Ep. 22: Don McIntyre – Polar Living, Fighting Pirates, and Reinventing Retro Ocean Racing
The Sailing PodcastShow Notes
In Episode 22 of The Sailing Podcast, host Theo Stocker sits down with one of the most prolific, relentless, and fascinating adventurers on the planet: Don McIntyre.
Don is the visionary founder behind the retro Golden Globe Race, the Ocean Globe Race, and the Mini Globe Race, all events born from his fierce belief that true adventure isn't about multi-million-dollar budgets or high-tech satellite routing, but about human grit and seamanship.
Recorded aboard a Clipper training vessel in Gosport, Don takes us on a whirlwind journey through his extraordinary life. From building a ferro-cement Suhaili replica at 18 to completing the brutal solo BOC Challenge, Don shares what drives a person to push past the ordinary.
In this episode, Don opens up about:
Living in Antarctica: Spending a full year in an 8x12ft hut in the windiest place on Earth. Treasure Hunting & Terrorists: Encountering armed NPA rebels in the Philippines. Recreating Captain Bligh: Navigating 4,000 miles across the Pacific in an open boat with 23cm of freeboard and no modern tech. The Psychology of the GGR: Why the Golden Globe Race is 100% a mind game, and why Don just banned laptop computers onboard for the upcoming edition. His Next Big Feat: Announcing his new event, the Real Ocean Row (ROR), and his plan to row solo across the Atlantic at age 73!
Learn more about Don’s races at: goldengloberace.com | oceangloberace.com | minigloberace.com
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