Globe40 Leg 6 Start: Teams ready for a fight to the finish

Globe40 Leg 6 Start in Recife, Brazil © Jean-Marie Liot / Globe40

The entire fleet, comprising all 8 crews of the 2nd edition of the GLOBE40, set off today from Recife, Brazil, at 2:00 PM local time (5:00 PM UTC) for the 6th and final stage.

This leg is, of course, marked by the highly anticipated final showdown between the two rivals of this second edition, CREDIT MUTUEL and BELGIUM OCEAN RACING - CURIUM, who are tied on points after 7 months of racing: an exceptional rivalry that has enlivened the entire event. But for the classic Class40s ("pointus"), it's also a very intense competition, with the podium currently dominated by the Brazilian crew BARCO BRASIL. However, the standings could still change, with two teams within 4, 5 (WILSON), and 8 points (FREE DOM) separated by this final stage with a coefficient of 2. But for everyone involved, it's above all the last leg of an exceptional sporting and human adventure that began around the world last September. This final leg presents a new challenge: a return to the North Atlantic, which can be very tricky at this time of year.

A challenging final leg

Having set off today from Recife in the Brazilian Northeast, the competitors theoretically have 3,745 nautical miles to cover before arriving in Lorient; In reality, depending on the position relative to the Azores archipelago, this could mean 4300 to 4500 miles ahead. The first major challenge, which must be quickly avoided, is of course the infamous Doldrums, which we remember was particularly active on the outward leg; and it seems likely to be just as active on the return.

Navigating this first obstacle will already be a key indicator of the expected battles in the overall standings and the ranking of the Classic Class40 ("sharks"). Next, the approach to the Azores archipelago and the choice of the turning point will present another tactical challenge. We recall that during the inaugural edition in March 2023, the strongest winds of the race were recorded in this area, reaching 65 knots.

Finally, the return to Europe, with the potential depressions of the North Atlantic and the dreaded Bay of Biscay, presents yet another challenge: we also remember that in 2023, the leader of the leg had to slow down as he approached Cape Finisterre, which was being battered by a violent depression and extremely rough seas.

Epilogue of an epic duel

This is the story of a duel and a rivalry unique in duration and in the annals of offshore racing between the crew of CREDIT MUTUEL (Ian Lipinski / Antoine Carpentier / Amélie Grassi / Allan Roberts) and that of BELGIUM OCEAN RACING - CURIUM (Jonas Gerckens - Djemila Tassin - Benoit Hantzperg / Renaud Dehareng / Corentin Douguet); After a comfortable start with victories in the Prologue and Stage 1 (1.5 points total), CREDIT MUTUEL had to concede defeat in the major leg 3 from Cape Verde to Reunion Island (3 points total) after 29 lead changes, with never more than 100 miles separating the top two, and a breathtaking finish with the top three crossing the line within 9 minutes of each other after 8,420 miles at sea.

The German crew NEXT GENERATION AROUND THE WORLD snatched second place at the last moment after an incredible 600-mile comeback. Ian Lipinski and Amelie Grassi were heavily penalised with 9 points, and the Belgians took the overall lead. CREDIT MUTUEL took revenge on the Reunion-Sydney leg (2 points total), finishing with a comfortable lead and closing to within 2 points of the leader. Leg 4, Sydney to Valparaiso, could have sealed the overall standings with its coefficient of 3, but the GLOBE40 had yet another unexpected twist in store for us. This stunning arrival in Valparaiso Bay resulted in a tie, as decided by the race committee.

The French victory in Leg 5 to Brazil (coefficient 2), despite a technical stop and another 600-mile comeback by the Belgians, allowed them to level the score with a perfect tie in points at the start of Leg 6 (coefficient 2). The final leg will determine a winner, who will be duly celebrated, but the true beauty of this victory will lie in the intensity and quality of the battle with a very strong runner-up.

The culmination of a great sporting and human story

In Recife, a few hours before the start, there was a palpable sense of excitement for the new duels that were about to unfold, and already a touch of nostalgia as the grand adventure of the new Cape Horners (for most) drew to a close. Final briefing, final departure—the adventure is so intense that its impending end is already taking its toll, just as it has taken its toll on the gaunt bodies of some skippers after these seven months of racing.

Because there are those who were able or chose to rotate their crews, and those who will have completed everything and ticked off all the boxes for every stage, like Richard Palmer and Rupert Holmes on JANGADA RACING, or José Caldas and Luiz Bolina on BARCO BRASIL, Lisa Berger and Jade Edwards-Leaney on WILSON, and finally Melodie Schaffer on WHISKEY JACK after her second GLOBE40: what energy, Ms. Schaffer (Rolex Sailor of the Year in Canada in 2023)! The end of this great sporting and human story is near, but everyone knows that the final hurdle is high before the arrival in Lorient, hopefully for all 8 crews; with the welcome of the German boys Lennart Burke and Melvin Fink in that leg, for a warm welcome in the world capital of offshore racing, with, in particular, the presence of children visiting during the week from almost every town in the LORIENT AGGLOMERATION. The first arrivals are expected in the second half of the week of April 13th. Get on the map tracker!

To follow the race visit www.globe40.com/cartographie.