BUDGET MARINE NETWORKS | SPECIAL MONDAY UPDATE | 2 NOVEMBER 2026
After missing last Wednesday’s publication, we are catching up with the Golden Globe Race as the fleet enters its 58th day at sea. The latest developments bring an important change to the overall picture: French skipper Damien Guillou has extended his advantage, while the chasing fleet is once again dealing with strong winds and challenging sea conditions.
The latest position data, recorded on Monday 2 November at 20:00 UTC, show Guillou leading by approximately 767 nautical miles over second-placed Ertan Beskardes. Behind them, Andrea Lodolo holds third, while the battle in the middle of the fleet is becoming particularly interesting.
For Budget Marine, there is encouraging news concerning Classic Mara aboard Showgirl. Mara is currently sixth in the published distance-to-finish ranking, sailing at approximately 7.1 knots in the latest four-hour tracking interval. However, she is also among the skippers now encountering gale-force conditions in the South Atlantic.
The race started on 6 September in Les Sables-d’Olonne. Almost two months later, the fleet is moving towards the next major milestone, the Southern Ocean and the long passage towards Australia.
Position disclaimer: The latest numerical positions below come from Day’s Run, an independent, fan-maintained statistical service compiling Yellowbrick tracker reports. They are timestamped 2 November at 20:00 UTC and are not a substitute for the official GGR tracker. Wind figures are tracker-derived estimates, not necessarily measurements reported by the skippers.
1. Damien Guillou builds a substantial advantage
Damien Guillou | France | Solarem
1st place
767 nm
Advantage over Ertan Beskardes
Guillou continues to demonstrate remarkable consistency aboard Solarem. The latest tracking snapshot shows him at approximately 42°44.5’S, 17°58.8’E, with around 19,125 nautical miles remaining to the finish.
His latest four-hour average speed was approximately 6.3 knots, and his reported 24-hour distance was 144 nautical miles.
The gap is now substantial. Ertan Beskardes, in second place, is approximately 767 nautical miles behind the French skipper.
Day’s Run
+1
Guillou has already overcome several challenges, including a main halyard failure earlier in the race, which required a replacement and an additional external backup arrangement.
The recent storms have also tested his ability to protect the boat while maintaining progress. His earlier accounts described confused seas, heavy rolling and difficult conditions for the self-steering system.
The next important waypoint is 45°S, 40°E. At the latest tracking update, Guillou was approximately 960 nautical miles from this mark, with an estimated arrival around 9 November. This is a calculated projection, not a confirmed ETA.
Day’s Run
+1
2. Ertan Beskardes and Andrea Lodolo fight for the podium
Ertan Beskardes | Miss Beagle
2nd place
Approximately 19,892 nautical miles to the finish.
His latest four-hour average speed was 6.7 knots, with 145 nautical miles covered over the previous 24 hours. He remains the closest challenger to Guillou.
Day’s Run
Ertan’s approach to the race has been particularly interesting. During the previous storm, he reported waves of four to five metres, difficult sail handling and a long period of manual work on deck.
He also experienced difficulties with his Starlink connection and self-steering at low boat speeds. After the storm passed, he was able to resume a more comfortable sailing routine, including some important equipment maintenance.
His measured approach, concentrating on the comfort of both skipper and yacht rather than chasing every possible knot, has helped him maintain second place.
goboating.nz
Andrea Lodolo | BiBi
3rd place
Approximately 20,302 nautical miles to the finish.
Lodolo remains third, around 409 nautical miles behind Beskardes in the latest distance-to-finish comparison. His latest four-hour average speed was 4.7 knots.
Day’s Run
Lodolo has also experienced technical difficulties, including a broken main halyard that required a mast climb and repair.
One notable decision is that he has chosen not to reactivate his remaining Starlink antenna after losing the other one. According to the official GGR report, he prefers to concentrate on racing and enjoying the solitude rather than participating in Window LIVE broadcasts.
GGR 2026: Day 53
The contest for second and third remains important, particularly as the fleet approaches the more demanding Southern Ocean conditions.
3. Classic Mara – Following Her Journey
Helga Marie (Mara) Løvenskiold Kveseth | Norway | Showgirl
6th place
7.1 knots
Latest four-hour average speed, 2 November 20:00 UTC
There is encouraging news from Mara’s latest tracking data. After some frustrating tactical periods in the South Atlantic, Showgirl is making good speed again and remains closely involved in the battle within the middle of the fleet.
Current position and progress
The latest available tracking snapshot gives the following information:
| Tracking detail | 2 November, 20:00 UTC |
|---|---|
| Position | 32°53.9’S, 7°52.6’W |
| Ranking | 6th |
| Distance to finish | 20,476 nm |
| Latest four-hour average | 7.1 knots |
| 24-hour distance | At least 145 nm |
| Seven-day distance | At least 716 nm |
These figures are compiled from tracker reports by Day’s Run.
Day’s Run
+1
Mara is currently positioned between Daniel Pinsky in fifth and Henry Wootton in seventh.
The battle with Daniel is particularly close. The latest distance-to-finish comparison puts him only nine nautical miles ahead of Mara, although their boats are approximately 53 nautical miles apart geographically, with Mara positioned further north.
This is not simply a direct speed contest. Their different positions may expose them to different wind conditions, and the next tactical decisions could determine which sailor gains the advantage.
Day’s Run
A demanding new weather challenge
Gale-force conditions
The latest tracker-derived weather estimates show Mara sailing in winds around 35 knots, with gusts estimated at 46 knots.
