Picture Above: Damien, still competitive, dropped his spinnaker at the last minute, and hoisted it back at the first opportunity! Picture Credit: GGR2022 / Nora Havel

# Damien Guillou’s comeback hampered by a high pressure, now through the Rubicon Marina gate and back in the chase

# Kirsten Neuschäfer 10^th at the Biscay exit now in 5^th place and going after the lead pack

# Elliott Smith making most of Lanzarote, anchoring for the night and meeting friends

# Intense low pressure between Cape Verde crossing the GGR fleet over the weekend

# Simon Curwen and Tapio Lehtinen breaking away on the west side of the low-pressure system

# Guy deBoer set out to salvage SPIRIT after hitting the coast of Fuerteventura before expected large swells. 

Damien Guillou, the French favourite for the Golden Globe Race made it through the Lanzarote Rubicon Marina film drop under his biggest spinnaker on a tight reach, this morning. A wind vane repair returning to Les Sables d’Olonne had cost him six days on the rest of the fleet. The last 12 twelve days have been an impressive comeback. He is consistently posting the top 24 hour distances of the fleet, having already caught up with the other French sailor Arnaud Gaist and the Australian mariner and GGR 2018 Mark Sinclair Captain “Coconut”.

A lack of weather information this week from a defective Weather Fax, and a high-pressure system with light winds, while the wind came back in the south, favouring the leaders, hampered his efforts to catch-up. The leader is 700 miles ahead. The mid-fleet pack is only 3 to 4 days ahead.

The Bay of Biscay, I sailed it twice! The first time it was hard in strong winds and seas right  from the start, and the second time I had different conditions with lighter but more unstable winds, before getting over 30 knots upwind at Cape Finisterre!

Damien told us,

Now, in my mind, I’m taking it step by step. I’m happy to be here, happy with the way I’m living on the boat, happy to be back in the race, and with the way I’m living this experience. This is great!

He said before he hoisted the spinnaker back and resumed racing.

Another impressive comeback is Kirsten Neuschäfer (SA) who exited the Bay of Biscay in 10^th position. She did not hide her disappointment at being 6^th at the Lanzarote gate. She has now joined the lead pack in 5^th position and has been working very hard, spending a lot of time at the helm of Minnehaha, to catch up. This morning, she averaged 7 knots over the last 24 hours, clocking 170 miles and gaining 55 miles over her closest competitor Abhilash Tomy (IND)!

With strong Northerlies today where Minnehaha and Kirsten excel, there’s no doubt she will close further onto the leaders. The other South African in the race, Jeremy Bagshaw, 6^th in the fleet sailing the smallest and lightest yacht in the fleet, posted the second-best performance over 24 hours with 154 miles, nearly 6,5 knots average, clearly pushing Oleanna in those favourable conditions

US entrant Elliott Smith made the most of his Lanzarote gate motoring on the leeside of Lanzarote then deciding to anchor off Playa del Pozo under a bright red sky. Taking advantage of the lack of wind to rest and do maintenance without letting the fleet escape. There’s more than one way to sail the Golden Globe, and Elliott’s take on the adventure has been authentic and inspiring from day one. 

I’m realising how long it is and I want to pace myself. My headspace is good and I feel clear. There’s been high and lows but the main take away is trying not to focus on being pleased while I’m out there. Don’t search for meaning and purpose in what I’m doing,instead, just do it, you’ll find the joy in that.

Shared Elliott,

All the joys so far in the trip have come totally by surprise, they are not the ones you’re looking for, they just happen.

US entrant Guy deBoer whose yacht Spirit ran onto rocks north of Fuerteventura has shared the story of his grounding, WHY and HOW, with Don during a phone call yesterday, which you can catch here. Spirit is still on the rocks, but all fuel and hazardous products have been taken out of the boat which poses no threat to the pristine environment of the island. Guy met with two local salvage companies while keeping close contact with the authorities to find the best way to remove his yacht from the beach. One scenario is to bring a telescopic mobile crane on the beach and lift Spirit off the rocks which would limit damage to the boat. A large swell is expected on Monday so they race against the clock.

After going through the gate in Lanzarote, I was awake for 30 hours, and I chose to go West of Fuerteventura, it was close-hauled but I was sailing 30° over the island and was safe. The moment I sat down I fell asleep because I was so fatigued.

Said Guy,

The reason I hit the rocks is because the wind velocity dropped off significantly and the boat bore away towards the island and I was not aware of that before the boat hit the rock.In insight I should have gone on the east side and avoid the leeshore He concluded: it was a bad decision by the skipper and I’m paying the penalty for it today.

