A post that Don McIntyre (Owner and Founder at Class Globe 5.80) published on Facebook, in the Globe 5.80 Transat Group on March 4, 2025 came to my attention:

"Whilst I agree that politics do not belong in sport, it already is. None of our three around the world sailing adventures the Golden Globe, Ocean Globe and Mini Globe Races are sailed under the international governing body "World Sailing" umbrella. Nonetheless we adopted the international ban on Russian entries imposed by the international "World Sailing" body in support of the principles of Freedom, Democracy and an International rules based system.

Russia went to war against UKRAINE. I personally rejected one Russian entry in the 2023 OGR and one in the 2027 OGR, I have rejected two Russian entries in the 2026 GGR and I have rejected one Russian entry in the 2025 MGR. The sailors were shattered. I felt for them, as not everyone in Russia supported a murderous war and criminal dictator.

The American President has in the past days clearly joined the side of Russia and abandoned International rules based principles. In the past hours TRUMP and the American people have joined an axis of evil, by directly supporting the military actions and tactics of Russia against a free and democratic country, removing their ability to defend themselves, an obligation America had through signed agreements. The world is in trouble. Now that America and Russia work together, against the free world and an International rules based system that has existed since world war ll, should we reject American entries in our sailing events? We all sail because the oceans are the ultimate expression of FREEDOM. We could just sail over the horizon, keep the dream alive and ignore all this. But dictators like TRUMP and PUTIN must be stopped.

Since I can remember as a little boy in Australia, we have been taught a simple phrase in respect of all those who gave their lives in the great wars fighting for Freedom. "We Will Remember Them"... Why? so we could be free!..I have enjoyed 70 years of freedom thanks to those who sacrificed their lives for me, before I was even born. If there was ever a time to fight for freedom.. it is NOW!...Yesterday we had the freedom to leave politics out of sport. Yesterday is gone. Today is a new world order. Sad but true. Cherish freedom and fight for your families, your kids' future and HOPE! ..."

Original Post on Facebook, same as above but hard to read.

Don's Facebook bio reads:
Passionate Guy happy to live and promote Adventure ..It makes better people who care about the world.

Note:
I have been blocked from the Globe 5.80 FAN club & Globe 5.80 Transat groups on Facebook after expressing my opinion below:
~ caveat emptor

Don ~ "Whilst I agree that politics do not belong in sport, it already is."

Don's political 5.80 post caused me to pause; if adventure makes people better, why ban people based solely on where they live? Don justifies his action by citing World Sailing; they banned Russian sailors, so I will. He later says that "the American people have joined an axis of evil," postulating that now Americans should be rejected from sailing too.

Don ~ "We all sail because the oceans are the ultimate expression of FREEDOM. We could just sail over the horizon, keep the dream alive and ignore all this. But ..."

Sadley, Don has chosen to base his actions against adventure. Against people he chooses to reject. Against making those rejected people better, and as a result the world lessened for it. Ending the dream for some.

Imagine if Don had decided to include instead of excluding. I can picture the press coverage; participants are allowed from all countries, yes, a Russian citizen is in the race, even Americans are welcomed, racing around the world, in sailboats they built, promoting adventure because the world needs better people.