Don McIntyre is the founder and Race Chairman of the Golden Globe Race, Ocean Globe Race and the Mini Globe Race. All three round-the-world races are unique in the sailing industry, focusing on human values and real challenges to create inspiring stories. He is also founder of the new Class Globe 5.80 one design plywood mini ocean racing yacht.

He has been organising sailing events and ocean adventures since 1984. Don is an experienced circumnavigator and seen as one of Australia’s great explorers. In 2012, the Australian Geographic Society, recognising his many diverse expeditions over the years and his ongoing efforts to promote adventure, presented him with it’s highest accolade, a Gold Medal for a “Lifetime of Adventure”. This was only the 12th time it had been presented in the history of the Society. The inscription on it simply read “For a life spent encouraging Adventure and Discovery”.

In October 2014, He received the prestigious “Emerald Award” from the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) The inscription read “In Honor of a lifetime of adventures that have done much to raise awareness of the marine environment and the need to protect it”.

Passionate about all forms of adventure and inspiring others, the Ocean Globe Race and the Golden Globe Race were born from his desire to recreate the Golden Age of fully crewed and solo around-the-world racing. Don finished 2nd in class in the 1990-91 BOC Challenge solo around-the-world yacht race and twice attempted unsuccessfully to become involved with the Whitbread Race.

“Jane Jane” manages all financial affairs of Class Globe 5.80, OGR and GGR, all Facebook live feeds, assists with race photography and never stops smiling. She is a qualified charter skipper, whale swim guide, diver and Antarctic zodiac driver who originally trained as an air traffic controller. She met Don in 2005 as a project manager/Chinese interpreter on a boat building project from Zhuhai, China.

Maria joined the 5.80 family after supporting as a volunteer for the GGR launch in 2022.

A business consultant with 10+ years experience in large project management, marketing and strategy, she is truly inspired by 5.80 as an opportunity to help people turn their dreams and sailing adventures into reality.

Maria races with her friends in SB20 class and desperately loves long-distance sailing voyages, holds a Yachtmaster Ocean qualification and is especially interested in celestial navigation. In parallel to her sailing life she also takes care of baby seals in a marine mammals rehab centre.

Rob has 20 years’ experience in managing creative and digital design projects. From brand design to film production, his interests and skills are wide ranging.

Originally a graduate of design engineering, he has captained his own design company since the early days of digital marketing.

Passionate about telling the deeper human stories that inspire others to pursue their own dreams.

Aïda Valceanu is an experienced journalist and public relations expert with a wide range of skills and a multicultural background. Originally from Romania, she has been living in France for the past 20 years. Aïda has worked for Romanian Public Television, newspapers and TV stations in France as well as book festivals in France and Switzerland as a journalist. She spent several years working as a PR professional in the French Parliament. In 2018, Aida joined the GGR (Golden Globe Race) as the manager of One and All, skippered by Estonian sailor Uku Randmaa. She also published her logbook titled “20 000 lieues au-délà des mers” in France.