A tropical storm currently forming off Dakar in Senegal gaining in strength Friday and crossing the path of the fleet, moving North on Saturday. While the early predictions were announcing a possible Cape Verde Hurricane, this is now a localised low-pressure system. The GGR race Control informs the fleet daily of the system’s strength, position and movement to help them make the best decision.

Simon Curwen (UK) is taking advantage of his lead position to go around the low on the west side, taking strong northerly winds pushing him towards the Cape Verde archipelago and the doldrums. Tapio Lehtinen (FIN) is racing to get past before it moves over him and it may be a close call but he is ready for heavy winds. The rest of the fleet is hugging the coast off Africa, East of the low to face the lowest possible headwinds. 

This means that Simon and Tapio will certainly increase the gap between them and the fleet but could mean changes within the lead pack itself. We know from the Bay of Biscay that Pat Lawless (IRL) excels in adverse conditions and could consolidate his lead, while Kirsten and Abhilash, now at VHF distance could emulate each other’s in a quick upwind exit, breaking up with the rest. Meanwhile, back in the Canaries, should Damien Guillou get some good weather forecast, he could well make most of the adverse weather at the front of the fleet!

Video film coverage and 20 minute interviews of all GGR sailors passing through the Rubicon Marina film drop gate are available on GGR YOUTUBE. 

Picture above: Jean Luc VDH, winner of the 2018 Golden Globe in 212 days, welcomes Tapio Lehtinen back to Les Sables d;Olonne , the final finisher after 322 days at sea. Credit: Jf.Brossier / Ville des Sables d’Olonne

The 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race made history delivering the first ever solo non- stop unassisted voyage around the world. Nine started, one finished, one died, one boat was lost. The legend of this amazing adventure was born. 

It was not a race like the America’s Cup. It was a challenge and display of the human spirit. A testament to human courage in the face of extreme challenge, great isolation and relying on one’s own ability to get the job done no matter what. It was also a great feat of seamanship, borne from experience, mixed with large amounts of common sense. The objective was simple. Get around the world by yourself and don’t stop. The planning was not complicated, Bring food! Neither was the preparation if you knew what you were doing. Learn to navigate! The execution was also uncomplicated, just incredibly hard. Get to the finish!

In 2014 I had the idea of trying to recreate this event that was part of my life for 40 years. Sir Robin Knox Johnston, the only finisher in 1969 is one of my boyhood heroes. In 2018 the Golden Globe set off again for the first time in 50 years. It could never be identical to the 1968 edition for many reasons, but we held true to the core principles. It was a success in the eyes of those who understood the challenge. 

Like the first edition, the 2018 Golden Globe was a game. The rules are set. Entrants decide if they want to play and volunteer to be part of that game. 18 set out, five finished, four boats were lost. The legend was back. It was life defining and life changing for entrants and many followers. Some not for the better. It was an extreme challenge that for players hits the core of who you are and what you believe in, even why you exist. Most are proving something to themselves. It was not an answer to the meaning of life, but it sure tested them and even followers around the world. Some entrants were shocked by the experience and still are to this day. It was not to be what they expected, even after years of preparation. But that is the name of this game. 

The GGR is as tough as it gets. You can make up your own mind on that. All the sailing races around the world make this claim, but look closely at the GGR before you brush it off as a throwaway line. Start with 8 months of isolation and work it back from there. 

The game has real risk, the biggest attraction to players. It’s harder and more excruciatingly painful that even entrants imagine. Don’t try to think about that issue too long! It is hard to grasp, but it is.

In a game of cards, you use skill, chance and luck. Most understand that in the GGR you can make your own luck through good planning, preparation and then seamanlike execution. But you still need luck. That wild card is the same today as it was in 1968. So too, the feeling of the players when they finally get a GREEN CARD to play the GGR game. They dreamed of that moment and finally the game is on!

The GGR game recreates an important element from the 1968 Golden Globe. Bernard Moitessier sailing JOSHUA had no radio. Just a slingshot and flashing light to pass messages to the world. He sailed through the Canaries looking to pass messages, then down to Trindade Island in the South Atlantic to do the same, unsuccessfully. He made for Cape Town twice, firing his messages and film cannisters to the deck of anchored ships. In Hobart he waited hours for a passing fishing vessel to take his letters to the Royal Yacht Club Tasmania. 

