Man Overboard, Serious Storms, Crazy Currents and a Grueling Sprint to Durban, before a struggle in the Agulhas current and Southern Ocean depressions.
Is this one of the greatest untold stories in sailing? How has your life evolved since Xmas last year? As you were living that, 11 hardy sailors have been living breathing and thinking just one thing. It’s not the Vendee Globe or Golden Globe. It’s the McIntyre Mini Globe Race and it’s not easy and first you need to build your boat. It’s 11 amateur sailors racing 19ft-5.8mtr plywood yachts through all the oceans, solo around the world! No fuss, low impact, courageous humans chasing big dreams. A classic display of responsible risk taking and risk mitigation. A true, very real human adventure. It’s surviving by their own actions. It’s not AI, or a commercial “performance” and it’s not over yet. Another serious 45-50kt storm is on its way tomorrow. The Southern Ocean and the “ship breaking” Agulhas current is just days away!
Next week with 23,400 miles and 10 months of continuous adventure in their logbook since last Xmas, these audacious adventurers and serious racing sailors will be just 4,600 miles from completing something extraordinary by any measure!! Their dream! A 28,000mile solo race around the planet! In tiny plywood boxes, called ALMA Class Globe 580, one-design Ocean Racers !! Think about that??? Hold your breath and keep your fingers crossed!
MAN OVERBOARD Lesson: SUNBEAR!
At approx 0300hrs UTC 17th Oct. 2025 72 yo. Australian Eric Marsh reported to MGR that he was safe back onboard SUNBEAR his ALMA Class Globe 5.80 after being swept from the foredeck at night by a large wave while putting his spinnaker pole away. He was then being dragged by his tether and auto inflated Life jacket at 5-6kts… After many attempts, hampered by his inflated Jacket, he was finally able to drag himself to the port Quarter of the boat and struggle back onboard. Wet and still very shaken he reported…Quote ” It was the scariest time of my life! I honestly thought it was all over for me! After many attempts to get back onboard I am very thankful I am onboard.” He immediately made an emotional call to his wife/Safety Manager to report All OK.
At the time he was about 70 miles from finishing in Mauritius with rain squalls, 20-25kt easterly winds and 2-3mtr sea. Three things saved his life. His running bridle along the hull from bow to stern, an extra short strop separate from his safety harness tether and a chest snap shackle on that tether. All three items are unique to the 580 fleet planning, not required for traditional racing. The chest quick release snap shackle is banned by World Sailing, but allowed in the strict McINTYRE ALMA GLOBE 580 class safety rules. A full debrief and report on the entire self recovery event and the experience of all entrants, will be released in a few weeks.
Leg 2.5 Fiji to Mauritius – Indian Ocean
The 2025 Mini Globe Race (MGR) fleet is currently embroiled in what many are calling its most demanding challenge yet: the 1,700-mile passage from the idyllic shores of Mauritius to the port of Durban, South Africa. After a frenetic Mauritius stopover, and serious fun at the Grand Baie Yacht Club, the eleven remaining Globe 580 yachts crossed the start line off Port Louis on October 25th. They have since been locked in an incredibly tight, tactical battle across the volatile waters of the Mozambique Channel.
This leg, dubbed “No Place to Hide” by many, is living up to its name. The skippers face a notorious confluence of variables: the powerful, unpredictable Agulhas Currents, potential gale-force winds sweeping off Madagascar, and a complete lack of safe havens along the route. For these solo sailors in their 19-foot plywood homes, it is the ultimate test of seamanship, endurance, and strategic nerve.
Mauritius Mayhem: A welcome Scrambled Stopover
The idyllic island of Mauritius provided a stunning but chaotic interlude between ocean passages. While the mountain vistas and French-inspired patisseries were a welcome delight, the logistical hurdles were significant. The necessity to clear customs in Port Louis, where boats were tossed against a rough concrete wharf by tugboat wakes, resulted in a litany of damages.
