Following Classic Mara and the fleet as the Atlantic begins to open up
Three and a half weeks after leaving Les Sables-d’Olonne, the Golden Globe Race fleet has experienced its first major taste of what lies ahead.
Tropical Storm Gonzalo brought strong winds, confused seas and difficult tactical decisions to the Atlantic fleet. Some skippers reported winds approaching 50 knots and seas of around five metres, while others were forced to alter course significantly to stay clear of the worst conditions. Golden Globe Race
For those following the race from ashore, the tracker suddenly told a very different story: boats heading in unexpected directions, large differences in speed and some skippers losing valuable miles while trying simply to keep themselves and their boats safe.
And at the centre of our attention once again is Classic Mara aboard Showgirl.
A storm reshapes the fleet
The arrival of Gonzalo created one of the first major tactical moments of the race.
The storm developed from a tropical low near the Cape Verde region, bringing rapidly changing wind directions and difficult seas. Race control identified several skippers as being particularly exposed, including Louis Kerdelhué, Gunnar Christensen and Matt Woodside. Pressmare
Gunnar Christensen aboard Pompoen later described experiencing around 50-knot winds and five-metre seas, losing equipment from the stern and being forced to sail away from his intended route for two days. Pressmare
Other skippers chose different strategies. Matt Woodside hove-to in more than 30 knots of wind, while others reduced sail and concentrated on getting through the system safely. Golden Globe Race
The race once again demonstrated an important principle of the Golden Globe: the fastest route is not always the best route.
Classic Mara: choosing her way through the storm
For Mara aboard Showgirl, the decision to remain further west proved significant.
Race control reported that Mara and Henry Wootton were positioned further west as Gonzalo approached, potentially allowing them to avoid the worst of the system. Pressmare
Mara’s own daily messages showed her preparing carefully for the storm.
On September 25 she reported being comfortably settled while waiting for the weather, followed by a rather more typically Mara-style storm preparation list: securing loose equipment, reefing the sails and even preparing for some karaoke on deck. Golden Globe Race
It was a lighter moment during a serious passage.
Once Gonzalo moved through, Showgirl continued south, although the conditions behind the storm were far from straightforward. By September 28, Mara and Henry Wootton were still struggling with very light winds, with Showgirl making around 2.5 knots under spinnaker according to the GGR’s assessment. Golden Globe Race
Mara’s route had nevertheless helped her avoid the worst of Gonzalo.
A very personal moment aboard Showgirl
The past week also brought one of the most personal moments of the race so far.
During a GGR Window Live broadcast on September 27, Mara spoke openly about the purpose behind her Golden Globe campaign and expressed doubts about continuing if her shore team’s social-media coverage did not better support the wider objectives of her project, including her foundation and work supporting women.
Importantly, Mara did not announce her retirement, and the official GGR race timeline continues to list her as racing aboard Showgirl. Golden Globe Race
Her comments provided a fascinating glimpse into the very different motivations of the sailors taking part in this race.
The Golden Globe is obviously about sailing around the world. But for each skipper, the reasons for accepting such an extraordinary challenge can be deeply personal.
For Mara, the voyage has always been about more than simply covering 30,000 nautical miles.
And we will continue following that story closely.
The race at the front enters a new phase
While much of the fleet was dealing with Gonzalo and the difficult conditions around the Doldrums, Damien Guillou aboard Solarem and Pat Lawless aboard Silvermines Hydro were able to make better progress south.
By September 28, the two leaders had reached the southeast trade winds and had opened a substantial gap over the main fleet, which was still dealing with lighter winds and the aftermath of the storm. Golden Globe Race
And now, on October 1, the race has reached another important milestone.
Damien Guillou has become the first skipper to cross the Equator, entering the Southern Hemisphere aboard Solarem. He was reported sailing at around 6.4 knots, with Pat Lawless approximately 169 nautical miles behind. afloat.ie
The race is beginning to look very different.
The leaders are now heading into the Southern Hemisphere and towards the long ocean passages that will eventually take them into the Southern Ocean.
The fleet is beginning to stretch out
Behind the leaders, the fleet remains closely fought, but the weather has created significant differences between boats.
Andrea Lodolo and Étienne Messikommer have been battling closely for the next positions, while several skippers further back continue to deal with light winds.
Others are still recovering from Gonzalo.
For some, the storm caused equipment problems. For others, it cost valuable miles. And for everyone, it was an early reminder of the physical and mental demands that will become increasingly important as the race progresses towards the Southern Ocean. Golden Globe Race
One retirement has also already been confirmed: Selim Yalçın, who diverted to Cádiz after losing the use of his HF radio, has ended his 2026 race. Golden Globe Race
From the Atlantic to the Southern Hemisphere
The Golden Globe Race is now entering a new chapter.
The first weeks were about getting away from Europe, navigating the Canary Islands and Cape Verde region, dealing with changing winds and finding a rhythm aboard boats that will be home for many months.
Now the Southern Hemisphere awaits.
The leading boats have crossed the Equator, while the rest of the fleet continues south through a complicated mixture of trade winds, lighter air and the lingering effects of Gonzalo.
For Classic Mara, the immediate objective is to keep Showgirl moving south, manage the changing conditions and continue the enormous journey ahead.
There are still many thousands of miles between the fleet and the Southern Ocean.
And, as the first weeks have already shown, there will undoubtedly be many more stories along the way.
Following Classic Mara
At Budget Marine, we are proud to support Classic Mara and will continue following her journey throughout the Golden Globe Race.
From Showgirl’s progress across the Atlantic to the challenges that await around the great capes, we’ll bring you a weekly look at Mara’s voyage — alongside the key developments across the entire GGR fleet.
The Atlantic is behind them. The real ocean adventure is only beginning. 🌊⛵🌍
Follow the Golden Globe Race
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