The Class Globe 5.80 Association and events will largely be driven by passionate volunteers and 5.80 family, including event entrants who will assist part of the organisation.
It will become a member-based organisation, supported by commercial partners. If you, or your company, would like to become a sponsor of upcoming solo ocean races, please email jane@mcintyreadventure.com. We would love to start a conversation.
PARTNERS
While the MGR is still looking for a title sponsor, the Class Globe 580 one design yacht established in 2020, with over 235 participants in 35 countries around the world has secured a unique sponsor for the next five years.
In future, the 580 will be known as the ALMA Globe 580. ALMA was founded in 2007 by a very discreet and generous philanthropist, whose goal is to support those worthy humans who are usually brilliant in their fields but not well known by the masses. Rings a bell? … Don McIntyre!
The way Don McIntyre is making sailing more accessible to the common human is something we find very special and inspiring. With mental health now mentioned on a regular basis in the press and social media, we actually feel your races are really making a difference in the wellbeing of the Humans that participate in your events.
ALMA, AlmaHumans.com
Over the years, ALMA has made a significant difference in the lives of musicians, artists, solo sailors, disabled athletes and even a big wave rider who has now ridden the biggest wave ever, on a bodyboard, in the infamous Nazaré wave, in Portugal. ALMA also supports theatre and cinema, and are proud to be weeks away from launching a movie about Teenage Suicide, made almost entirely by teenagers, including the script, original soundtrack and main characters.
I am truly excited to have ALMA onboard helping to promote the ALMA Globe 580 Class, as there is no doubt in my mind that this simple, strong, build it yourself adventure yacht is becoming a classic in its own right and adventure makes good people and inspires many!
Don McIntyre, Founder, Mini Globe Race & Class Globe 580
TEAM 5.80
Don McIntyre
Don McIntyre is the founder and Race Chairman of the 2022 Golden Globe Race, 2023 Ocean Globe Race and the 2025 Mini Globe Race. All three round-the-world races are unique in the sailing industry, focusing on human values and real challenges to create inspiring stories. He is also founder of the new Class Globe 5.80 one design plywood mini ocean racing yacht. He has been organising sailing events and ocean adventures since 1984.
Don is an experienced circumnavigator and seen as one of Australia’s great explorers. In 2012, the Australian Geographic Society, recognising his many diverse expeditions over the years and his ongoing efforts to promote adventure, presented him with its highest accolade, a Gold Medal for a ‘Lifetime of Adventure’. This was only the 12th time it had been presented in the history of the Society. The inscription on it simply read ‘For a life spent encouraging Adventure and Discovery’.
In October 2014, he received the prestigious ‘Emerald Award’ from the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS). The inscription read ‘In honor of a lifetime of adventures that have done much to raise awareness of the marine environment and the need to protect it’.
Passionate about all forms of adventure and inspiring others, the Ocean Globe Race and the Golden Globe Race were born from his desire to recreate the Golden Age of fully crewed and solo around-the-world racing. The Mini Globe Race is pure adventure. Don finished 2nd in class in the 1990-91 BOC Challenge solo around the world yacht race and twice attempted unsuccessfully to become involved with the Whitbread Race. (Other adventures at mcintyreadventure.com/adventures/).
Jane Zhou (Finance & Admin)
“Jane Jane” manages all financial affairs of Class Globe 5.80, OGR and GGR, all Facebook live feeds, assists with race photography and never stops smiling. She is a qualified charter skipper, whale swim guide, diver and Antarctic Zodiac driver who originally trained as an Air Traffic Controller. She met Don in 2005 as a project manager / Chinese interpreter on a boat building project from Zhuhai, China.
Aida Valceanu (Events/Public Relations)
Daughter of Romanian publisher, lover of France since always, literary journalist. Organiser of conferences, book fairs, correspondent of several Romanian magazines, cultural columnist at the French Huffington Post. Events and PR for the OGR, and a passionate volunteer for GGR.
Rob Havill – Digital Director
Rob has over 20 years’ experience in managing creative and digital design projects.
With a background in high-end film and creative production, Rob works behind the scenes to make sure the events are presented with impact to engage audiences around the world.
Lutz Kohne (2021 Globe 5.80 Transat Race Director)
After a comfy landlubber student life in Frankfurt, 23-year-old Lutz moved on his ‘Little Olive’, a 34′ 1977 Contest – without ever having set a foot on a boat before. One year and 5,000 nm later, he has sailed from the Netherlands across the Bay of Biscay, sailed single-handed along the Portuguese coast and then crossed the Atlantic to St. Lucia – all while doing Skype interviews and securing a job as European area director and event planner for an international non-profit organisation in Berlin. His biggest goal is to sail solo and non-stop around the world.
