Jonas & Corentin cross the Recife finish line. A frustrating fifteen(ish) hours behind Credit. Albeit they are tied on points, for the Globe40 overall. Curium was slowed, in the final stages, by a fading breeze.....
......After an heroic fight back. Overcoming an exploded mainsail track and lost halyard prior to the Horn. Closing a 600nm deficit during the stormy ascent of the South Atlantic. Cracking Curium's stringers in the process (post #88). Repairing underway. Only to snag a longline whilst cutting inshore at night.
Insight here, into the source of Credit's (a David Raison Max 2 scow) apparent structural superiority, over Curium (a Lombard Lift 2 scow), during the pounding upwind conditions.
In the sharp fleet, Free Dom continues to lead the way. Thibaut & Maxime exuberant as ever
Whiskey Jack's Melodie & Paul vie with Wilson's Lisa & Jade. Who, I'm assuming, must have put Jade's boatbuilder/rigger background to use and reattached their 2:1 J2 halyard to the mast (see post #86 ). Word from Melodie:
Richard & Rupert's Jangada is meanwhile locked in combat with Jose & Luis' Barco. A 65nm spread across the fleet.
Jonas & Corentin: The Cape Horn experience; the 'Remontada;' and the task to rebuild Curium, before the start of the Lorient leg. Which falls to their pro team of preparateurs. (English subtitles)
"Let's Make It Happen." The slogan on Barco's genoa captures the sentiments of the sharp fleet. After 25 days at sea and a Cape Horn rounding. Richard & Rupert are rueing the consumption of the last of Jangada's date cake supplies.
Jose & Luis finally spill the beans, on the full extent of Barco's South Atlantic woes. After enjoying 48 hours of breakage-free sailing
Meanwhile Melodie & Paul's Whiskey Jack has joined the (breakaway group of?) leading sharps. Thibaut & Maxime's free Dom leading Lisa & Jade's Wilson.
170ish nm to go for Free Dom. Currently making 7-8kts.
Coverage may go quiet, on here, for tomorrow's finishers. Stargazer has a date with a crane.
A characteristically colourful Recife line crossing for Thibaut & Maxime. Free Dom first of the sharps.
Lisa & Jade bring Wilson in a close second. (English audio)
Pipping Melodie and Paul's Whiskey Jack to third.
Meanwhile, there is confirmation that Melodie will have fellow Canadian Colin Campbell (veteran of the Pacific - leg as per picture) aboard for the Recife to Lorient leg.
The battle between Richard & Rupert's Jangada and Jose & Luis' Barco rages on. Both expected in early tomorrow (UTC)
Richard & Rupert on "a tough and complex leg," Cape Horn highlights, tactics, and how Jangada is holding up. (English soundtrack)
Sharp (pointus) standings and full fleet standings for the Globe40 race so far
The Recife to Lorient leg starts 29.3.26. With the scows Credit ("The French") and Curium ("The Belgians") tied on points, at the head of the leaderboard. And the Pogo S4 scow Next Generation ("The Germans"), who have been out of the race since Reunion, rejoining the fleet. Their spreader roots repaired and having sailed, westabout, from Reunion to Recife.
900nm to go, to the Lorient finish line, for the two leading scows: Ian & Antoine's Credit ahead of Jonas & Benoit's Curium by 30 odd nm. Lennart & Melwin's scow Next Generation is 500nm astern, effectively leading the sharp fleet. Proving that sailing a scow is not an automatic guarantee of runaway success.
Rupert takes care of running repairs. As Richard finally shakes the reefs out of Jangada's main. Making the most of some downwind conditions (at last, they say!).
Melodie & Colin, on Whiskey Jack, are glad to have taken full advantage of warm seas south of the Azores. As the crews layer up for brisk Biscay spring conditions.
A final word from Credit's Ian. Who expects to be in around Wednesday 15.4.26. After circumnavigating via the Great Capes, aboard a Class40 scow. Can he and Antoine hold Jonas & Benoit's Curium at bay, to take the 2026 Globe40 win?
300nm to go for Richard & Rupert on Jangada. To complete their circumnavigation, via the Great Capes, by Class40. An achievement worth celebrating. All being well, sometime tomorrow.
Melodie & Colin’s Whiskey Jack closes on the Lorient finish. After a northerly detour to (almost) visit Scilly. Their routing repaying them with 180nm of (light) reaching conditions.
Richard & Rupert’s Jangada headed overnight. Seemingly with a long beat ahead. 230nm out - straight line distance. 400 - 500nm to sail?