Globe 40 race

[dunedin]

These boats are a different ball game when it comes to costs - many multiples of a GGR campaign.
…

And different order of magnitude in terms of speed. Not many GGR boats doing 460 miles in a day.
Will also be interesting to see the failure rates. The GGR fleet suffered a lot of capsizes and boat abandonments, possibly due to tripping over their long keels which prevent them sliding sideways.

 

[John_Silver]

Busy night aboard Wilson, slightly south of Jangada and Whiskey Jack, as the storm system arrives. D3 detaches. Jade saves the rig, with a mast climb to rethread its lower end.



The scene this morning



Aboard Jangada:





Whiskey Jack and skipper Melodie are veterans of the inaugural 2022-3 Globe40




The childrens' graduations triggered an epiphany




Fast forward to December 2025: Melodie and co-skipper Colin on passage La Reunion to Sydney





Right now, Whiskey Jack and Jangada are neck and neck​

 

[John_Silver]

Richard reports from Jangada. Gybed south, for Barco and the rhumb line. Along with Wilson and Whiskey Jack. Conditions moderating, to 27kts of breeze.



Astern, two boats remain in port. Their crews fighting to make repairs and rejoin the Globe40. In Sydney, sharp Free Dom (to translate the auto-translate Saffron = Safran = Rudder)




In La Reunion, scow Next Generation has received the parts to repair their mast/spreader root. They aim to relaunch at Recife.



Ahead, by 1000nm, the two scows Credit Mutuel and Curium race on. About to catch a ride, on the (weakening) low, which has swept past the sharp fleet





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[John_Silver]

Insight, from Antoine & Alan, into the intensity of Credit Mutuel's duel with Curium. In the battle of the scows





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[John_Silver]

Jose & Luiz come up for air, aboard Barco, at the head of the sharp fleet. Having stayed south, on the rhumb line. And fully mastered the art of understatement.








Full FB video here​

 

[John_Silver]

Jangada and her fellow "faster later" advocates are back south, on the rhumb line. Barco, with her "shortest distance" strategy, at the head of a tightly bunched fleet of sharps. Whiskey Jack surfs the swell.





Scows pass point Nemo neck and neck. Alan and Antoine beneath an auspicious rainbow.

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[John_Silver]

Jangada smokin' (full clip on FB)



Skipper to skipper technical talk aboard Wilson and Whiskey Jack



Race leader Curium, in praise of their pilot 'Eliot.'

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[John_Silver]

Today's Richard round up, from Jangada's cockpit




Lisa & Jade have been catching up on sleep, aboard Wilson. Whilst arriving, on the tail of Barco, first out of the trio of sharps that ducked north. Lisa's Mini Transat experience no doubt paying off.



In the battle of the scows, Curium has built a 60nm cushion. Alan Roberts reflects from aboard Credit Mutuel



This is a race with a strong British showing: Jangada's Richard & Rupert, Jade on Wilson, Alan on Credit Mutuel and Race Director Miranda Merron. Whose offshore career spans from the 1998 Trophee Jules Verne to the 2020-21 Vendee Globe. With much, including Class40 campaigns (pictured), packed between.




Here, conferring with Richard & Rupert in La Reunion



Before the Globe40 start, SailorZ took a glimpse behind the race organisation scenes




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[John_Silver]

.....and then there were seven: Free Dom's rudder arrives.



Thibaut & Nicolas set sail. Thanking the RSYS for their help. Eyes on the Valparaiso start.



("Saffron" is auto-translate for Safran = rudder)​

 

[John_Silver]

Smiles, from Benoit & Djemila aboard race leader, scow Curium.





Some background on Jose & Luiz, off leading sharp Barco.





Richard & Rupert enjoy 'A Life On The (southern) Ocean Wave,' at 25kts, aboard Jangada




A Class40 Gybe Masterclass , from Melodie & Colin on Whiskey Jack. (Pic from warmer climes)



Free Dom struck by lightning overnight. Thibaut & Nicolas unhurt. Electrics out. Safely back in Sydney. Restart prospects unknown. Third time lucky?


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[John_Silver]

Can't keep a good team down! Here's hoping that this is third time lucky for Thibaut & Nicolas, aboard Free Dom.