Robin Knox Johnston sailing SUHAILI had a radio, but it failed. He sailed up into Victoria, Australia to pass messages to the pilot vessel and arrange a message drop in New Zealand. He anchored in Dunedin New Zealand, waiting for his contact to arrive with letters from home. Under the rules of the game, they could not be delivered. They were opened and read to him from a boat alongside. This was the game in 1968.

The 2022 GGR game is the same. Players must drop letters and films at Lanzarote in the Canaries. They leave Trindade island in the South Atlantic to port. They drop letters and film in Cape Town and stop in Hobart Tasmania exactly the same as Moitessier. Instead of New Zealand we have Punta del Este in Uruguay. 

SH_T happens in life just the same as accidents. There are always reasons for them and we learn from them. Sadly, Guy deBoer sailed his yacht SPIRIT straight up onto rocks a few hours after rounding the GGR film drop mark in Lanzarote. Fortunately, he was not injured and was able to walk ashore. He did not drift there and was not trapped on a lee shore unable to sail off. He had all the charts and navigation equipment to know exactly where he was. There were lighthouses clearly visible. The weather was mild and sea state low. It was night and visibility was good. He has not yet explained exactly what happened, but we know it was an accident. 

The history of sailing clearly demonstrates that running ashore is a risk. It happens in fully crewed racing with all the latest most sophisticated electronics and professional sailors’ money can buy. It happens in the biggest solo races, with the biggest budgets, most sophisticated equipment and most famous sailors.  It happens to weekend sailors who only know how to watch a chart plotter. They are all called accidents.

Accidents will always happen in any game and on any ocean. 

In the GGR game you must listen only to cassette tapes. You can only use HF SSB radios. You must use wind up clocks. For safe navigation, it is not a game. Players have every device and skill you need to know where you are, all the time, giving you all the information needed to act in a seaman like manner, all the way around the world and NOT hit rocks on the coast. There is also an emergency GPS if needed. This is an explanation for those not familiar with the rules of the GGR game, NOT any criticism of Guy deBoer. Some may now think following Guy’s accident that the GGR rules put entrants at risk. They do NOT!

All skippers in this game are responsible for their own wellbeing and the safety of their ship at all times. None are forced into unsafe practices because of the game. The challenge and difficulty are obvious to entrants who love facing that. They alone make the decisions on how much sleep they need, what course they sail and when to give up. This point runs to the core of why they are doing it and why they love it. There will be winners and losers in any game. But the GGR game itself is safe. Maybe safer than your own day to day existence and the risks you face without even knowing it. 

Accidents happen to us all. Even in cars. It happens in, motor racing, mountain and ice climbing, parachuting, motor cross racing, glider flying, helicopters flying, trike flying, gyrocopter flying, scuba diving, Antarctic expeditions, open boat expeditions. Same too in solo around the world yacht and mini solo transatlantic yacht racing. I know, as I have done them all. I accepted the risk and did everything to mitigate them before the event. I used my best value judgments in every decision I ever made during the activity. Maybe I was lucky? I have never had an accident (touch wood), but I was always happy to play the game as a volunteer and feel truly alive and satisfied with my life. 

Jane and I are very proud of the GGR and the GGR family around the world that helps make it what it is and what it stands for. A chance for any sailor to play the game. The GGR gives followers something to dream about, a display of the human spirit in all its Glory. We are very proud of all the entrants, including GUY, who follow their dreams and do everything they can to live life. Without a spirit of adventure and responsible risk takers, the world would be worse off. Thanks for following the GAME! 

Don McIntyre

• Guy deBoer (USA) crashes into rocks at night on the north coast of Fuerteventura, Las Palmas in the Canaries, his yacht now stranded but he is safe. Salvage under investigation.

• Simon Curwen (UK) , Tapio Lehtinen (FIN) , Pat Lawless (Ireland) and Abhilash Tomy (India) first through the Marina Rubicon film gate.

• Pat Lawless is suffering a knee infection, running low on antibiotics, but going forward.

• Whole fleet at risk of being parked with no wind around the Canaries and a hurricane may be forming ahead of the fleet late next week? 

It was South African GGR entrant Kirsten Neuschäfer (SA) who relayed Guy deBoer’s VHF radio Mayday call to GGR Race Control on Friday morning at 03:10 am UTC. Guy’s Tashiba 36 had run aground on the North coast of Fuerteventura, just 10 miles from the Lanzarote Marina Rubicon film drop gate he had passed a few hours before. He had activated his EPIRB and at 04:24 UTC rang the GGR Race control on his Sat phone.  

