GOLDEN GLOBE RACE 2026 – HENRY WOOTTON
HENRY WOOTTON
Why the Golden Globe Race?
To date, just 227 people have ever completed a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe – fewer than the 644 humans who have travelled to space. Covering approximately 30,000 miles, the Golden Globe Race is among the toughest challenges in sport. In the two modern editions of the race, only eight sailors have finished from 39 starters!
For British Army officer Major Henry Wootton, the 2026 British Army entry, the appeal lies not only in the scale of the challenge but also in the race’s heritage and strong military roots. A successful finish would make Henry the youngest competitor in the modern race’s history and the first British sailor to achieve this feat since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in 1968.
Henry believes he has a genuine chance of success, driven by the leadership, mental resilience and self-discipline forged through military service. That belief – combined with the pursuit of pure adventure – is his motivation.
“Sailing solo non-stop around the world, especially in a retro race without modern assistance, is one of the last real challenges standing; as such it attracts me like a moth to a flame.”
Major Henry Wootton
Team Forces Support
At Team Forces, we exist to support those who choose to test themselves at the very edge of human endurance. Major Henry Wootton’s Golden Globe Race campaign embodies everything we stand for: resilience under pressure, self-reliance, disciplined preparation and the courage to commit fully to an extraordinary goal.
Henry’s military career and solo sailing experience place him in rare company. The Golden Globe Race is not simply a sporting event; it is an extended exercise in leadership, decision-making and mental fortitude, played out over 30,000 miles of the world’s most hostile oceans. Competing alone, without modern electronics or assistance, demands the same clarity of thought and calm under adversity that define elite military leadership.
This campaign is about more than crossing a finish line. It demonstrates what is possible when military values are applied beyond the battlefield; it inspires others to pursue bold ambitions; and it reinforces the enduring connection between exploration, service and national character.
As Henry prepares to face the Southern Ocean alone, British Army Sport, Team Forces, Atos, Civica, Dell Technologies, PointWire, Teledyne Qioptiq and Veeam stand firmly behind him – proud to support a challenge that represents the very best of determination, professionalism and adventure.
Golden Globe Race
The Golden Globe Race (GGR) is a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe. Starting and finishing in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, competitors depart on 6 September 2026 and sail westabout via the five Great Capes, entirely alone. The race is expected to take 200–300 days, finishing in late spring 2027.
True to its heritage, the GGR is contested in yachts designed before 1982 and sailed under strict Corinthian Rules, which prohibit modern technology such as electronic navigation or communication systems. Success depends on traditional seamanship, endurance and self-reliance.
First run in 1968, the race was won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the only finisher and the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world. Reinstated in 2018, the GGR runs every four years and remains deliberately retro – accessible to amateurs and uncompromising in its demands.
Henry battles storms in the North Atlantic, sailing Privateer – his Cape George 36 cutter – single-handed from Massachusetts to Scotland.
This demanding passage forms a key part of his preparation for the Golden Globe Race.
We are proud to support Henry alongside a group of forward-thinking partners – Atos, Civica, Dell Technologies, PointWire, Teledyne Qioptiq and Veeam. Their commitment, together with the backing of British Army Sport, has helped turn an ambitious vision into a credible expedition. This collective support enables Henry to focus fully on preparation, training and execution, while demonstrating how defence, technology and industry can unite behind an individual challenge of global significance.
About Henry Wootton
Major Henry Wootton is a serving British Army officer and currently a Company Commander in 3rd Battalion, The Rifles. Aged 35, he has spent over 12 years in the Army, with operational deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Eastern Europe. His military career has instilled a deep resilience, discipline and leadership under pressure – qualities that underpin every aspect of his sailing campaign.
Henry’s sailing journey began in 2019 after purchasing a small boat in Dorset. What started as a personal challenge quickly became a defining pursuit. Upgrading to a 31ft Maxi, Henry took a career intermission from the Army in 2021 to sail to New Zealand.
The voyage began with a friend, but soon became a solo endeavour across the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, Henry taught himself offshore sailing, navigation and boat maintenance, eventually arriving in New Zealand 13 months later. To date, he has logged over 11,300 solo miles, including crossings of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Through this experience, Henry discovered that long-distance solo sailing represents the ultimate test – one that perfectly aligns with his mindset and training.