MGR Fleet Conquers South Atlantic to Recife - only 2500 miles to History!
by McIntyre Mini Globe Race 12 Feb 01:12 PST
Jasmine aboard #88 Numbatou in the Mini Globe Race 2025-26, still at sea when she received the great news - winner of the Ocean Cruising Club Jester Award 2025 © Jasmine Harrison / MGR2025
The McIntyre Mini Globe Race's fourth and final leg—a 6,100 - nautical-mile odyssey from Cape Town to Antigua—delivered its most varied phase yet as the fleet traversed the South Atlantic from the remote outpost of Saint Helena to the vibrant Brazilian coast at Recife.
What was anticipated as a gentle tradewind sleigh ride instead served up a potent cocktail of boisterous seas, blistering heat, tactical duels, and profound solitude. Over the past three weeks, the eleven entrants have each written their own penultimate chapter in this story, navigating not just ocean currents, but also the inner currents of fatigue, resolve, and reflection.
After a short and friendly Recife break, including the famous Brazilian "Carnivale" they will set off on February 19th at 12 noon local time for the final 2500 mile leg to the finish at the National sailing Academy in Antigua. Recognised as Antigua's first ever around the world yacht race, this 28,000 mile solo odyssey in Mini 19ft 5.8mtr plywood home built yachts is also a world first in its own right and is set to make history in many ways.
Eleven diverse and courageous sailors continue to surprise the world with their tenacity and seamanship, proving the doubters wrong and showcasing that the spirit of adventure is alive and kicking and that serious ocean yacht racing is not an elitist sport! The stories of this amazing McIntyre MGR adventure will likely reverberate around the world soon, like the sailors themselves.
Don McIntyre is the Australian adventurer who conceived the idea as the final piece to an exciting trilogy of unique, genuinely authentic and original around the world races, the Golden Globe - Ocean Globe and now Mini Globe. He is excited to think about where they are and where they have been.
"The reality of what we are witnessing is starting to dawn on everyone involved with MGR. Especially the entrants themselves. It's all a bit unreal. I mean they are not done yet, a few weeks to go, but it's epic. It makes me proud of the sailors and what they have endured and achieved! Just building the boats was hard - now we're talking about the finish! I think for all of us, the entrants, families, followers it's been a five year dream, or nightmare at times with many unknowns and some critics thought it impossible - yet now we are looking at the end Game!! So cool."
Don McIntyre Founder of the MGR and the ALMA Class Globe 580
The Oceanic Tango: Racing and Rhythm
As the fleet departed Saint Helena in staggered succession, two distinct narratives emerged: intense rivalries at the front and a more philosophical, cruising rhythm toward the rear.
At the sharp end, the enduring duel between Renaud Stitelmann on CAPUCINETTE and Dan Turner continued unabated. Renaud, employing a relentless watch system and strategic weight distribution, maintained a narrow but persistent lead. "CAPUCINETTE slides on the waves," he reported, enjoying the downwind tradewind sailing while warning of tougher upwind conditions to come. Dan, in a more reflective mood, admitted he was "not really too focused on the other competitors," prioritizing boat and personal well-being. Yet, his competitive spirit flickered as he kept Renaud within 20-30 nautical miles virtually all the way!
Behind them, a spirited battle unfolded between Pilar Pasanau (PETER PUNK) and Jakub Ziemkiewicz (#185 Bibi / IE). Pilar, openly targeting the boat ahead, slowly reeled in BIBI over several days of focused sailing. Jakub, grappling with a cracked daggerboard housing and a diet leaning heavily on canned goods, remained the consummate conservative sailor, prioritizing boat integrity over raw speed. His craftsmanship shone through—his homemade electrical system and meticulously aligned keel were topics of pride.
Further back, Eric Marsh (#79 Sunbear / AUS) and Keri Harris (ORIGAMI) engaged in a gripping match race, exchanging the lead multiple times. Eric joked over the radio, "Oh, please slow down, give an old man a chance!" as Keri pressed hard. Keri, finding dead downwind sailing "dull," filled hours with celestial navigation practice, Portuguese lessons, and even contemplated painting. Both spoke of the exhausting heat, with cabin temperatures soaring above 33°C. Both were racing!
