The first ever Around-the-World Yacht Race sailed in “Mini” yachts, an idea conceived by Australian Adventurer Don McIntyre in 2020, today sails into the history books as the first six finishers arrive in Antigua having raced 24,000 miles solo around the globe in the past 13 months.
Winner Renaud Stitelmann (#28 Capucinette / CH) won every leg of the race and set the inaugural record time of 180 days 11 hours 25 minutes and 57 seconds. His average speed through all weather and oceans of the world – 5.54 knots, or 133 miles a day, every day. Returning 377 days after the start having visited 15 ports in 13 countries along the way.
15 sailors, 13 men and two women from eight countries, set out from the National Sailing Academy in Antigua on 23 September 2025, sailing ALMA Class Globe 580 home-built 19ft plywood yachts. They raced west about via all the oceans of the world.
On Saturday 7 March 2026 Renaud Stitelmann sailing “CAPUCINETTE“, crossed the finish line setting an historic benchmark for the fastest solo time around the world in an Alma Globe 580. The second edition of the McIntyre MGR is scheduled for 2029 with over 25 sailors already committed.
Records are being broken. Jasmine Harrison “NUMBATOU” (88) is about to become the first British woman to circumnavigate the globe solo in the smallest yacht, Pilar Pasanau is the first Spanish woman sailor to solo circumnavigate and also in the smallest yacht. Josh Kali, stands to set a record for the smallest American-flagged yacht to circumnavigate solo or otherwise. All this follows in the footsteps of the late John Guzzwell who in 1955—exactly 70 years before—set off in his home-built, 20ft timber yacht, “TREKKA”, to sail solo around the world. Returning three years later he was the first ever to do so. John Guzzwell passed away in 2024 at the age of 94, just weeks after honouring the McIntyre MGR team by accepting the role of Patron of the ALMA Globe Class.
Don McIntyre, 580 class and MGR Founder, said: “The MGR is a classic and challenging race and a very real adventure not for the faint hearted. But it shows clearly that the human spirit has no bounds if the dream is strong enough and a person believes in themselves. Our motto of “SMALL BOAT- HUGE ADVENTURE” also reflects on the budget. It is not impossible for many sailors and to build is not too big, or too small! It is just right. My idea for the MGR formed over about 40 years and I am the first to agree that on paper it sounds crazy. But the ALMA Class Globe 580 one-design concept, that starts with euro 350 construction plans, is sound and has now proven itself. Together with Polish yacht designer Janusz Maderski , we have created the perfect little dream boat. Now we have active builders in 37 countries and will have hundreds sailing very soon.”
While most entrants experienced knockdowns at some point, the one-design ALMA Globe 580s have proven themselves. There was one man overboard incident and a couple close calls. There were quite close encounters with shipping and fishing vessels and many impacts with UFOs – some quite hard.
There was also one huge constant. Every skipper had absolute faith in their own security in the 580s and its ability to survive. That combined with the usual world’s best safety and security standards applying for all three of McIntyre Adventures’ three around the world races paid dividends. One final validation of the Mini Globe concept is that not one of the 15 starters abandoned the race because of boat, or challenge issues. Of the four retirements, one was due to a health issue and the three Australians retired were simply short of money to leave Australia again.
The remaining five sailors will arrive over the next four days. The official prize giving will be held on March 20 at the National Sailing Academy with the support of theFalmouth Ocean Club.
Provisional results overall: Second place Dan Turner (#05 Immortal Game / AUS ) sailed in 184 days 01 hour 20 minutes and 42 seconds. Third place Keri Harris (#47 Origami / UK ) sailed in 190 days, 21 hours, 4 minutes and 45 seconds and Fourth place Pilar Pasanau (#98 Peter Punk / ES)sailed in 191 days, 16 hours, 10 minutes and 4 seconds. Fifth place Adam Waugh (#170 Little Wren / UK ) 199 days, 21 hours, 59 minutes, 28 seconds. Sixth place Jakub Ziemkiewicz (#185 Bibi / IE ) 200 days, 13 hours, 18 minutes and 7 seconds.
