Ertan Beskardes entered the 2018 and the 2022 edition of the Golden Globe Race. Both times he had to make a bold decision to retire for personal reasons. In 2022, Ertan retired after reaching the Cape Town gate on November 16 on Lazy Otter. He said he lived an incredible experience over the 10 weeks, but did not think he would enjoy the next three months to Cape Horn, citing extreme isolation. “I was looking for the unknown and I found it”, he said.

Now Ertan is energised to make the Mini Transat in 2023 and MGR 2025 going forward, following his passion for the sea. The style of the 5.80 race and Ertan’s exceptional experience in preparing for this kind of challenge are promising a great match.

His much-loved friendly style was obvious to all in the GGR and his breakfast omelettes for all on the marina became world famous! Follow Ertan’s story in our 5.80 updates.

He came to the UK in 1979 and made a career in military tailoring and regalia, before setting up his own company with his wife in Bournemouth in 1994. There, they built a boat in the back garden and have been sailing regularly in nearby Christchurch Harbour since 1998. As their children grew up he graduated first to a Drascombe Cruiser Longboat, then a Parker 235 cruising yacht before buying a Jeanneau Odyssey 33 in 2012, sailing each year-round. Ertan had planned to sail singlehanded to the Azores, taking part in the Jester Challenge race once, and twice on his own accord only to be thwarted each time either by limited time or bad weather.

I have always been self-employed and always wanted to do something special like sail around the world. I first learned about the Golden Globe Race on Facebook in 2017 and thought to enter the second race in 2022, but then learned that there were places available for the 2018 event. I quickly found a Rustler 36 in Sardinia and have been preparing her for the race ever since.

Ertan Beskardes