Budget Marine Networks | Weekly Race Update | 21 October 2026
Forty-five days after the Golden Globe Race started in Les Sables-d’Olonne on 6 September, the fleet faces another major turning point. Irish skipper Pat Lawless has officially retired following a serious failure in his Solent rig, ending what had been a compelling challenge to race leader Damien Guillou.
Guillou remains at the front, but another spell of calm has slowed his progress. Ertan Beskardes is holding second place, with Andrea Lodolo continuing to apply pressure. Further back, the fleet is negotiating light winds around Trindade Island, with the changing weather creating fresh opportunities for position changes.
For Budget Marine, Classic Mara aboard Showgirl remains a key story to follow. The latest official report shows her making progress in light winds and potentially receiving the next breeze before the boat immediately ahead, Etienne Messikommer. That could give her an opportunity to recover the position she lost around Trindade, although an overtake had not been confirmed in the latest report.
GGR 2026: Day 45
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1. A major change at the front: Pat Lawless retires
A difficult end to a remarkable challenge
Pat Lawless was lying in second place and had closed to approximately 100 nautical miles behind Guillou when his Solent rig failed. On 17 October, he notified race control that the rig had broken and that he was heading north, out of the competition. The official retirement announcement followed on 18 October.
Golden Globe Race
The failure involved the wire stay supporting the Solent headsail arrangement. The main forestay remained in place, and race management reported no indication that the mast itself was in immediate danger. However, Lawless judged the damaged arrangement insufficiently secure for the demands of the Southern Ocean.
A temporary repair was not enough to restore his confidence in the system, and on 21 October he confirmed that he would not continue in the race or switch to Chichester Class. He is sailing north, with the damaged rig and loss of his HF radio among the issues he must manage during the passage. The race report described him as moving at approximately 6.1 knots.
Golden Globe Race
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The retirement is particularly painful because the 70-year-old Irish sailor returned to the GGR after his 2022 campaign also ended before completion. In this edition, he had been applying sustained pressure to Guillou and looked capable of mounting a serious challenge.
His withdrawal changes the competitive picture considerably. It also highlights the unforgiving reality of the Golden Globe Race, where a single critical equipment failure can end months of preparation and thousands of miles of hard sailing.
2. Damien Guillou leads, but the South Atlantic is not making it easy
Damien Guillou | Solarem
The French skipper remains the race leader, but the latest official report describes another frustrating night becalmed. At 08:00 UTC on 21 October, he was moving again at approximately 2.5 knots.
Race director Don McIntyre expects the developing South Atlantic high-pressure system to provide more favourable winds over the following three days. The forecast suggests Guillou may be able to make better eastward progress, although conditions remain unsettled.
GGR 2026: Day 45
The leader’s challenge is now less about escaping the Doldrums and more about positioning Solarem around the changing South Atlantic weather systems. Even with the main fleet spread out, the correct route and timing of a wind shift can make a significant difference over several days.
The retirement of Lawless removes the closest challenger from the leading contest, but it does not make Guillou’s passage straightforward. Light winds can still reduce daily mileage, and the Southern Ocean remains a long way ahead.
3. Ertan Beskardes and Andrea Lodolo battle for second
Ertan Beskardes | Miss Beagle
Beskardes is currently holding second place. The 21 October GGR report recorded approximately 135 nautical miles of progress over 24 hours, with the boat sailing at around 4.7 knots at the time of the tracker review. Race management believes the developing weather could help him extend his advantage over the boats behind.
GGR 2026: Day 45
Andrea Lodolo | BiBi
Lodolo had been closing rapidly on Beskardes, but his progress slowed in the latest reporting period. The official figures showed around 113 nautical miles covered in 24 hours, with a speed of approximately 3.7 knots at the time of the review. His earlier gains demonstrate that the battle for second remains important, even if the latest forecast favours Beskardes.
GGR 2026: Day 45
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Daniel Pinsky aboard Exodus is another skipper to watch. After a difficult slowdown, he was making around 3.4 knots on 21 October, with 68 nautical miles of reported progress over 24 hours. His position relative to the next area of light winds may determine whether he can preserve his gap over the boats behind.
GGR 2026: Day 45
4. Classic Mara – Following Her Journey
Helga Marie “Mara” Løvenskiold Kveseth | Showgirl
Mara is continuing her solo circumnavigation in the middle of a tightly contested group, where small differences in wind strength and direction can quickly change the order of the boats.