Most notably, Jasmine Harrison on NUMBATOU had her bowsprit snapped clean off, later discovering it had been incorrectly constructed from plywood instead of hardwood. An emergency replacement was swiftly crafted in oak by her sponsor Goodechip back in the UK and flown out. Keri Harris (ORIGAMI) suffered wall damage to his solar panels, and Adam Waugh (LITTLE WREN) watched in dismay as his mainsail tore in the same location as Joshua Kali’s (SKOOKUM) had earlier—adjacent to the stiff Globe 580 logo, Kali, however, found a lifeline, purchasing Jasmine Harrison’s spare mainsail to replace his own tattered one. Sails wearing out in the sun is a big issue on at least half the fleet. A 48 Hour time penalty applies for any new sails brought onboard!
Despite the chaos, the spirit of the “MGR family” shone through. The local community, Grand Baie Yacht Club and particularly sailmaking brothers Julian and Laurent, worked miracles at short notice to reinforce and repair sails for sailors like Jakub Ziemkiewicz (BIBI). The fleet eventually regrouped in the calmer waters of Grand Baie, 10 miles north, for final preparations and relaxation before the daunting restart.
Leg 3 : Mauritius to Cape Town: Stitelmann Leads the Pack…AGAIN!
As the fleet departed Mauritius, provisional results for the massive Leg 2.5 from Fiji were finalised, showcasing a fierce battle at the front. Renaud Stitelmann on CAPUCINETTE secured first place in elapsed time, a testament to his relentless pace which saw him beat legendary sailor John Guzzwell’s historical time to Rodrigues by almost four days. He was followed closely by Dan Turner (IMMORTAL GAME) and Keri Harris (ORIGAMI).
The mid-fleet saw an intense duel between Jakub Ziemkiewicz and Christian Sauer (ARGO), with the lead swapping multiple times before Jakub ultimately edged Christian out by mere hours. Eric Marsh (SUNBEAR) and Jasmine Harrison made MGR history by arriving in Rodrigues side-by-side after their 2,000-mile passage from Cocos. Ertan Beskardes (TREKKA) and Joshua Kali brought up the rear, with Josh embodying the cruising spirit of Guzzwell himself, despite sailing much of the Indian Ocean with a destroyed mainsail.
A Close-Knit Fleet Charges West
The start from Mauritius was a spectacular sight, with the entire fleet bunched together. Renaud Stitelmann was first across the line, but the pack remained remarkably tight in the days that followed. As of October 28th, the first seven boats were spread over just 20 miles, creating a unique and intense offshore match race.
Dan Turner reported sailing with Renaud’s stern light constantly in view. “It’s good and bad in a way,” Dan said. “It keeps me on my toes… I’m having quite a bit of fun with the competitive thing.” His strategy involves constant tweaking of his Hydrovane and sail trim, using his mainsail more than ever to keep pace with the Swiss frontrunner.
The battle extends through the fleet. Christian Sauer, now rested and with minor sail repairs completed, is sailing a confident race. Adam Waugh, after a much-needed sleep catch-up in Mauritius, is sailing neck-and-neck with Christian. Jakub Ziemkiewicz, who started “lazy,” has been pushing hard to close the gap, though he admits the downwind rolling is exhausting and his limited sail inventory makes balancing the boat a challenge.
Ertan Beskardes, HYDROVANE BROKEN!
Typically the laid-back cruiser, Ertan has shocked everyone by holding 4th place at one point, logging a 132-mile day. His secret? By day, he hoists his A5 spinnaker and hand-steers or assists the Hydrovane from the cockpit; by night, he reverts to a slower but safer jib-only configuration, allowing him to sleep soundly. “I sleep most of the night,” Ertan confessed, a luxury few of his competitors can afford. That has now all changed, as he lost a critical link in his windvane with no spares! He will use one of his two small auto pilots in easy conditions, but must hand steer in anything over 15-20Kts. Today he reported “ All OK, sailing under bare poles, getting enough rest”.
Drama and Adversity on the High Seas
This leg has already had its share of drama. Just before arriving in Mauritius, veteran sailor Eric Marsh was swept overboard from SUNBEAR by an unexpected wave while securing a spinnaker pole. Tethered by a long line, he was dragged alongside his speeding boat in a harrowing ordeal. “You get dragged under the water, and you sort of got to roll over on your back. That’s the scary part,” Eric recounted. His fitness and presence of mind allowed him to claw his way back aboard, a stark reminder of the ocean’s ever-present dangers.
