McIntyre Mini Globe Race world first winners
by McIntyre Mini Globe Race 9 Mar 15:54 PDT
9 March 2026
The first-ever McIntyre Mini Globe Race has its champion. Renaud Stitelmann aboard #28 CAPUCINETTE (SUI) won every leg of the race and established the first official race record at 180 days, 11 hours, 25 minutes and 57 seconds © Rob Havill / McIntyre MGR2025-26
15 sailors, 13 men and 2 women from eight countries set out from the National Sailing Academy in Antigua on September 23 2025, sailing ALMA Class Globe 580 home-built 19ft plywood yachts. They raced west about via all the oceans of the world.
On Saturday 7 March 2026 Renaud Stitelmann sailing "CAPUCINETTE", crossed the finish line setting an historic benchmark for the fastest solo time around the world in an Alma Globe 580. Many believed it was impossible, but 11 sailors are proving them wrong! Some in the sailing world are shocked, most are amazed! A new solo race around the world is now secure on the international circuit! The second edition of the McIntyre MGR is scheduled for 2029 with over 25 sailors already committed.
Records are being broken. Jasmine Harrison "NUMBATOU" (88) is about to become the first British woman to circumnavigate the globe solo in the smallest yacht, Pilar Pasanau is the first Spanish woman sailor to solo circumnavigate and also in the smallest yacht. Josh Kali, stands to set a record for the smallest American-flagged yacht to circumnavigate solo or otherwise. All this follows in the footsteps of the late John Guzzwell who in 1955—exactly 70 years before—set off in his home-built, 20ft timber yacht, "TREKKA", to sail solo around the world. Returning three years later he was the first ever to do so. John Guzzwell passed away in 2024 at the age of 94, just weeks after honouring the McIntyre MGR team by accepting the role of Patron of the ALMA Globe Class.
Don McIntyre 580 class and MGR Founder is excited to see the fleet sail home:
"This really is a momentous occasion for these sailors. The MGR is a classic and challenging race and a very real adventure not for the faint hearted. But it shows clearly that the human spirit has no bounds if the dream is strong enough and a person believes in themselves. Our motto of "SMALL BOAT- HUGE ADVENTURE" also reflects on the budget. It is not impossible for many sailors and to build is not too big, or too small! It is just right. My idea for the MGR formed over about 40 years and I am the first to agree that on paper it sounds crazy. But the ALMA Class Globe 580 one-design concept, that starts with euro 350 construction plans, is sound and has now proven itself. Together with Polish yacht designer Janusz Maderski, we have created the perfect little dream boat. Now we have active builders in 37 countries and will have hundreds sailing very soon. It's cool!"
The statistics are impressive for such small yachts, sailed under windvane self-steering or by hand virtually all the way. Top speed 17kts and best 24hr run 219 miles by Keri in Origami. Extreme conditions in the Southern Ocean delivered 6-7 metre seas. While most entrants experienced knockdowns at some point, the one-design ALMA Globe 580s have proven themselves. None suffered structural damage, rudder or keel issues and they are basically ready to go around the world again! The Quantum sails performed well, but the material suffered badly in the sun. Spreader issues needed constant attention and the electric outboards were at times failing, but that was it.
There was one man overboard incident and a couple close calls. There were quite close encounters with shipping and fishing vessels and many impacts with UFOs - some quite hard. There was also one huge constant. Every skipper had absolute faith in their own security in the 580s and its ability to survive. That combined with the usual world's best safety and security standards applying for all three of McIntyre Adventures' three around the world races paid dividends. One final validation of the Mini Globe concept is that not one of the 15 starters abandoned the race because of boat, or challenge issues. Of the four retirements, one was due to a health issue and the three Australians retired were simply short of money to leave Australia again.
The skippers themselves are now reporting tired bodies and minds in this final leg, but at the same time, they feel an exhilaration that is impossible to describe!
Together the skippers share a unique bond. They are, and now always will be, a close family. The finishers are in a slight state of shock over their achievement. Without exception they all consider the MGR one of the most amazing experiences of their lives. Most agree it is life changing without understanding why... it just is!
Race Founder Don McIntyre who also organises the McIntyre Golden Globe and Ocean Globe around-the-world races and is happy to see the fleet safely home.
The remaining five sailors will arrive over the next four days. The official prize-giving will be held on March 20 at the National Sailing Academy with the support of the Falmouth Ocean Club.
The McIntyre Mini Globe Race is a world first event and has never been attempted by Mini Ocean racers. The course around the world celebrates the 70th Anniversary and follows in the footsteps of John Guzzwell, who in 1955 set off in his home built 20ft timber yacht TREKKA to become the first ever "Mini Yacht" to sail around the world.
Find out more at minigloberace.com