“Spirit” was sitting on rocks, away from the beach, tilting 45°, Being pounded by heavy seas crashing over the boat. The surf was pushing her slowly forward grinding over rocks. Guy who was in constant contact with Salvamento Maritimo, the local Rescue Coordination Center and GGR Race Control was in a serious situation. He had his life raft ready, but decided to remain inside Spirit, which was holding up. He planned to wait for daylight since he could not see the coast. The conditions for a safe use of the life raft, or exit onto the rocks beaten by the surf were not right.

At 04:10 UTC the MRCC Las Palmas informed GGR Control that first responders were on the beach, 50 metres from the boat sitting on the bedrock. Conditions were difficult and Guy decided not to evacuate the yacht. At 04:36 UTC Guy finally abandoned his yacht by foot, greatly assisted by the local police and firefighters. A Government salvage tow boat was already en route towards them. Guy was taken to a local hotel without injuries.

Following an early morning Government assessment it was considered too difficult to tow Spirit back to sea at high water. The authorities decided to pump all fuel from the boat to avoid a potential spill and are now working with Guy deBoer ’s team and an insurance company on salvaging the Tashiba 36 with the least environmental impact. The area is a popular tourist surfing spot. 

 At 9.30 Monday morning I am meeting with a large salvage company to consider the best course of action which at this stage looks like dragging her back over the hard rocks, fortunately not fragile reefs

Said Guy deBoer

She has an incredibly strong and thick hull so should be able to take that ride! She has taken a pounding so far and the hull is fine. I hope to see her sail again, but certainly we cannot just leave her there.

Golden Globe Race wishes to thank all those rescue personnel who responded so professionally and quickly to a very demanding and difficult situation which had a positive outcome.

The mood was very different earlier that night and the day before as a freshly shaved Guy deBoer went through the Lanzarote Gate happy and confident to be in 5^th position. Kirsten Neuschäfer could not hide her disappointment at being 6^th crossing the gate 25 minutes after deBoer. Her Cape George 36 had sailed out of the Bay of Biscay unscathed and was in excellent shape, although she was tired from the long hours under spinnaker at the helm of Minnehaha, even if, as she said

The boat doesn’t need me and can sail by herself…”.

Hours before them, Pat Lawless had beaten Abhilash Tomy in their week-long fight for the 3^rd spot. Pat’s option east of the fleet cost him dearly earlier in the week but enabled him a magnificent come back on Friday and Saturday. Pat’s enthusiasm is infectious and he was radiant when told his position in the fleet! 

Infectious also is his right knee, a pre-existing medical condition to the GGR which has come back unexpectedly during the first week of sailing. Pat is in regular contact with the Race doctor, MSOS Direct, and taking antibiotics as advised. He was advised to stop in Lanzarote to stock up with stronger antibiotics on board, but this would have meant losing contact with the leaders, as well as accepting external assistance and being moved to Chichester Class. 

This is an old injury that has come up after crawling on deck

Said Pat Lawless

There is no way I want to move into Chichester Class, not for a minute, so I sail on! It will be fine

He could reconsider this decision if it gets worse and make a stop in Cape Verde Islands in a week or so sailing south.

Abhilash Tomy holds 4th place and revealed during the film drop that after leaving Les Sables d’Olonne he suffered for 10 days with severe PTSD syndrome. He could not eat for those 10 days.  Re-living his rescue and severe back injury inflicted during the 2018 edition of the GGR upset his ability to concentrate. This reaction surprised even himself. Now he is back into the 2022 edition with real focus and determination.

A few miles ahead, it is Simon Curwen in his Biscay 36 CLARA solidly in the lead after breaking away from Tapio Lehtinen who chose a less direct route under his biggest spinnaker in a bid to find stronger winds. He didn’t. Both were very satisfied with the result, although they too, were disappointed for Damien Gillou. They were definitely looking forward to a direct confrontation with the French favourite now still 550 miles astern!

While the tight mid-fleet group of Guy Waites, Michael Guggenberger, known as Captain Gugg , Ertan Beskardes and Jeremy Bagshaw have all gone through the gate over the weekend, the remaining miles will be more challenging for Elliott Smith, Ian Herbert-Jones. A big wind hole arriving from Madeira is taking over the Canaries and is meant to stay until Tuesday, slowing down their progression towards Lanzarote.

750 miles further south from Lanzarote,  just to the east of the Cape Verde island on the African coast, a tropical depression/Hurricane may be forming on Thursday 22nd and building into Friday 23rd. Forecast winds are expected to be around 50kts. This is right in the path of the GGR leaders and middle fleet. GGR control is monitoring it closely. 

