Swiss skipper Etienne Messikommer is taking part in the legendary ‘Golden Globe Race’ sailing race this year. A round-the-world sailing voyage under extreme conditions, with a message that reaches far beyond the horizon: We can all do our bit to protect orangutans and their habitat!
Golden Globe Race & PanEco Foundation: Be part of this journey!
Skipper Etienne Messikommer will set off on the Golden Globe Race on 6 September and he will carry a message about protecting orangutans to the remotest corners of the earth.
Together, we will raise 1 CHF for every one of the 30,000 nautical miles. Every franc donated goes directly towards protecting orangutans and their habitat. With your support, every nautical mile becomes a symbol of hope and helps to secure a future for the last remaining orangutans.
Target: 1 CHF for each of the 30,000 nautical miles
2,100 CHF out of 30,000
With the PanEco Foundation for the orangutans of Sumatra.
The critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and their habitat, the rainforest, are in urgent need of protection. Since 1996, the Swiss non-profit foundation PanEco has been working in Switzerland and Indonesia to rehabilitate and reintroduce endangered wildlife. It also focusses on protecting natural habitats and environmental education.
Follow the sailing race on the live tracker: The race kicks off on 6 September 2026 in Les Sables d’Olonne on the French Atlantic coast.
The link will follow as soon as the live stream starts.
Golden Globe Race
On 6 September 2026, the starting signal will be given in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, for the legendary round-the-world sailing race. Thirty-nine-year-old Etienne Messikommer will tackle the 30,000-nautical-mile route on his own, using only traditional navigation methods, and will never set foot ashore during the 200 to 300 days of the race.
We are proud of our partnership with this ambitious skipper, we admire his courage and determination, and we wish him fair winds and success!
Etienne Messikommer
Solo skipper, Golden Globe Race 2026
Blog
For over 20 years, Andreas Messikommer, a medical doctor, has been travelling regularly to Sumatra to operate on injured orangutans. Now his son Étienne is also supporting the mission to protect the orangutans. By taking part in the Golden Globe Race – a round-the-world sailing race covering around 30,000 nautical miles – he is carrying the message of orangutan conservation to the remotest corners of the earth.
The 38-year-old skipper Etienne Messikommer has known PanEco since his youth. By taking part in the Golden Globe Race 2026 he wants to use the global attention for the competition to raise awareness within the sailing world about the threats facing orangutans.
The painted orangutan travelling round the world on Etienne’s sail is the work of illustrator Petra Rappo. The Basel-based artist illustrated the PanEco picture book, in which Regina Frey tells the story of two young orangutans.
The PanEco logo fluttering in the wind! There are still 68 days and 20 hours to go until the start.
