A man sailing a GLobe 5.80 boat

What’s it like to build your own plywood 19-footer to race solo across the Atlantic? David Harding sailed with Keith Oliver onboard his Globe 5.80 to find out

All smiles! 51-year-old Jack Johnson crossed the finish line and claims the Globe 5.80 Transat 2023 crown. Credit: Lutz Kohne / Class Globe 5.80

American skipper Jack Johnson has sailed his home-built plywood yacht to first place in the McIntyre Globe 5.80 Transat 2023, and has qualified for the Mini Globe Race 2025