She is not alone. Daniel Pinsky, Etienne Messikommer and Henry Wootton are also encountering strong winds, with estimated gusts exceeding 45 knots in the latest reporting period.
Day’s Run
These figures are model-derived tracking estimates, not direct measurements confirmed by Mara. Nevertheless, they indicate that the middle fleet is facing another demanding period.
For Mara, the priorities will be familiar: choosing the right sail configuration, protecting Showgirl, maintaining reliable self-steering and managing fatigue while continuing towards the next waypoint.
The next battle: Mara versus Daniel Pinsky
One of the most interesting developments is the changing relationship between Mara and Daniel Pinsky.
Over the previous three days, their relative positions have changed several times. Mara had initially been ahead, but Daniel moved in front on 31 October. By the latest update, his advantage was nine nautical miles in distance-to-finish terms.
With both boats now sailing in stronger winds, the next few days could be particularly important.
Mara’s current position further north may provide a different sailing angle and weather opportunity from Daniel’s more southerly route. It is too early to say which strategy will prove more successful.
For Budget Marine, this is an exciting part of Mara’s journey to follow. She is firmly involved in the middle-fleet contest, continuing to make good progress and facing the same demanding ocean conditions as the more experienced competitors around her.
Following Mara beyond the tracker
The GGR’s official Window LIVE programme is also continuing to give followers an opportunity to see life aboard the yachts.
An updated broadcast schedule starts on 3 November, with Mara’s Showgirl included in several daily broadcast slots. This should provide further opportunities to follow her onboard activities and hear directly about her sailing conditions.
GGR Window Live
Her campaign has also had to navigate the earlier disagreement with race management concerning satellite-phone use and communications. The official GGR previously announced a reduced ten-day penalty, to be served on the North Atlantic return passage. This remains an important part of the wider campaign story, but does not change her current sixth-place tracking position.
Golden Globe Race
We will continue following Mara’s progress, her sailing decisions and any new technical or personal developments as she moves towards the Southern Ocean.
4. The middle fleet: a close contest with very different sailing conditions
The latest ranking shows a particularly interesting group behind the leading three.
| Position | Skipper | Yacht | Latest 4-hour average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Etienne Messikommer | Bernard | 7.1 knots |
| 5 | Daniel Pinsky | Exodus | 6.2 knots |
| 6 | Mara Løvenskiold Kveseth | Showgirl | 7.1 knots |
| 7 | Henry Wootton | Privateer | 6.9 knots |
| 8 | Guido Cantini | Hannah of Cowes | 5.8 knots |
| 9 | Pär Nyman | Lazy Otter | 6.1 knots |
| 10 | Isa Rosli | Olleanna | 5.7 knots |
| 11 | Gunnar Christensen | Pompoen | 5.4 knots |
| 12 | Matt Woodside | Tipi Haere | 5.3 knots |
Tracker-derived figures, 2 November 20:00 UTC.
Day’s Run
+1
Several points deserve attention.
Etienne Messikommer has made a strong recovery after earlier frustrating calms. He is now fourth, with a particularly good recent daily run.
Daniel Pinsky is continuing despite the equipment damage reported during the previous storm. His windvane’s plywood vane and several storm-jib hanks were damaged, forcing him to spend a long period steering manually. No later confirmation of a permanent repair was available in the reports reviewed.
Pär Nyman is also continuing despite earlier reports of two broken ribs, repeated mast climbs and radio difficulties. His current tracking data show that he is making useful progress again.
Isa Rosli previously spent considerable time cleaning barnacles from his hull. The additional drag caused by marine growth can become a significant performance issue during a long ocean passage.
Gunnar Christensen has experienced deck leakage and other practical boat-management challenges, while Matt Woodside has had to manage a painful back during his voyage.
GGR 2026: Day 53
+1
The fleet is now showing more consistent speeds than during the previous high-pressure slowdown, although the latest weather conditions are once again creating significant differences between boats.
5. Guy deBoer continues in Chichester Class
Guy deBoer | Spirit
Chichester Class
Guy is currently 13th in the combined distance-to-finish tracking order, approximately 2,639 nautical miles behind Guillou. He continues his circumnavigation after his earlier stop for repairs, now sailing in Chichester Class rather than competing for the main race trophies.
Day’s Run
Guy’s decision to continue is an interesting reminder that the Golden Globe Race is not only about the final ranking. Completing the circumnavigation remains an extraordinary achievement in itself.
6. What to watch next
The coming week could be important as the fleet moves towards the next major waypoint at 45°S, 40°E.
Key developments to follow:
- Damien Guillou: whether he can maintain his substantial lead and reach the next waypoint as projected.
- Ertan Beskardes and Andrea Lodolo: the continuing contest for second and third.
- Classic Mara: whether she can regain ground on Daniel Pinsky and maintain her sixth-place position.
- The South Atlantic weather: how the current gale-force conditions affect the middle fleet and whether another major system develops.
- Boat preparation: steering systems, rigging, sails and equipment will become increasingly important as the fleet approaches colder and more demanding waters.
- The Southern Ocean: the next major chapter of this circumnavigation is getting closer.
The Golden Globe Race has already delivered retirements, technical failures, remarkable recoveries and some extraordinary sailing performances. But the most demanding part of the journey is still ahead.
For Budget Marine, we will continue following Classic Mara aboard Showgirl while keeping readers informed about the wider fleet and the evolving race.
