Atlantic Dash for Recife – Then Home!

The McIntyre Mini Globe Race 2025 fleet has completed 24,000 miles of this 28,000 mile race around the planet. The 1,700 miles from Cape Town to Saint Helena was in classic South Atlantic trade-wind conditions—mostly moderate, occasionally unstable, and fast enough to turn the passage into a genuine match race for the front of the fleet. The speed of these mighty mini’s is impressive, averaging 134 mile days and 5.5 knots all the way. Impressive for 19ft – 5.8mtr homebuilt plywood yachts.

All 11 skippers, sailing ALMA Class Globe 580 sloops, have now joined the long list of great tradewind circumnavigators, who have made this remote St Helena landfall, having sailed all 360 meridians of Longitude. The South Atlantic trade winds are often described as a sailor’s dream but this leg has been a paradoxical blend of idyllic sailing and tactical tension, where personal endurance and gear resilience are being tested as much as racing prowess.

Today they are racing fast toward Recife and their world famous CARNIVAL after a fascinating seven day pitstop. Recife will be the final stop before a 2500 mile sprint to the finish at the National Sailing Academy in Antigua in early March.  All will take a well deserved place in the history books! It is never over till the fat lady sings, but there will be many world firsts on that day!!

Week 1: Cape Town to St Helena – Settling into the Ocean Rhythm

The fleet’s departure from Cape Town on 28 December 2025 was anything but smooth. While most skippers ignited their electric outboards within minutes of the start to escape a wind shadow just one mile to the west , Keri Harris aboard ORIGAMI chose a purist approach, refusing to motor instead sailing slowly north. Becalmed near Robben Island, he lost two full days—a setback that relegated him to the rear, though his boat speed once in the breeze has often been among the fleet’s highest.

Out front, a compelling duel developed. Renaud Stitelmann on CAPUCINETTE, the overall leader, extended his advantage with disciplined sailing, though he reported a squall that briefly laid his boat over. Close behind, Dan Turner (#05 Immortal Game / AUS ) consolidated second overall, adopting a philosophical mindset. “I’ve lost my competitive nature,” he reflected, focusing instead on enjoying the journey and drafting a book about his voyage.

Out front, a compelling duel developed. Renaud Stitelmann on CAPUCINETTE, the overall leader, extended his advantage with disciplined sailing, though he reported a squall that briefly laid his boat over. Close behind, Dan Turner (#05 Immortal Game / AUS ) consolidated second overall, adopting a philosophical mindset. “I’ve lost my competitive nature,” he reflected, focusing instead on enjoying the journey and drafting a book about his voyage.

The battle for third intensified. Jakub Ziemkiewicz (#185 Bibi / IE ), Adam Waugh (#170 Little Wren / UK ), and Pilar Pasanau (#98 Peter Punk / ES) traded positions almost daily. Jakub credited his daggerboards for helping BIBI hold a steadier course in the chaotic, washing-machine sea state. Pilar briefly held third, celebrating New Year’s Eve with champagne in PETER PUNK’s cockpit, only to later slip back after lighter winds east of the rhumb line.

Further back, Christian Sauer (#103 Argo / DE ) and Jasmine Harrison (#88 Numbatou / UK ) faced early setbacks with kelp wrapped around their keels—a common nuisance in the first days. Jasmine later cleared hers by entering the water—a risky manoeuvre she undertook with caution. Eric Marsh (#79 Sunbear / AUS ), the eldest entrant, and Jasmine, the youngest, engaged in a spirited tussle for seventh, exchanging the lead several times.

Ertan Beskardes (#01 Trekka / UK ) and Josh Kali (#157 Skookum / US) reported some of the most pleasant sailing conditions. Ertan, ever the relaxed cruiser, spoke of sunny days, ample fresh food, and charging his devices with solar power. Josh, the methodical mountaineer-turned-sailor, enjoyed “the best sailing we’ve done yet,” though he too encountered kelp, which he cleared with a GoPro-assisted inspection and a swim.

Week 2: Landfall at a Remote Outpost

As the fleet closed in on Saint Helena, the race solidified but did not simplify. Renaud arrived first on the morning of 10 January, completing the 1,700-mile passage in about 12.5 days. He marked the moment by toasting with Antiguan rum, having now sailed a full 360 degrees around the globe since the race started.