Keri Harris is facing a different kind of challenge: a critical power shortage. With two of his three solar panels failing, he is unable to run his Starlink for weather updates or his plotter consistently. “I’m running a bit blind,” Keri stated, having dusted off his sextant for traditional navigation. He is now forced to sail more conservatively, “husbanding the boat” and his remaining battery power.
Jasmine Harrison on NUMBATOU was battling fatigue and a finicky Hydrovane that over-corrects in bigger seas, requiring long stints of exhausting hand-steering. Yet, her competitive spirit is undimmed. She is right in the middle of the pack and posted a (Current assisted) new speed record of 179 mile day!! “If I see a boat pulling away from me, I’m like, ‘Okay, what are they doing that I’m not?'” she said. “It just motivates me rather than bringing out a competitive edge.”
Further back, Joshua Kali on SKOOKUM is in his element. Now equipped with a sound mainsail, he is meticulously studying the currents and wind patterns, planning to skirt 60 miles off the southern tip of Madagascar to avoid a known wind acceleration zone. His approach remains that of a mountaineer using a weather window—focused, deliberate, and unpressured by the immediate competition. The only indulgence he allowed himself in Mauritius? Five boxes of his favourite raspberry tarts.
The sole skipper who has significantly diverged from the pack is Pilar Pasanau (PETER PUNK). She chose a more westerly route, leaving Reunion Island to port, but fell into a wind hole and slipped from 4th to 11th place, a stark lesson in the tactical perils of this leg. Since then she has worked hard climbing through the fleet with the longest 24hr runs.
Out into the last of the INDIAN and then the Southern!
As the fleet now points its bows towards Richards Bay South Africa before heading to DURBAN, the anxiety is palpable. The skippers know the worst is yet to come. A 45-50kt front is due on SUNDAY, They are currently sailing fast under no sails or deep reefed Jib only, riding 35kt following winds and sea. The convergence of the fast-flowing Agulhas Current with strong southerly winds can create monstrous, breaking seas. That is the exact forecast as they arrive at the final approach to Durban is about five days. Not good news. John Guzzwell himself wrote of “strong and quite unpredictable” currents in these very waters.
The MGR fleet, however, is robust, and its sailors are now seasoned ocean veterans. They have weathered boisterous trade winds, viscous squalls, 60kt winds and 5mtr seas, calms, and personal trials across three oceans. With their eyes on the prize and a careful watch on the horizon, these eleven intrepid sailors are writing a new chapter of maritime history, proving that the age of small-boat voyaging is alive and well, and more competitive than ever. All eyes are now on Durban, awaiting the arrival of this extraordinary fleet. Breath deep and tell your friends! ….THANKS.
Here’s how the skippers stack up on corrected time for Leg 2.5 (Fiji to Mauritius):
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1. Renaud Stitelmann – CAPUCINETTE – 54D 4H 16M 5S
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2. Dan Turner – IMMORTAL GAME – 54D 22H 28M 38S
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3. Keri Harris – ORIGAMI – 55D 10H 27M 20S
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4. Pilar Pasanau – PETER PUNK – 56D 5H 4M 29S
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5. Adam Waugh – LITTLE WREN – 61D 2H 4M 41S
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6. Jakub Ziemkiewicz – BIBI – 61D 18H 46M 52S
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7. Christian Sauer – ARGO – 61D 21H 13M 21S
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8. Eric Marsh – SUNBEAR – 64D 2H 24M 58S
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9. Jasmine Harrison – NUMBATOU – 64D 3H 27M 43S
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10. Ertan Beskardes – TREKKA – 64D 5H 5M 10S
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11. Joshua Kali – SKOOKUM – 66D 6H 36M 41S
11 of the original 15 Solo Sailors left on the toughest leg of the entire 24,000 mile circumnavigation. 11 skippers from 7 countries – Australia: 2, United Kingdom: 4, Germany: 1, Ireland: 1, Spain: 1, Switzerland: 1, USA :1.
