Israeli Sets Sail Alone for 250-Day Global Challenge
Ariel resident Daniel Pinsky is the first Israeli to compete in the Golden Globe Race, a 250-day solo challenge using only traditional navigation.
Jerusalem, 6 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Daniel Pinsky, 35, a resident of Ariel, will make history today as the first Israeli to compete in the Golden Globe Race, setting off from the coast of France. The grueling race lasts about 250 consecutive days, with sailors racing nonstop, alone and without outside assistance.
Competitors cannot use modern technology such as GPS, computers, or digital maps. They must navigate manually using only a sextant, the stars, and paper maps.
Pinsky has designed his boat’s sail as a giant Israeli flag.
His connection to the sea began at 14, when he moved to the Kfar Hayam Maritime Boarding School. He later served in the Israeli Navy, studied mechanical engineering, and lived aboard a boat in Herzliya for six years. He has logged tens of thousands of nautical miles and crossed multiple oceans.