The Voyage of Madmen
Jesse Martin
98 mins | 2023
In 1968 The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race was the first ever around-the-world solo yacht race. Fifty years later 18 solo sailors set out to commemorate the longest event of human endurance on the planet. Only five will finish.
Sponsored by:
San Juan Island Yacht Club
In 1968, The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race was the first ever around-the-world solo yacht race. Known at the time as a voyage for madmen, lives were forever changed – yachts sank, a suicide occurred, and of the nine entries only one man finished – Sir Robin Knox-Johnston becoming the first person ever to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the globe. No other race had occurred like it in half a century.
The Voyage of Madmen is the story of Don McIntyre’s 50 year anniversary recreation of the infamous race and his quest to attract amateur sailors to compete in small boats, taking on the perils of the sea entirely against the odds. It’s a race without modern technological aids where actually surviving a non-stop lap of the world is the achievement. Of the 18 solo sailors to depart France in 2018 – five solitary skippers cross the finish line – the final finisher spending 322 days alone at sea.
This is the story of the longest sporting event in history. A display of brutal individualism by characters longing for a bygone era who are hell-bent on recreating the longest, loneliest, and most grueling sports event on the planet.
The Golden Globe Race will return in 2026. Information is available at https://goldengloberace.com/.
Jesse Martin
Jesse was born to his parents Kon and Louise, on 26 August 1981 while backpacking through Europe. After his parents separated, Jesse and his younger brother Beau attended Upwey South Primary School and later Wesley College in Melbourne.
Father Kon introduced both boys to sailing. Three years later at age 17, Jesse set off on an attempt to become the youngest person to sail the world solo, non-stop, and unassisted. He returned 328 days later age 18 years three weeks old, claiming the world record and having sighted land only 3 times.
In 2002 Jesse set off around the world again, this time aboard the 54-foot ketch 'Kijana'(Swahili for 'young people') with a crew of friends including brother Beau. After 10 months the journey came to an unhappy end with crew tensions, business pressures, and mother nature all taking their toll.
He authored “Lionheart: A Journey of the Human Spirit” in 2000. With an advance from writing his second book (Kijana The Real Story), Jesse was able to secure the Polynesian catamaran 'Imajica' from the Philippines and relocate her to her current home in the remote islands of Papua New Guinea.
He now takes paying guests on exploratory expeditions throughout these islands.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: S.M.S
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