7 October 2026
One month after the 6 September departure from Les Sables-d’Olonne, the McIntyre Golden Globe Race 2026 is beginning to reveal its first major divisions.
The fleet has moved beyond the initial Atlantic weather challenges and the impact of Tropical Storm Gonzalo, but the next obstacle has proved just as demanding: the unpredictable Doldrums and South Atlantic wind patterns. Light-air zones, narrow bands of pressure and very different tactical choices are now creating significant gaps between the boats.
At the front, Damien Guillou aboard Solarem and Pat Lawless aboard Silvermines Hydro have established a clear advantage, while Ertan Beskardes on Miss Beagle has emerged as the strongest of the chasing group. Behind them, however, the race remains highly fluid. Golden Globe Race
A month at sea, and the race is changing
The official GGR report published on 6 October describes a fleet increasingly divided into three groups.
Guillou and Lawless have escaped the worst of the Doldrums and are now sailing in the southeast trade winds, allowing them to build their advantage. Guillou recorded approximately 164 nautical miles on 4 October, while Solarem was making around 6.9 knots in the latest GGR report. Lawless remained the closest challenger, with Silvermines Hydro also recording daily runs in the 140-nautical-mile range. Golden Globe Race
Behind them, Ertan Beskardes has been rewarded for a very different tactical approach. Miss Beagle spent several days further east than much of the fleet, apparently sacrificing speed while waiting for the weather pattern to work in his favour. That decision has now paid off, with Beskardes establishing himself in third place and becoming the first of the chasing group to properly settle into the southeast trades. Golden Globe Race
Further back, the situation remains much less predictable. Several boats have gone from almost stopping in areas of no wind to making rapid progress once a new breeze arrives.
That is now the defining feature of the race: position on the tracker can change quickly when the wind finally fills in.
Classic Mara – Following Her Journey
For Budget Marine, one of the stories we continue to follow particularly closely is Classic Mara aboard Showgirl.
Mara remains in the main chasing group, with the official GGR report placing Showgirl alongside Etienne Messikommer, Guido Cantini, Andrea Lodolo, Daniel Pinsky and Henry Wootton in the constantly changing battle behind the leading trio. The latest GGR report does not give a precise numerical ranking for Mara, so we will continue to rely on the official tracker rather than assign her a position that cannot be confirmed from the available data. Golden Globe Race
The last few weeks have already demonstrated how quickly Mara’s fortunes can change.
Earlier in the Atlantic, Showgirl produced some of the strongest daily performances in the fleet. Mara recorded 143 nautical miles in 24 hours during one particularly good period, sailing further offshore where she found stronger breeze. Later, she reached another impressive 161 nautical miles in 24 hours, with Showgirl averaging approximately 6.8 knots and occasionally approaching 10 knots according to GGR Window Live. Golden Globe Race
Those strong runs helped demonstrate the potential of Mara and her Saltram Saga 36, but the latest stage has been much more frustrating.
The Doldrums have created highly variable conditions across the chasing group, with boats only a relatively short distance apart experiencing very different amounts of wind. The GGR describes this period as a game of “snakes and ladders”, with fortunes changing rapidly depending on which side of a windless patch a boat finds itself. Showgirl is currently part of that battle. Golden Globe Race
More than just a race position
Mara’s journey has also become one of the more closely followed personal stories of this GGR.
The past weeks have included difficult discussions around her campaign, particularly the balance between sailing the race and communicating the wider objectives behind her project. These issues generated considerable discussion in sailing media following a GGR Window Live appearance.
Importantly, Mara has not retired. The official GGR skipper listing continues to show her as an entrant aboard Showgirl, and the latest official race report describes her as actively progressing with the fleet. Golden Globe Race
The GGR itself also offered a notably positive assessment of Mara’s sailing this week, describing her as a capable navigator who continues to progress and do what is necessary aboard Showgirl. Golden Globe Race
For anyone following her journey, this is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Golden Globe Race. The tracker shows a boat moving across the Atlantic, but behind that dot is a sailor dealing simultaneously with navigation, weather, boat management, fatigue, isolation and the enormous mental challenge of remaining focused thousands of miles from land.
