Text: Marco Nannini
Image: Ross Hubbard – SEA BEAR – Ta Shing Panda 38
We are pleased to welcome Ross Hubbard as the newest official entry in the Global Solo Challenge 2027–2028. Ross, from Ventura, California (USA), brings decades of seamanship, a professional lifetime spent surveying and testing vessels, and many thousands miles of solo sailing experience. His passion for ocean adventure was born at age 11 when he discovered the National Geographic series following Robin Lee Graham’s circumnavigation aboard Dove — a story that planted a dream he has carried ever since.
Ross will take on the Challenge aboard SEA BEAR, a 1984 Ta Shing Panda 38 cutter, a full-keel, heavy-weather cruising design renowned for strength, balance, and ocean-crossing pedigree. Drawing on thousands of professional surveys and sea trials, Ross approaches the event with a clear philosophy: keep the boat simple, strong, redundant, and prepared for the conditions of a 200-day nonstop circumnavigation.
As organisers, we are inspired by Ross’s determination to turn a childhood dream into reality and to show that purposeful adventure later in life is not only possible, but profoundly meaningful. We look forward to following his preparations and introducing more skippers in the weeks ahead as the 2027–2028 edition continues to grow.
The current entry roster includes 20 skippers including Ross. 18 of these skippers profiles are published on the website whilst an additional 2 are not yet ready to go public, pending boat exchange and other milestones.
About the Skipper
Name: Ross Hubbard
Nationality: USA
Resides in: Ventura, California, USA
Born in: 1958
Miles sailed: 6,500+
Where does your passion for sailing come from?
At 11, I was hooked. I devoured the 1968–1970 National Geographic series on Robin Lee Graham’s solo circumnavigation in Dove. That story planted the seed that never left: one man, one boat, one ocean, one lifetime. I bought a small sailboat, taught myself to sail, and dreamed that one day I would also sail over the horizon and see the world.
What lessons has sailing taught you?
Be decisive, stay humble, and never fight the sea — work with it. A boat will always tell you what it needs if you listen early enough.
What drew you to solo sailing?
Solitude is where I remember who I am. At sea, there’s just me, the boat, and the elements. It is the purest form of responsibility and freedom I know.
What motivated you to sign up for this event?
The Global Solo Challenge is a dream challenge, and it's also the last realistic window for me to turn a lifelong dream into reality. It is also the perfect marriage of everything I’ve done professionally: thousands of surveys and sea trials have taught me what keeps a boat (and a skipper) in good shape when there is no help for thousands of miles.
How are you planning to prepare for this event?
Preparing SEA BEAR Sail Training Physical Fitness Training Mental Fitness Training Nutrition Planning Additional Weather Education First Aid Training Ongoing: World Sailing Offshore Survival course, medicals, stamina training
What do you think will be the greatest challenge?
Mental and physical endurance — 200 days alone, especially the Southern Ocean leg. Physical fatigue is real, but I believe the mind is the true limiting factor. I’m training sleep cycles, mindfulness, and decision-making under fatigue now.
Tell us about your boat or the boat you would like to have.
SEA BEAR is a 1984 Ta Shing Panda 38 cutter. LOA 37′9″ (11.50 m), LWL 31.5′ (9.6 m), displacement 19,000 lbs (8,618 kg), full keel. Built in the legendary Ta Shing yard in Taiwan. A proven heavy-weather cruising design — many have crossed oceans.
Do you intend to associate your personal challenge with a social cause?
Yes — I’m still defining that, but the message centers around: “It’s never too late to chase the dream you had as a child,” and on mental health through purposeful adventure. Details to be finalised in 2026.
Sailing achievements or racing palmarès
No formal sailing or racing achievements — my first big race will be getting to the starting line in Vigo, Spain.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
After thousands of surveys, I know what breaks and what survives, so I’m keeping everything as redundant and straightforward as possible. I’m bringing that hard-earned knowledge to SEA BEAR and documenting the preparation through YouTube. I believe that experience, preparation, and mental fortitude are the ultimate performance advantages.
About the Boat
Boat name: SEA BEAR
Boat design: Ta Shing Panda 38 (Gary Grant)
Year launched: 1984
Length overall (LOA): 37'09" on deck, 41'00" with bowsprit
Displacement: 8,618 kg
Upwind sail area: 80 m2
Downwind sail area: 120 m2
Additional details: Sail training and shakedown voyages begin soon. A planned route to Panama and along the East Coast of North America will be essential preparation ahead of departing for Vigo in 2027. “My race begins now.”
Ross Hubbard – SEA BEAR – Ta Shing Panda 38 (Gary Grant)
GSC 2027 Entries
Skipper Boat Name Boat Nat. Start
01. Chris Stanmore-Major #Visit Canada Open 60 GBR tba
02. Peter Bourke Imagine Open 40 USA tba
03. Jonathan Massingill tba (Class40) USA tba
04. Marek Lipinski Kowalski Taling 32 POL tba
05. Piotr Czarniecki Atom Pasja 10 POL tba
06. Jérôme Delire MASAÏ Class40 #109 BEL tba
07. Brian Gray Kawan3 Class40 #75 USA tba
08. Sam Glover tba (Class40) GBR tba
09. Fraser Flight tba Class40 #18 GBR/ZWE tba
10. Marcello Queirolo IAIAI Elan 37 ITA tba
11. Sylvain Canet Wild Boréal 44.2 FRA tba
12. Dealtry Pickford Metric 4t Class40 #OCD ZAF tba
13. Ivan Dimov Blue Ibis Endurance 37 BGR tba
14. Pablo Gonzalez Parodi Gryphon Class40 #106 URY/USA tba
15. Ronnie Simpson Koloa Maoli Class40 #15 USA tba
16. Juan Merediz Waypoint Class40 #69 ESP tba
17. Christophe Bogrand Sterec Bleu Tocade 50 FRA tba
18. Ross Hubbard Sea Bear Panda 38 USA tba
Achieving the dream - Global solo challenge 2027-2028
Around the world
Single-handed
Non-stop
By the three great capes
With a unique format
Budget friendly
Environmentally conscious
Second edition 2027-2028