Globe 40 race

John_Silver · 1 Mar 2026

Richard & Rupert gybe Jangada to take a close look at Cape Horn

Hot on the heels of Melodie & Paul's Whiskey Jack

Both boats looking as if they are lining up to 'cut the corner,' inside the Le Maire Strait. Whilst the front of the fleet opts for the longer (but potentially breezier) ‘outside’ route....

John_Silver · 1 Mar 2026

Average SOG is down to around 6kts. As the whole fleet face light headwinds. Regardless of their routing. Voiles et Voiliers asks race organiser Manfred Ramspacher to gaze into his crystal ball:

Meanwhile, Richard & Rupert's Jangada stays south of Isla de los Estados (close in). Leaving the Le Maire Strait to Melodie & Colin on Whiskey Jack. Not sure whether their decision was based on tidal timing or wind prediction.

As Ian & Antoine claw past the Falklands. Their angle better suited to a landfall in Cape Town than in Recife.

John_Silver · 2 Mar 2026

Clearing kelp off Jangada's keel keeps Richard busy.

Aboard Credit, finally north of the Falklands, a dawning sense of achievement catches Antoine unawares.

Whilst Whiskey Jack's Melodie & Paul are wondering if their westerly routing gamble will pay off. Now that the breeze is back. (Orange line is rhumb line. Red line is Credit's track)

John_Silver · Tuesday at 15:31

Curium’s Jonas & Corentin close in on Ian & Antoine's Credit

Corentin's video synopsis (French language - but slow & simple. On FB)

https://fb.watch/FCK0u2tVlY

An analysis shared by Antoine

Melodie & Paul, on Whiskey Jack, explain their bold call to stay west. Currently bang on the rhumb line and reeling off northing. (I am not sure if the tracker is assessing placings based on distance from leader or distance to finish......Begining to suspect the former, based on Whiskey-Jack's current ranking)

Meanwhile Jangada's Richard & Rupert make hay while the sun shines. East of the Falklands, in the thick of the sharp pack.

John_Silver · Wednesday at 15:47

After the elation of rounding Cape Horn, the reality of the return north, up the Atlantic, hits home for Richard aboard Jangada

Feelings shared by Ian, as he watches the routing scenarios play out and sees Credit's lead shrivel

All of which gives Curium's Corentin cause for cautious optimism.

Free Dom took the most easterly routing, of the fleet, post Cape Horn. A strategy which Thibaut & Maxime are happy to stick with. The mood aboard, as ever, irrepressibly positive....and competitive.

John_Silver · Thursday at 09:03

Overnight an Andean cold front arrives. Richard & Rupert's FB video, from aboard Jangada.

Whilst Fifty+ knot gusts cause rig damage aboard Wilson, at the head of the sharp fleet.

To add to the 'fun,' Melodie & Paul have a midnight weed wrap to contend with

....but the story was not over yet....

By way of reward, Whiskey Jack has gained ground against her rivals to the west.

John_Silver · Thursday at 14:12

John_Silver · Friday at 12:41

Jonas is reluctantly forced to turn boatbuilder

The heavy upwind conditions, of the past 48hrs, have taken their toll on the structure of the Lombard Lift v2 scow Curium.

Requiring urgent reinforcement of the stringers

Aboard the scow Credit (a David Raison Max 2), Ian and Antoine watch their lead continue to erode. 600nm ahead, at the Horn, Curium, despite their bricolage challenges, has closed to within 223nm. Leading sharp, Free Dom (Sabrosa 40 Mk2), to 270nm.

John_Silver · Saturday at 16:51

Amid the spectacular sunsets and swells of the South Atlantic.......

.....the temperature is rising.....

.....in more ways than one. With a grand fleet compression afoot: Thibaut & Maxime's sharp Free Dom ranked P2; the fleet fanned out across weather cells; the forecasts fast changing and fickle.