Despite the technical failures and epic highs and lows, last year’s Mini Transat adventure confirmed that I want more upon stepping ashore I immediately set out to create a new project. I can now announce my entry into the 2011-2012 Global Ocean Race, a double-handed round the world race that will stopover in Wellington in December next year.

Raced exclusively in Class 40 racing yachts- a box rule that allows for water ballast but no carbon or swing keels- the route traces the classic Whitbread parcours from Europe to Capetown to New Zealand, followed by Brazil and the United States.  In being double-handed, the Global Ocean Race straddles the worlds of solo and crewed racing and allows crews to push the boats harder and more easily communicate the stories from the high seas than if one were solo.

For my co-skipper I have partnered with American Mini sailor Ryan Finn who has a wealth of knowledge gleaned from work as shore crew for a number of top racing programs and from having won solo races in the United States. A few years ago Ryan avidly followed the Around Alone solo around the world race from his hospital bed during a fight with cancer, drawing strength and inspiration from the skippers stories as they battled The Horn.

While I am announcing my entry into the race today, I am still hot on the trail of sponsorship funds to make this a reality. I have been able to source temporary funds to launch the project and begin procuring a boat, crucial momentum that I hope will help me secure a new title sponsor. My previous industry partners, Gill, Bainbridge and Spinlock have been satisfied with their involvement in my previous project and are keen to continue.

What this race represents however is an opportunity for New Zealand to gain ownership of a project in a way that has been lost as budgets have escalated in the America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean race. When sailing Optimists in Auckland Harbour, I was mesmerized by the legendary battles between our sailing giants like Dalton and Blake. They were at the top of the sport and were there on boats that were conceived and supported entirely by their home country.

However come 2011 it will be ten years since Grant Dalton last flew the New Zealand flag in a race around the world in the 2001 Volvo Ocean Race. I am currently in negotiations to build a Farr designed boat in Auckland in order to race the world in a boat designed by, built by, sailed by and, hopefully, sponsored by, New Zealanders.