Josh Axler Solo Sailor Golden Globe Race 2026

Hello! My name is Josh and I need your help to get to the start line of the 2026 Golden Globe Race. A solo, non-stop, unassisted around the world race via the three great capes. I'm not accustomed to asking for help but here I am. If I could fund this project by myself I would. Unfortunately I'm not quite at that place in my life right now. Myself and my team here in Spain need you! We've set a lofty goal for ourselves but something we believe is totally achievable. Read below to learn a bit more about me and the race campaign you'll be supporting with your donation! Over the next three years we will be hosting events, speaking about the race, the boat, ourselves, and the importance of living a more sustainable lifestyle so generations to come have to privilege to enjoy the ocean and all its wildlife that we enjoy today.

Why the GGR?

I have always had a dream to sail around the world. After being involved in GGR 2022, that dream has only grown. I want to watch the albatross soar overhead. I want to hear the roar of the Southern Ocean. I want to feel so alone that I don’t know what to do with myself. I feel that this is where growth happens. Outside of our comfort zones is where we truly discover who we are. I desire to compete in the Golden Globe Race because I want to sail solo around the world and show everyone that really anyone is capable of it. I know from past experience that competing in the Golden Globe Race is not only about sailing solo, nonstop, around the world, but getting to spend time with family beforehand, engaging with the local community, refitting a boat, finding sponsors and so so much more. Getting to make a whole new family on the dock in Les Sables d’Olonne before departing into Biscay. And influencing thousands of people all around the world to do better. This is why I want to compete in the Golden Globe Race.

Your donation will go directly towards the operating costs of the campaign. Hardware, winches, line, self-steering gear and so, so, so much more. You donation will also help me give back to those putting so much time into this campaign and asking for nothing in return. If you would like your donation to be put towards a specific part or piece of the boat or program, please let me know! We are working on a way to involve everyone who has donated, either by putting their name somewhere on the boat, or perhaps in the future getting a fun boat shirt or maybe even a sail on Pole Pole if you're lucky enough!!

Sailing Experience

Josh is a professional sailor with a background in performance sailing and composites. Josh started sailing at a young age with his family, spending the summers on his grandfather’s boat Shana, a Cape Dory 36, plying the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay near his homeport of Rock Hall, Maryland. Just across the bay from Annapolis, Maryland, Josh was heavily influenced by the sailing culture and took quickly to it. When he graduated from highschool, Josh started sailing professionally first on gaff-rigged topsl schooner before moving on to performance boats a few years later. These days you’ll find Josh racing the likes of Gunboats, VO65’s, TP52’s, Swans, Mini 6.50’s, Nacra 17’s, often on the team as the composite specialist. He also spends a lot of time sailing his own little full keeled cruising boat that he enjoys more than the rest. Josh has competed in regattas all over the world and was the team manager for Elliott Smith in the 2022 edition of the GGR. Josh has tens of thousands of offshore miles including the required solo mileage.

The Boat

Pole Pole is an Endurance 35. Heavily build and with a well balanced rig, we will be refitting her over the next 3 years in order to prepare for the race. Some structural modifications have to be made along with nearly every piece of hardware needs to be replaced to insure nothing with break while sailing 30,000nm around the world. Pole Pole literally translates to Slowly Slowly. A name that couldn't be more fitting for a boat undertaking such a feat. Join us as part of the team with your donation today!

I can't thank everyone enough for the endless amounts of support that have been pouring in. It truly takes my breath away and gives me goosebumps every time I see it.

I want to give special thanks to my partner, Nellee, who has been so supportive and pushed her dreams aside to help me accomplish and pursue my own(selfishly speaking, she's a more accomplished sailor than I am and I need her here as my primary advisor and to be my second hand while doing work on the boat) I want to thank Jorge, he has also been here from step one, he is my team manager and bless him as I know I am not easy to manage. I'd like to thank Toni, he is producing all the media you have seen and has spent countless hours behind the computer making sure everything looks and sounds perfect. And lastly, I'd like to thank both Elliott and Carmen. They are both advisors from afar. Carmen in South America currently but giving us time every day on how to work social media algorithms. And Elliott, the skipper I managed in the last edition of the GGR. It's now his turn to give me advice, and lead me to the start line!