Mara’s own project is built around sharing that reality and encouraging more women to see the ocean as a place where they belong. Her official project site describes the GGR as a journey involving setbacks, boat repairs, isolation and learning to sail alone, rather than simply a race around the world. CM
When the equipment starts fighting back
The first month is also beginning to expose the vulnerability of these traditional boats and their solo skippers.
Pat Lawless suffered a failure of the control lines for his windvane steering system and spent approximately 90 minutes working over the stern to make the repair. Golden Globe Race
Gunnar Christensen aboard Pompoen discovered a significant accumulation of barnacles on his hull and spent around 90 minutes in the water cleaning them off. The GGR notes that marine growth can become a serious performance issue if it is allowed to develop further. Golden Globe Race
Guido Cantini has also been dealing with problems with his long-range SSB radio. A previous attempt to troubleshoot the problem via satellite phone resulted in a 24-hour penalty under the race rules, and the radio problem subsequently returned. Golden Globe Race
These incidents are a reminder that the GGR is not simply about finding the fastest route. Every repair must be carried out alone, at sea, without a support crew or technical team waiting on shore.
A serious moment for Louis Kerdelhué
One of the more concerning developments came on 5 October, when Race Direction became worried about Louis Kerdelhué aboard IE Charge.
His tracker showed unusually slow progress for almost 24 hours, at times suggesting the boat was drifting at around one knot or less. Two daily safety reports had also been missed.
Race Direction opened a potential Code Orange situation and attempted to establish contact through his satellite communications and tracking equipment. Shortly before escalation would have been required, Louis sent a reassuring message stating “RAS”, meaning nothing to report, and his tracker subsequently showed his speed increasing to around 4.5 knots. Golden Globe Race
The incident passed without a reported emergency, but it demonstrated why the daily safety-reporting system is so important in a race where boats can be hundreds of miles apart.
Guy deBoer back at sea
Another notable development is the return of Guy deBoer aboard Spirit.
After spending more than two weeks in Lanzarote dealing with structural concerns and repairs, deBoer has now returned to sea. His restart comes in the Chichester Class, meaning he is no longer competing for the main Golden Globe trophies, but his voyage continues.
The latest GGR report showed Spirit moving again west of Fuerteventura, with the main fleet already around 1,500 nautical miles further south. Golden Globe Race
The Southern Ocean is still a long way away
The significance of the current gaps should not be overstated.
There are still thousands of miles to sail before the fleet reaches Cape of Good Hope, followed by the much more demanding Southern Ocean, Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and the long return north across the Atlantic.
The official GGR currently shows Mara as an active entrant, with Showgirl still part of the main fleet. Golden Globe Race
The race has only just begun to select its contenders.
What to watch next
Over the coming week, the key developments will be:
- Guillou vs. Lawless, as the two leaders approach the South Atlantic high-pressure systems.
- Whether Ertan Beskardes can consolidate his third position after his successful eastern strategy.
- Which boats in the chasing group can escape the remaining areas of light wind.
- Classic Mara and Showgirl, as she continues south through the changing Atlantic conditions.
- The condition of the boats and their steering, rigging, communications and self-steering systems as the miles accumulate.
- The first major tactical decisions approaching the South Atlantic and Cape of Good Hope.
The Atlantic has already delivered storms, light winds, tactical surprises and equipment failures. The fleet is now becoming increasingly spread out, but the biggest test of all remains ahead.
For Budget Marine, we will continue following Classic Mara’s journey aboard Showgirl while keeping her story within the wider picture of this extraordinary Golden Globe Race.
Follow the race:
Official Golden Globe Race website
Official GGR Live Tracker
GGR Daily Reports
Classic Mara’s journey