The itinerary
A memorable circumnavigation
From 2021 to 2024
The Grand Large Yachting group and Jimmy Cornell are delighted to announce the official launch of the GLY World Odyssey 500. This prestigious round the world rally will offer two starts: one in Cherbourg, France on September 18, 2021 and a second one in La Grande-Motte, France on September 19, 2021.
This is the 7th rally organised at the initiative of Jimmy Cornell, founder of the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) and is of historical significance as it commemorates the 500th anniversary of the first round the world voyage by Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastian Elcano. It also happens to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the founding of Grand Large Yachting.
To highlight the global reach of this event, the itinerary of this world rally will include both a tropical route, along the traditional trade wind route, and a slightly less traditional route: the southern route via the Magellan Strait and Patagonia. The two routes will merge in Tahiti, in June 2022, from where the combined fleet will sail together for the remaining part of the rally.
This world sailing event is also a great opportunity to take part in scientific, educational and community projects along the way, all related to the “One Planet – One Future” theme. More information to come…
Why join us?
Security and freedom for all
With the GLY World Odyssey you will benefit from the support of a community travelling around the world together whilst still having the freedom of planning your own personal route.
You will be able to choose between:
- two very different routes (Tropical or Southern)
- four starting points: Cherbourg, La Grande-Motte, Séville or Key West
- joining for the full rally or only certain legs
- different stopovers during certain legs
Grand Large Yachting: an established organization
Choosing to sail with Grand Large Yachting, which counts over 17 years of Blue-water cruising experience and 500 employees, means that you are banking on sustainability and know-how.
You should also note that Jimmy Cornell has shaped this rally through his many years of experience sailing across the globe. His incredible network means that you will be welcomed with open arms everywhere you go.
Support at each stopover
Because sailing over a long course of time means that you are exposing yourself to a few technical mishaps, it is important that you receive technical support all through the rally.
The Grand Large Yachting after-sales teams will be available at six stopovers to check your boat, answer your technical questions, and help you find the right subcontractor when necessary.
Give your journey meaning
Don’t just settle on the perfect blue-water vacation, aim for more, make a difference! It is our newest and most important mission at Grand Large Yachting at this time. We aim to make less of an environmental impact and help educate on new, more sustainable ways of manufacturing. In this context, the GLY World Odyssey has taken on a goal that speaks to all: one planet – one future. To put this into practice during the rally participants will be given the opportunity to participate in humanitarian, educational and scientific projects.
The detailed itinerary
September
Preparation RDV #1: Cherbourg – La Coruna
Cruise La Coruna to Seville
Preparation RDV #2: La Grande Motte to Barcelona
Cruise Barcelona to Seville
October
Final preparation RDV Seville
Seville to Lanzarote
October – November
Canaries stopover
November
RDV Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Official Start)
Tenerife – Barbados
December – January
Caribbean stopover
January
US start RDV Key West (Florida)
Cruise Key West to San Blas
RDV Martinique
Cruise Martinique, ABC Island, Colombia to San Blas
February
ETA Porvenir (San Blas)
Cruise San Blas Islands
Transit to Shelter Bay Marina (Panama)
Shelter Bay Marina (complete formalities for Panama Canal transit)
March
Panama Canal transits
Pursuit to Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal), Galapagos Islands
Boats depart for Baquerizo Moreno after having completed the canal transit
RDV Baquerizo Moreno
Cruise Galapagos Islands to Isabela
RDV Isabela
[Detour to Easter Island, Pitcarn, Gambier Islands]
Isabela to Hiva Oa Island (Marquesas)
April
RDV Nuku Hiva (Marquesas)
May – June
Cruise Marquesa and Tuamotu Islands
June
Papeete (Tahiti) rendezvous
Cruise Society Islands (Moorea – Huahine – Raiatea – Tahaa – Bora Bora)
RDV Bora Bora
July – August
Cruise Bora Bora to Cook Island and Tonga (Vava’u)
August
RDV Tonga (Vava’u)
August – September
Cruise Samoa, Wallis, Futuna to Fiji
September
RDV Savusavu (Fiji)
September – October
Cruise Fiji to Malololailai Island
October
RDV Musket Cove (Malololailai Island)
Musket Cove – Opua (New Zealand)
October – November
Cruise Opua to Auckland
November
RDV Auckland
November – January
New Zealand stopover
January
RDV Opua
Opua – Lord Howe Island
February
Lord Howe – Sydney
February – March
Australia stopover
April
Cruise SE Australia to Noumea (New Caledonia)
May
RDV Noumea
Cruise Noumea – Espiritu Santo (Vanuatu)
June
RDV Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo – Mackay (Australia)
Cruise Great Barrier Reef to Thursday Island
July
RDV Thursday Island
Thursday Island – Kota Tual (Maluku Islands, Indonesia)
Cruise Indonesia Tual to Bali
August
Pursuit Bali to Cocos Keeling
RDV Cocos Keeling
Cruise to Rodrigues – [Chagos] – Mauritius – La Reunion
October
RDV La Reunion
La Reunion – Durban
November
Cruise Durban to Cape Town
November – December
South Africa stopover
January
RDV Cape Town
Cape Town to St Helena – Recife (Brazil)
February
RDV Recife
Brazil to Fernado de Noronha
March
Fernando de Noronha – Faial (Azores)
April
RDV Horta (Faial)
Azores to Ponta Delgada (San Miguel)
RDV Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada – Seville
What is included?
Pre-rally seminars
Panama transit fees
Cruising permit
Technical assistance
Docking space
(at departure and arrival of planned stopovers)
Tracking
Who can sign up and how?
The GLY World Odyssey was previously only open to mono hulled and multi hulled vessels of one of the Grand Large Yachting brands: Allures, Garcia, Gunboat, Outremer and RM Yachts. Considering there are still a few spots left, we have decided to open the rally to a few non-GLY boats.
This is the first round the world rally organised by a sailing group specialized in producing high performance blue water cruising multi and monohulls. To this effect, this is a very sought out, one of a kind rally, and we recommend that you book your slot soon.
If you are interested in the rally but don’t already own one of the groups sailing boats, our Brokerage team will be happy to help you find a pre-owned sailing yacht.
Finally, it is important that you have attended the pre-rally seminars to make sure that you are up to speed on preparing for the event.
Am I eligible to join the GLY World Odyssey?
The faces behind the rally organization
Jimmy CornellDIRECTOR
Stéphan ConstanceDIRECTOR
Xavier DesmarestDIRECTOR
Victor TaburiauxEVENT MANAGER
Matilda Culier COMMUNICATION
Nicolas BrémardGLY COORDINATION