A host of famous circumnavigators are in the frame to have their names added to the International Association of Cape Horners (IACH) Cape Horn Hall of Fame honours board at a ceremony slated for September 21 to coincide with the start of the Mini-Transat Race from Les Sables d’Olonne, France, the home of Solo Sailing.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of the independent Cape Horn Hall of Fame Selection Committee, says: “This year, we are looking for Cape Horners past and present who have made a significant contribution to the sport of sailing, either solo or leading a crew around the world’s most infamous Cape.”

His committee, which includes French veteran sailor Jean-Luc van den Heede (deputy-chairman), American navigator Stan Honey and fellow circumnavigators Dee Caffari (UK), Dilip Donde (India) and Ash Manton, Chairman of IACH, will review each nomination and select the best 20 names for a vote by members of IACH to determine the final six to be inducted into the 2023 Cape Horn Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony for the 2023 Cape Horn Hall of Fame will take place in Les Sables d’Olonne on Thursday September 21, prior to the start of the Mini-Transat Race on September 24.

“The timing is very apt because the Mini-Transat class has long been a spawning ground for ocean racers including Jean-Luc van den Heede, Dame Ellen MacArthur, Loic and Bruno Peyron, Whitbread race winner Lionel Péan, and Simon Curwen, the first to finish in the recent Golden Globe Race,” says Sir Robin.

“We are very pleased to have the IACH Cape Horn Hall of Fame as a permanent fixture in Les Sables d’Olonne”, says the City Mayor Yannick Moreau, adding: “The Board of Honour pays tribute to these men and women, who have shown such bravery and courage. It has also become a pilgrimage for recipients and their families to visit, building on our reputation and maritime importance as home for the Vendée Globe and Golden Globe solo round the world races.”

Ashley Manton, Chairman of the International Association of Cape Horners, adds: “This is now an important event in the sailing calendar encouraging future generations to follow in the footsteps of their elders in setting new records in round the world races”.

Names already honoured on the IACH Cape Horn Hall of Fame
  • Willem Schouten (1567-1625), Netherlands
  • Jacob Le Maire (1585-1616), Belgium
  • Vice Admiral Robert Fitzroy (1805-1865), England
  • Capt. Vern Verner Björkfelt (1900-1982), Finland
  • Capt. Thomas Carter (T.C) Fearon (1813 – 1869), USA
  • Capt. Adolph Hauth, Allemagne
  • Capt. Louis Allaire (1880-1949), France
  • Alan Villiers (1903-1982), Australia
  • Vito Dumas (1900-1965), Argentina
  • Marcel Bardiaux (1910-1958), France
  • Sir Francis Chichester (1901-1972), England
  • Sir Alec Rose (1908-1991), England
  • Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (1939-), England
  • Bernard Moitessier (1925-1994), France
  • Sir Chay Blyth (1940-), Scotland
  • Ramon Carlin (1923-2016), Mexico
  • Éric Tabarly (1931-1998), France
  • Cornelis van Rietschoten (1926-2013), Netherlands
  • Dame Naomi James (1949-), New Zealand
  • Kay Cottee (1954-), Australia
  • Jon Sanders (1939-), Australia
  • Philippe Jeantot (1952-), France
  • Titouan Lamazou (1955-), France
  • Sir Peter Blake (1948-2001), New Zealand
  • Dilip Donde (1967-), India
  • Stan Honey (1955-), America
  • Dee Caffari (1973-), England
  • Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (1945-), France

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