Glossary
Pole = mast
08.00 Sydney = 21.00 UTC​

 

[John_Silver]

The frustrations of the long distance racer:



Antoine, from Credit Mutuel



Richard, off Jangada



Setbacks aplenty, for the irrepressible crew of Free Dom. Forced back into Sydney twice. Once by rudder and hull damage, sustained in a UFO collision. Then, within 50nm of restarting, by a lightning strike (that return pictured here). A second round of repairs completed, their third start is scheduled for 21.00 UTC today.



Class40 139's title sponsor is La Reunion's favourite broadcaster, Radio Free Dom. The campaign is an all island affair.



Local entrepreneur Thibaut Lefevere the skipper





Globe40 preparations were extensive



Thibaut's Reunionnais co-skippers rotate during the race



Rostered for this Pacific leg is Nicolas Guibal





EDIT Free Dom under way, ahead of schedule. Next stop Valparaiso (In time for the Cape Horn leg start 18.2.26)

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[John_Silver]

Whiskey Jack closes on Point Nemo. Word from Melodie & Colin:



Jose & Luiz are first sharp past this virtual post, aboard Barco



Pursued by Wilson's Lisa & Jade



Next up, Jangada. Richard & Rupert are a crew who march on their stomachs. On the menu today, a celebratory NASA Neapolitan ice cream treat.



Thibaut & Nicolas claw their way clear of Sydney. To begin their Pacific crossing. Their setbacks behind them.



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[John_Silver]

Off the coast of Chile, the two scows are just 30nm apart. After (almost) crossing the Pacific Ocean.



Benoit & Djemila lead, aboard Curium, a 2022 Lombard Lift V2. Lional Huetz, of Marc Lombard Design, describes the V2's performance profile.



Seasoned ocean racers Antoine & Alan come from the "it ain't over 'til it’s over" school. In second place, aboard Credit Mutuel.



A 2024 Max 2, designed by David Raison. Who initiated the Class40 scow bow revolution back in 2019. (Full interview here)



There are 850nm to go to Valparaiso. With the two crews currently negotiating a ridge of high pressure/light airs. As Alan says.....

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[John_Silver]

A new day dawns for Benoit & Djemila. Curium's lead cut to 17nm by Antoine & Alan on Credit Mutuel.



The breeze is up for Richard & Rupert in the sharp fleet



Which Barco still leads. Even though Jose & Luiz are now without their J2. The Roaring Forties taking its toll.





Aboard Whiskey Jack, Melodie & Colin drop in a stitch in time , to save their spinnaker



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[John_Silver]

The full Roaring Forties experience for the sharp fleet:



Lisa & Colin, on Wilson, chase down Jose & Luiz on Barco



Wet socks and worse, for Jangada's Richard & Rupert. Racing east through the towering swell, cold temperatures and empty expanses of the Big South



Richard explains. Rupert bails.



For the scows, still locked together at the head of the fleet, the challenges are of a different nature:



Antoine posts from Credit Mutuel, on the seredipity of forecasting and the qualities of co-skipper Alan.



Thibaut & Nicloas, 4000(ish) nm astern, drive south with customary determination. Beneath a high and below the rhumb line. Such pleasures to come.

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[John_Silver]

3nm apart and 250nm from the Valparaiso finish line



Antoine & Alan have closed the gap to Benoit & Djemila



It is a similar story for Djemila & Benoit "The Belgians"







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[John_Silver]

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[John_Silver]

A photo finish, after crossing the Pacific Ocean. The crews of Curium (aka The Belgians) and Credit Mutuel unsure of the outcome.

Official timings award the leg win by a 'short head'



The winning margin 59 seconds.



In favour of Djemila & Benoit



Aboard Curium.



Over Antoine & Alan



Aboard Credit



The Cape Horn leg starts February 18th. After the arrival of the sharp fleet. Which is currently locked in a close battle of its own. With the lone Free Dom bringing up the rear, following Thibaut & Nicolas' repairs.
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[dunedin]

Yes incredibly close finish (partly due to leader being totally becalmed) - as post this now web site shows 59 second gap, but apparently too close for tolerances of virtual finish line system Incredible GLOBE40 Leg 4 Finish: Seconds split Belgium Ocean Racing - Curium and Credit Mutuel