More than five weeks after the start of the McIntyre Golden Globe Race on 6 September, the leading pair are locked in a much closer contest. Ireland’s Pat Lawless has cut the advantage of French skipper Damien Guillou to less than 100 nautical miles, while the chasing fleet continues its long passage south towards the Cape of Good Hope.
For Classic Mara aboard Showgirl, the latest week has brought improving sailing conditions, encouraging daily progress and an unwelcome complication: persistent problems with her tracking signal. The race organisers have warned that the displayed position and performance figures may not accurately reflect where she is or how she is sailing.
With thousands of miles still ahead, the South Atlantic is proving that the Golden Globe Race remains a test of weather judgement, boat preparation, endurance and patience.
Position note: This report uses the latest clearly readable official race reports and published tracker-based updates available through 13 October. Figures are dated snapshots, not guaranteed live positions.
1. The leaders are fighting back and forth
The defining story of the past week has been the changing gap between Damien Guillou aboard Solarem and Pat Lawless aboard Silvermines Hydro.
After escaping the worst of the Doldrums ahead of much of the fleet, both sailors reached the southeast trade winds and continued south towards Trindade Island, the mandatory South Atlantic waypoint. Guillou reached the island first on 8 October and took a short pause in its lee to inspect his boat before continuing. Both leading yachts had passed the waypoint by 9 October. Go Boating NZ
Their progress has since been shaped by a complicated pattern of high- and low-pressure systems. Guillou briefly slowed in lighter winds, allowing Lawless to recover substantial ground.
On 12 October, Afloat reported that Lawless had reduced the gap to 97 nautical miles. Its update on 13 October put the gap at approximately 93 nautical miles, following a reporting period in which Lawless covered 124 nautical miles and Guillou 120. These figures illustrate how quickly the contest is changing as the two boats encounter different wind conditions. Afloat
The official GGR report published on 13 October also highlighted the unstable weather ahead. Two approaching high-pressure systems could force the leaders to change course significantly, with shifting winds and possible headwinds making their decisions over the next few days particularly important. Golden Globe Race
Neither skipper has established a decisive advantage. Lawless has demonstrated that he can close the gap, while Guillou remains a formidable competitor who has repeatedly produced strong daily runs.
The next phase will be about finding the right route around the South Atlantic weather systems while maintaining speed and protecting the boat.
2. The chasing group: Ertan leads the pursuit
Behind the leading pair, Ertan Beskardes aboard Miss Beagle continues to hold third place.
The official GGR report of 12 October recorded a strong daily run of approximately 164 nautical miles for Beskardes. However, the conditions around Trindade and the developing weather systems could slow the boats behind the leaders and create opportunities for the chasing pack to close the gaps. Golden Globe Race
Andrea Lodolo aboard BiBi remains an important contender in the pursuit. On 13 October, the official report recorded approximately 153 nautical miles of daily progress for Lodolo, demonstrating that he continues to make good use of the available wind. Golden Globe Race
Daniel Pinsky aboard Exodus has also maintained a steady passage, while the boats behind him are negotiating their own combinations of wind shifts, tactical choices and equipment concerns.
The gaps between these competitors remain significant, but they are not necessarily decisive. Different wind patterns can produce very different daily distances, even for boats sailing in broadly the same part of the ocean.
3. Classic Mara: Following Her Journey aboard Showgirl
For Budget Marine, Mara’s progress remains an important part of the race story. Her journey combines the tactical challenge of solo ocean racing with the physical and mental demands of managing a traditional sailing yacht alone for months at sea.
Encouraging progress before the tracking problems
The official GGR report of 11 October recorded Mara sailing at approximately 4.1 knots, with around 87 nautical miles of daily progress. At that stage, Étienne Messikommer aboard Bernard was gaining on her, and the race organisers noted that Showgirl’s more westerly position could require a tighter sailing angle as she continued south. A forecast wind shift was expected to help her maintain a workable route. Golden Globe Race
The following day brought a more encouraging reported distance. The GGR’s 12 October report listed Mara in sixth place, with approximately 112 nautical miles of daily progress. However, the same report warned that a transmission delay from her Yellowbrick tracker could mean the displayed position was behind her actual location. Golden Globe Race
By 13 October, the problem was still unresolved. The official report said Mara’s tracking issues continued to distort her displayed position and performance statistics. Race founder Don McIntyre believed she might be better placed than the public display suggested, but this was an assessment, not a confirmed position. Golden Globe Race
For that reason, sixth place should be treated as Mara’s latest reported ranking, not a verified current position. Until reliable tracking data resume, it would be misleading to claim a precise location or a confirmed change in her standing.