Dan followed hours later, noting it was his 200th day at sea. Jakub secured a hard-fought third place on this leg, arriving at dusk—his best stage performance yet having found the secret “sweet spot” of BiBi. Pilar and Adam finished almost neck-and-neck, with PETER PUNK just edging out LITTLE WREN for fourth.

The island’s notorious anchorage lived up to its reputation. Jasmine arrived at midnight and tangled her mooring line around NUMBATOU’s keel, requiring Jakub’s assistance to free it the next morning. Eric struggled with a stubborn anchor in deep water, needing a diver’s help to re-set it. A couple of boats dragged anchor half a mile!  The local sailing club, forewarned by the skippers, had laid new moorings—a welcome relief for all.

Renaud arrived St Helena and anchored safely—but the island’s notorious holding lived up to its reputation. Later, Eric fought a stubborn anchor in deep water and needed a diver to re-set it. Two boats even dragged nearly half a mile. Thankfully, the Saint Helena Yacht Club had laid new moorings—huge relief for everyone. Credit: Saint Helena Yacht ClubGear wear continued to tell. Keri reported his mainsail now dotted with so many adhesive patches it “looks like it’s got smallpox.” Christian mourned the sudden failure of his little-used A3 spinnaker, and Ertan was frustrated by expensive sail repairs in Cape Town that hadn’t held. Jasmine faced repeated failures of her Hydrovane’s flip-flop frame, requiring creative on-the-fix repairs with bolts and tape.

Week 3 – Fun on the ROCK!

All were looking forward to meeting the oldest living “thing” on the planet, 192 year old Johnathan, the Giant tortoise and follow the history of Napoleon’s exile to the island as the defeated Emperor of France, while Jakub had to race up the “Jaladder” 699 steps at 40degrees and 183mtrs trying to beat the 5 minute record. but failed by 14 minutes! Meanwhile a couple 580’s dragged off without skippers, so the St Helena yacht club organised temporary moorings with BIG anchors!

Jasmine took the biggest challenge when she heard about an upcoming event of international swimmers arriving to attempt the first swim around the island. The temptation was too great! A day later at 2am she jumped in and set off to attempt a world first challenge. The weather was not perfect, but she only had two days left of her MGR seven day Pit-stop. It was now or never! Locals could not advise on currents, so she took off in a clockwise direction. 19 hours later Jasmine was just over a mile from the finish and 30 miles from the start. She had a horrible sea running against current at times and was completely shattered and a little hypothermic. She had no special swim gear onboard Numbatou!. To be safe, she had to stop short by a mile, disappointed but stunned when half the Island’s population came out to cheer her ashore at 9.30pm that night!

Voices from the Atlantic

Each skipper’s character shone through their updates and time ashore:

• Renaud remains the focused frontrunner, mixing technical vigilance with celebratory moments.
• Dan is the reflective storyteller, already compiling his memoir.
• Jakub the diligent technician is a crazy fun guy, fine-tuning BIBI for speed while prioritising safety.
• Pilar the determined competitor, clawing back positions with tenacity, strength and confidence .
• Adam is the calm strategist, experimenting with sail combinations and tiller pilots.
• Christian is the pragmatic sailor, managing repairs and shoulder pain with equal resolve.
• Jasmine is the resilient adventurer, tackling breakdowns with hands-on true grit and power.
• Eric is the seasoned campaigner, trading positions with humour and enjoying wildlife sightings.
• Ertan is the relaxed voyager, prioritising comfort, fresh meals and calling home.
• Josh is the thoughtful endurance artist, embracing the mental challenge as much as the nautical one.
• Keri is the philosophical tactician, analysing weather patterns and accepting his choices.

Looking Ahead: The Road to Antigua

With the fleet now back in the Trades after resting, exploring—or repairing—at Saint Helena, the next stage to Recife, Brazil, looms in a relaxed way. The carnival will be ??? On the 19th February it is GO for HOME! The equatorial doldrums and the debris-filled currents of the Amazon outflow promise new tactical layers. Boats and sailors are tired; sails are patched; rankings are tight. Yet the spirit of the McIntyre MGR remains intact—a test of stamina, skill, and soul.

As Josh put it before arriving: “It feels like the end is approaching.” But with nearly 4,000 miles still to Antigua, this marathon is not over. The tradewinds may be benign, but the race is very much alive.