15 intrepid sailors to race around the world in Mini Globe Race

Fifteen intrepid and reasonably courageous sailors will set off from Antigua on Sunday in home-built, 19-foot Class Globe 5.80 yachts to sail 28,000 miles around the globe within the inaugural McIntyre Mini Globe Race.

The race marks the seventy fifth anniversary of John Guzzwell’s four-year circumnavigation in his self-built 20ft wood yawl Trekka, made well-known by his ebook Trekka across the World which turned a basic of seafaring literature.

The Mini Globe Race begins on 23 February in Antigua and ends on the similar place roughly 13 months later.

The entrants have accomplished a qualifier race, the Globe 580 Transat, racing throughout the Atlantic from Lanzarote to Antigua. Earlier Transat races in 2021 and 2023 which have already demonstrated the capabilities of the plywood-built Class Globe 5.80 design.

The primary leg of the Mini Globe Race takes sailors to Shelter Bay Marina, Panama, the place yachts can be transported overland to the Pacific Ocean.

The second leg, beginning on March 23, 2025, covers 6,500 miles to VUDA Marina in Fiji, with necessary pit stops within the Marquesas, Tahiti, and Tonga. Every pit cease requires an eight-day minimal keep, permitting sailors to relaxation and make repairs.

MCINTYRE MINI GLOBE RACE 2025

The third leg spans 10,000 miles to Cape City, South Africa, with stops in Darwin, Mauritius, and Durban.

Given the difficult climate circumstances and the infamous Agulhas present, a further 10 days of pit stops are allowed.

The fourth and remaining leg of seven,000 miles begins on December 22, 2025, with stops in St. Helena and Recife, Brazil, earlier than the ultimate dash again to Antigua, with the primary boat anticipated to cross the road by late March 2026.

The Nationwide Crusing Academy marina in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, serves because the host for the fleet of ALMA Globe 580 yachts collaborating within the McIntyre MGR and Transat. Credit score: Don McIntyre / CG580T/ MGR2025

Mini Globe Race 2025 skippers

Ertan Beskardes (UK) TrekkaTurkish-British sailor Ertan Beskarde purchased Trekka, hull primary, from Don McIntyre to enter the race. Beskardes took half within the Transat 2023 and the 2018 and 2022 Golden Globe Races.

John and Mike Blenkinsop (Australia) Delja 99 and Delja 100A father and son duo taking up the world! Mike discovered the eagerness for crusing by means of his father and has sailed all his life.Mike can be turning 70, getting into the seniors division.Son John gained his RYA Yachtmaster age 20 and entered into the world ARC the next 12 months, the place he had a severe accident within the Tasman sea. After recovering, John sailed the Australian coast for over 15 years earlier than he settled in Noosa, Australia. John is crusing Delja 100 and Mike is crusing Delja 99. delja580.com

Jasmine Harrison (UK) Numbatou,Jasmine is a world document holder, having turn into the youngest solo feminine to row throughout the Atlantic in 2021, aged 21, and is the primary girl to swim the complete size of the British Isles,

Keri Harris (UK) OrigamiA retired British Naval Captain, he has been crusing since early childhood. He accomplished his first trans-Atlantic race within the 1993 Cape to Rio Race and has since raced offshore within the Pacific, Mediterranean, and South China Seas.

Josh Kali (USA), SkookumJosh is a lifelong boater, and has spent years crusing on the Nice Lakes, in addition to tuna fishing tons of of miles offshore. For 20 years, he was additionally a high-level expedition Alpine climber. www.joshkalioceanracing.com

Eric Marsh (Australia) SunBearEric is the oldest competitor at age 71, however has no worries about this, crusing over 55,000 miles offshore in quite a few Sydney-Hobart and Melbourne to Hobart races, amongst others.

Pilar Pasanau (Spain) Peter PunkPilar is an skilled sailor from Catalonia, with over 25,000 ocean miles. She has crossed the Atlantic a number of instances.

Dan Turk (Canada) Little BeaDan from Thunder Bay, Ontario found his love for crusing on the age of 24 on Lake Superior earlier than progressing to longer and offshore races. Dan sailed Little Bea round Lake Superior after which from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Portimao, Portugal in preparation.

Daniel Turner (Australia) Immortal GameDaniel grew up in Port Lincoln, South Australia and has sailed for many of his life. He spent 4 years within the Australian Military earlier than leaving and racing keelboats and has carried out some endurance operating together with throughout the Sahara desert.

Christian Sauer (Germany) ArgoSailing has been a giant a part of Christian’s household life. His father constructed all his boats himself, and his uncle was a sailor and naval engineer. Throughout his research, he additionally labored as a crusing instructor for his coastal crusing license.

Gary Swindail (Australia) Query 2Gary is a boatbuilder from North Narrabeen, NSW, Australia. He’s wanting ahead to the problem of crusing around the globe.

Renaud Stitelmann (Switzerland) CapucinetteRenaud’s crusing journey started in childhood, voyaging the globe together with his household aboard their metal ketch. Departing southern France in 1973, the household spent eight years exploring the Antilles, Panama, and Polynesia earlier than reaching Papua New Guinea. He was first to complete within the 2024 Globe 5.80 Transat.

Adam Waugh (UK) Little WrenYachtmaster Offshore and RYA Cruising Teacher, Adam Waugh has spent three years constructing his boat. Little Wren – named after the wren that stored him firm in his workshop – was launched from his residence port of Amble in March 2024. clearbluesea.co.uk.

Jakub Ziemkiewicz (Eire) BibiJakub sailed together with his father from aged two in Poland and on the Baltic. He and his spouse later moved to Eire, the place he labored as a fisherman, amongst different jobs together with yacht deliveries. svbibi.com