Christian Sauer on ARGO, battling persistent shoulder pain from old injuries, sailed a remarkably consistent course. Often hand-steering due to unruly cross-seas, he nonetheless overhauled Adam Waugh's LITTLE WREN in the final days. Adam himself found the passage particularly taxing, frustrated by the "terrible sea-state" and the limitations of his self-steering in confused following seas. "I've just had enough of downwind sailing," he confessed during a patchy Starlink call.
Ertan Beskardes, the ever-serene TREKKA skipper, made it all look effortless. He sailed with poled-out headsails, napped in his cot, and enjoyed a fresh-provision bounty from Saint Helena friends—a stark contrast to the freeze-dried diets of his peers who struggled to buy fresh. Jasmine Harrison, recovering from her epic swim that gained a St Helena's governours medal, settled into a steady rhythm aboard NUMBATOU, though she faced challenges with a jammed furler and a delicate spinnaker.
Bringing up the rear, Josh Kali on SKOOKUM chose a northerly route to align with favourable current, adding minimal distance for maximal comfort. His passage became one of deep reflection and appreciation for solitude, with stunning sunsets and full-moon nights. "Every day feels the same, like that movie, Groundhog Day," he mused, savouring his final long ocean passage before the finish.
Landfall in Recife: Cold Beer and Warm Welcome
The tradewind procession finally condensed into a series of triumphant landfalls welcomed by 1 & 2 at Recife Marina.
Renaud secured yet another line honours at 0929 UTC on 30 January, with Dan arriving just hours later at 1408 UTC. Images quickly circulated of the friendly rivals sharing a well-deserved Cold beer in the 30+ heat on the Recife Marina pontoon. Pilar claimed a hard-earned third place on 31 January, already looking ahead to Carnival celebrations and the final leg to the Caribbean.
Jakub sailed BIBI through the breakwaters later that same day, securing fourth. His achievement on a shoestring budget, staying deeply in tune with his boat, echoed the spirit of his inspiration, Bernard Moitessier. Christian took fifth place on 1 February, enduring significant physical discomfort with characteristic grit. Adam arrived shortly after to claim sixth, visibly relieved to be free of the incessant rolling.
The Keri-Eric duel resolved in Keri's favour, with ORIGAMI taking seventh. Eric, ever the entertainer, celebrated his approach by serenading followers with an original song, "Lonely Sailor." Jasmine continued her steady progress, with an ETA of 4 February, enjoying calm conditions for recovery and reflection. Ertan cruised in comfortably, and Josh, though last at sea, reported the fastest speed in the fleet, slowly closing the gap and savouring his final days of oceanic solitude.
The Human Element: Beyond the Logs
This passage underscored that the MGR is as much a mental and emotional journey as a physical one, and for some hard racing for days on end. Jakub worried about his son being injured back in Europe. Christian managed chronic pain. Josh contemplated the impending end of an adventure and the camaraderie he'll miss. Dan reflected on changed life priorities. The ocean is a great equalizer—it tests gear, strategy, and spirit in equal measure. We are watching long held dreams coming to a conclusion and that in itself comes at a cost! As the organiser Don McIntyre often says...that's LIFE HEY!
Onward to Antigua
With Recife serving as a brief interlude of steak, cerveja, and repairs, the sailors now face the final and notoriously challenging stage: 2,400 nautical miles north to Antigua. They will contend with the fickle doldrums, strong contrary currents, and potentially tough upwind conditions—a final exam for both boat and skipper, shocked maybe by the reality of completing something that triggered a very personal decision years ago. Only these 11 sailors know what that means. We are all just spectators, but we are witnessing something special!
The McIntyre Mini Globe Race is nearing its climax. Making history is just over the horizon. The bonds forged, the miles conquered, and the personal battles won and lost will all culminate at the National Sailing Academy in Antigua. For now, in Recife, there is rest. But the call of the sea—and the lure of the finish line—remains. Just one last time!!!.... Woop Woop!
Track the fleet at minigloberace.com/tracker