Antarctica Cup Yacht Race Explained

The Antarctica Cup Yacht Race is an annual non-stop race of about 14,000 nautical miles which circumnavigates Antarctica.^[1]

The course starts and ends at Albany, Western Australia, a historic port 150 nautical miles east of Cape Leeuwin. The port is located on the very edge of the Roaring Forties latitudes, providing a natural starting point to attack the challenging course around the Antarctica continent. The course normally takes 40-60 days to complete, and it incorporates 18 "gates" where yachts must check in.^[1]

The course passes by Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and Cape Agulhas.

The record for completing the course as a solo and unassisted sailor was set in 2022 by Lisa Blair, at 92 days, 18 hours and 21 minutes.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Antarctica Cup Yacht Race . . 16 Aug 2007 . 11 Aug 2024 . Antarctica Cup Yacht Race media.
2. Web site: Lisa Blair sets new world record on solo sail around Antarctica - Cruising Yacht Club of Australia . cyca.com.au . Cruising Yacht Club of Australia . 26 November 2024 . en-AU . 25 May 2022.
3. News: Solo sailor Lisa Blair smashes world record . subscription . 26 November 2024 . The Albany Advertiser . 25 May 2022 . en.
4. Web site: Fastest circumnavigation of Antarctica by sailboat . 26 November 2024 . Guinness World Records.