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In 1972 England's Whitbread company and the British Royal Naval Sailing Association agreed to sponsor a globe-circling regatta, which would be called the Whitbread Round the World Race.

1 Whitbread 1973-1974

The first race started off from Portsmouth, England on September 8, 1973. Seventeen yachts of various sizes and shapes took part. During the race three sailors were swept over board, never to be seen again.

Sayula II skippered by Ramon Carlin won the overall race in a time of 133 days 13 hours.

2 Whitbread 1977-1978

On August 27, 1977, 15 boats started out from Southampton under gale force winds and driving rain.

Flyer skippered by Cornelius van Rietschoten won the race. All 15 boats finished the 26,780 nautical mileA nautical mile is a unit of distance, or, as physical scientists like to call it, length. It is widely used around the world for maritime and aviation purposes. The international nautical mile is defined as exactly 1,852 metres. This definition was adopt race.

3 Whitbread 1981-1982

On August 8August 8 is the 220th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (221st in leap years), with 145 days remaining. Events 1585 John Davis enters Cumberland Sound in quest for the North West Passage. 1588 Battle of Gravelines ends Defeated by the English duri, 1981Events January-February January Sarawak Chamber found January 1 Greece enters the EEC January 1 Palau becomes self-governing January 4 Sheffield police arrests Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper January 16 Protestant gunmen shoot and wound Bernadette D, 29 boats started out from Southampton.

Flyer, the winner of the 1977-78 race again skippered by Cornelius van Rietschoten won the race. Only 20 finished the race out of the 29 that started it.