission and extending wishes for a safe and successful race: "You are all in my thoughts today as you embark on Maiden's final journey in the Ocean Globe Race.
I hope each one of you takes pride in being part of this remarkable crew, spreading Messages of Hope to girls worldwide.
May you have fair winds and following seas!" Camilla R.