Dutch sailor Nico Budel will sail his Class 40 "Sec Hayai" around the world. At 71 he could well be the oldest sailor in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12.

The first French team to sign-up for the race, Groupe 5, is headed by offshore sailing legend and writer - Patrice Carpentier.

Alex Alley has a long and diverse background in inshore and offshore racing. With Ocean Yachtmaster and RYA Instructor qualifications, he has represented the UK in the 1 Tonner Class, completed a round-the-world race as watch leader on board Team Stelmar in the 2004-05 Global Challenge.

An entry is confirmed from the Northeast USA with a CEO and entrepreneur in ‘green’ technology and energy efficiency reserving a guaranteed place on the startline.

The format and framework of the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 appears to have an irresistible appeal for those who mix offshore sailing with journalism and the first British entry comes from a high-profile, yachting magazine publisher with extensive offshore racing experience.

Winner of the 2008-09 Portimão Global Ocean Race single-handed class and Belgian Yachtsman of the Year 2008, Michel Kleinjans, has confirmed his entry in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 and raises the total to seven teams from six nations.

President of the Class40 Association, Jacques Fournier, announced that he is entering the Global Ocean Race 2011-12. His co-skipper, Treasurer of the Class40 Association, Jean-Edouard Criquioche, will be joining Fournier for the 33,000 mile circumnavigation in two years time. The pair have co-owned and co-skippered their current Pogo 1 Class40 for some time already.

BTBoats Ltd of New Zealand have an entry spot in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 for at least one Kiwi 40FC, their Farr designed Cookson built production Class40. “We have secured a place on the start line for one of our boats as a ‘works entry’,” said Lapo Ancillotti of BTBoats Ltd. “This race inspired us to create the Kiwi 40FC and we will field an entry in this fantastic event.”

Bahamas-based South African sailor Lenjohn van der Wel today confirmed his Team Entry in the 2011-12 Global Ocean Race.

The 11th entry in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 was confirmed by the team’s skipper just before Christmas 2009. This high-profile European entry wishes to remain anonymous, but will be announcing details of their project in early 2010. The campaign already has a boat, team and funding in place and will be mounting a very serious bid to win the Global Ocean Race 2011-12.

The team from New Zealand signed-up for the race in early February and will be skippered by Conrad Colman from Auckland who will be joined by co-skipper Ryan Finn from Louisiana, USA. The 26 year-old Kiwi comes to the GOR with a variety of experience ranging from business start-ups to sailmaking and shorthanded ocean racing. Conrad completed the gruelling Mini Transat race last year and will continue to compete in the class this year, racing against his American GOR co-skipper

The Global Ocean Race entry #13 for the 2011-12, double-handed circumnavigation is Italian-born, UK-based yachtsman, Marco Nannini. The 32 year-old Nannini has bought Class40 Akilaria, Mowgli – the yacht sailed by the British duo of Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson in the 2008-09 Portimão Global Ocean Race

The Global Ocean Race 2011-12 (GOR) can announce that entry #14 – and the first female skipper – has signed up to compete in the double-handed circumnavigation for Class40’s. The highly-experienced British yachtswoman, Hannah Jenner, is the fourth UK-based campaign to enter the event which includes teams from 11 different nations

Nick Leggatt and Phillippa Hutton-Squire from South Africa are entering the GOR with their Akilaria Class40 Phesheya-Racing

The Anglo-French team of Miranda Merron and Halvard Mabire have officially entered the Global Ocean Race with a new Finot-Conq Design Pogo S² Class40 hull and deck due to arrive from Structures and delivered to their own yard in Normandy at the end of September with an unusual and tough GOR campaign plan in place