The latest official GGR report, dated 21 October, placed Etienne Messikommer ahead of Mara in the displayed ranking. However, Mara’s latest reported speed was approximately 3.2 knots, and the race director believed she might be receiving the next patch of breeze before Messikommer. That could create an opportunity to regain the position, but the report did not confirm an overtake.
GGR 2026: Day 45
A tactical battle around Trindade
The recent approach to and rounding of Trindade Island has been an important milestone for the chasing fleet. Guido Cantini completed his rounding after race management monitored his approach closely, while Messikommer gained an advantage over Mara through a tighter route around the rounding point.
GGR 2026: Day 44
Now, the two boats face another weather transition. The latest forecast suggests the middle and rear groups may initially find enough breeze to make eastward progress, before a further light-wind zone develops. Boats reaching the area later could encounter headwinds and be forced to tack.
For Mara, this means the immediate objective is to make the most of any available breeze, keep Showgirl moving and avoid losing unnecessary miles while the weather changes. The latest official report gives a useful indication of her speed, but it does not provide enough evidence to claim a confirmed improvement in her overall ranking.
The wider story behind Mara’s race
Mara’s campaign has attracted attention both for her sailing and for a public disagreement with race management concerning communications, satellite-phone use and the terms governing her Window Live broadcasts.
On 15 October, the GGR published a detailed clarification setting out its account of the events and the rules involved. The document describes the organiser’s position, including concerns about unauthorised satellite calls and conduct during a live broadcast. This is the race organiser’s account, rather than an independent finding on every aspect of the disagreement.
Golden Globe Race
For Budget Marine’s coverage, the essential focus remains Mara’s journey at sea: her sailing, navigation, boat management, daily challenges and progress through the fleet. We will report any further official decisions or statements from Mara and her team accurately, without treating allegations or disputed interpretations as established facts.
Her passage aboard Showgirl continues to demonstrate the human demands of solo ocean racing. With no crew to share the watches or take over repairs, every tactical choice and technical issue is hers to manage while the race continues around her.
5. Light winds threaten to stretch the gaps
The latest weather outlook suggests that the leading boats could benefit from more favourable conditions while several competitors around Trindade struggle with light winds.
According to the 21 October GGR report:
- Etienne Messikommer was moving at approximately 2.1 knots, with the wind conditions potentially allowing Mara to close on him.
- Guido Cantini had completed the Trindade rounding but was struggling to find a heading that made the best use of the wind.
- Henry Wootton was making approximately 2.5 knots around Trindade.
- Isa Rosli was making around 4.8 knots, with his rounding of the island expected later that day, although it had not yet been confirmed in the report.
- Matt Woodside was making approximately 1.8 knots, while Pär Nyman and Gunnar Christensen were also facing the developing light-wind zone.
These are snapshots from the official reporting period, not live readings. The figures illustrate how uneven the conditions have become, with boats only a relatively short distance apart experiencing different wind strengths and opportunities.
Further back, Louis Kerdelhué is progressing towards Recife at around 5.3 knots. Race management was helping coordinate arrival arrangements, but the report did not confirm a firm arrival time or a decision about his longer-term plans. Guy deBoer, sailing in Chichester Class, was making around 5.7 knots in more consistent trade-wind conditions.
GGR 2026: Day 45
6. What to watch next
Over the coming week, the main developments to follow are:
- The new battle for the lead: whether Guillou can make the most of the South Atlantic high and maintain his advantage.
- Beskardes versus Lodolo: whether Andrea can renew his challenge for second place.
- Classic Mara and Showgirl: whether Mara can regain ground on Messikommer as the next breeze arrives, and how the weather affects her progress.
- The fleet around Trindade: whether the developing calm and possible headwinds create further separation.
- Pat Lawless’s passage north: updates on the condition of Silvermines Hydro and his plans following retirement.
- The road to the Southern Ocean: the next major weather systems and the preparation required before the fleet enters more demanding conditions.
The Golden Globe Race began on 6 September, and the fleet is now well into its first major ocean passage. The retirement of a leading contender has changed the contest, but the remaining sailors still face months of solo sailing, difficult weather and the challenge of preserving their boats for the full circumnavigation.
Budget Marine Networks will continue to follow the entire fleet, with Classic Mara’s progress aboard Showgirl remaining a regular and prominent part of our coverage.