The human side of the voyage
Mara’s campaign has also attracted attention because of her stated ambition to use the voyage to promote her foundation and causes supporting women.
In a GGR Window Live appearance on 27 September, she expressed frustration about the visibility of her campaign on social media and questioned whether she would continue if her shore team did not provide stronger support. The organisers subsequently addressed concerns about communications and the use of Window Live to relay logistical instructions to the shore team. Those earlier comments were not an announcement that she had retired. Golden Globe Race
The official GGR report of 12 October later confirmed that an investigation concerning Mara was ongoing, with a formal statement expected when the process was complete. The latest detailed written report available for this update did not announce an outcome. It would therefore be premature to draw conclusions about the matter. Golden Globe Race
Meanwhile, the sailing challenge continues. Mara must make her own navigation and weather decisions, manage Showgirl and maintain progress through a constantly changing ocean environment. Her tracking problem makes it harder for followers to assess that progress accurately, but it does not establish that she is sailing poorly or that she has withdrawn.
We will continue to follow her journey using confirmed race updates and report further developments when reliable information becomes available.
4. Equipment and endurance are becoming increasingly important
The transition into more established trade winds should allow many competitors to concentrate on sustained boat speed. It does not, however, remove the risks associated with heavy weather and equipment failure.
On 10 October, Henry Wootton aboard Privateer reported minor rigging damage after encountering southwesterly winds of approximately 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots, and steep seas reaching around three metres. He continued sailing, although the precise nature of the damage had not been confirmed in the race timeline. Golden Globe Race
Louis Kerdelhué aboard IE Charge remains another skipper to watch. He has continued to struggle with light winds, and on 12 October received a 24-hour time penalty after making a telephone call to his shore manager. The official timeline says the penalty is to be served later in the race on a designated line in the North Atlantic. Golden Globe Race
Meanwhile, Guy deBoer aboard Spirit has continued his voyage following structural repairs in Lanzarote. He is sailing in the separate Chichester Class, outside the main race rankings. The official report of 11 October also noted a problem with movement in the connection between his tiller and rudder head, with a permanent repair not yet confirmed at that time. Golden Globe Race
These stories underline the demanding nature of the race. There is no shore crew to take over repairs, and each skipper must decide how to manage equipment problems while remaining safe and making progress.
5. The road to the Cape of Good Hope
The fleet has moved beyond the worst of the Doldrums and the immediate aftermath of Tropical Storm Gonzalo. The leading boats are now heading towards the Cape of Good Hope, but the South Atlantic weather remains unpredictable.
The current contest is shaped by the developing pressure systems, the timing of course changes and the ability of each skipper to maintain a useful sailing angle. Even the leading pair, now separated by less than 100 nautical miles in the latest published update, could see the gap change significantly in the coming days. Afloat
The original fleet of 16 skippers has also been reshaped. Selim Yalçın’s retirement was confirmed in September, while Guy deBoer continues in Chichester Class following his repair stop. The remaining competitors still face the long passage around Africa and the much more demanding Southern Ocean beyond. Golden Globe Race
What to watch next
Over the coming week, the main developments to follow will be:
- Guillou versus Lawless: whether Lawless can continue closing the gap or Guillou can regain a more comfortable advantage.
- The South Atlantic weather: how the approaching pressure systems affect the leaders’ routes towards the Cape of Good Hope.
- The chasing group: whether Beskardes, Lodolo and Pinsky can maintain their pace and challenge the gaps ahead.
- Classic Mara and Showgirl: restoration of reliable tracking data, confirmed progress south and any official update on the investigation.
- Boat and equipment condition: whether the more sustained sailing brings new opportunities or further technical challenges.
The Golden Globe Race is still in its early stages, and the biggest oceanic tests remain ahead. For now, the South Atlantic has given the leaders a much closer contest and left the chasing fleet with plenty of tactical work to do.
Budget Marine will continue to follow Classic Mara aboard Showgirl as part of our coverage of the wider race, sharing confirmed developments from her journey and the fleet around her.