Another interesting week ahead!

Top Picture: Kirsten Neuschäfer (SA) has been averaging 7.5 knots at times trying to catch the leaders and remain intouch. Her Cape George 36 is proving a great match for her 240,000 miles sailing experience and looks like a fast ride!! Watch this space. Picture Credit: GGR2022 / Nora Havel

Golden Globe Fleet approaching Lanzarote film gate with more stories!

# First yachts due at film gate 2000hrs UTC today Friday 16th with 10 boats through in the first 30 hours.

# Tapio Lehtinen and Simon Curwen at times just 2 miles apart racing hard for the lead and both something to prove, while Kirsten chases them, helming through the night driving hard.

# First indication of yacht designs showing performance differentials against the favourite Rustler 36.

# Guy deBoer near miss with fishing boat, gash leg, becomes fleet weather man.

# Damien driving hard and making gains on fleet following return to Les Sables d’Olonne.

# Elliott Smith mast collar problems, many leaks and builds cockpit dodger underway.

There has been plenty of drama as boats and sailors had their first shake-down in the Bay of Biscay a steadfast Pat Lawless (IRL) leading the way, Ertan Beskardes (UK) had an electrical short and later knocked himself out falling into the cockpit, Guy deBoer (USA) got seasick for the first time and lost all radio contact, race-favourite Damien Guillou (FR) was headed back to Les Sables d’Olonne with a broken windvane, unsure he could make the start line in time and Edward Walentynowicz (CAN) decided to retire for the race, pondering another participation in 2026.

But what change a week makes!

Simon Curwen (UK) and Tapio Lehtinen (FIN) are now in a solid lead of the fleet, sailing close by and emulating each other into high daily mileage, Pat Lawless (Ireland) ,who made a fantastic start, got lost on his East option, letting the leaders escape, and allowing the western group of Abhilash Tomy (IND), Guy deBoer (USA) and Kirsten Neuschäfer (RSA) to close in as the routes are converging 100 miles from the Lanzarote gate.  

Guy deBoer, who has been breaking blocks on a steady basis since the start, has narrowly avoided a collision with a fishing boat by 5 metres. as he tells in last Wednesday’s dramatic satellite phone call available on the GGR SOUNDCLOUD. Early last week investigating a strange noise while climbing out of the companionway, he was shocked to find a large green fishing boat dead ahead and rushed on the helm, cutting his leg in the process but avoiding collision by just 15ft. The captain was screaming from the bridge, unable to alter course. Guy then sailed straight across the towed fishing net fortunately not hooking up! During the confused seas of the first week he was thrown across the cabin and damaged his AIS detector alarm, so it did not respond. For some reason the fishing boat did not see his AIS transponder, nor call him on the VHF.  

Following Edward Walentynowicz retirement who was giving weatherfax reports to the fleet, Guy whose leg is healing well, has become the official weatherman for the fleet, sharing his Weatherwax info on the regular HF buddy chats.

Elliott Smith (USA) reports an issue with his through deck mast collar packing, damaged in the first week allowing movement of his mast. He knows he must somehow repair it well before the grinding South Atlantic trades forward of the beam. He was happy about his companionway dodger built in the past few days and suggests it will help keep the spray out but has a constant leak from his hull deck rub rail he is trying to solve. 

Unfazed by her average start and coming unscathed out of Biscay, Kirsten Neuschäfer has been posting impressive high average speeds, catching up, and now casting away from the chase group. It is clear that Minnehaha her Cape George 36 is quick, but Kirsten knows how to get her going: gennaker up and helms herself as much as she can to make up for lost ground. She is posting a spectacular come back in the forefront, as is Guy deBoer who is power reaching under an asymmetric spinnaker happy with the speed potential.

Kirsten’s Cape George 36 and Guy deBoer’s Tashiba 36 are similar: maximum hull length, long waterline, heavy displacement and generous cutter rigged sail plan make for slightly higher speeds than their counterparts, although Abhilash Tomy’s Rustler 36 -a lighter, less powerful yacht perceived by many as having the best all-round performance is still holding them off, but until when? The Rustler 36 may not be the fastest boat in the fleet as many have believed since Jean-Luc Van Den Heede’s win in the 2018 GGR. Pat’s Saga 36 who showed great potential in the strong winds of the first week, seems less at ease in the current lighter winds. In front, Tapio’s Gaia 36 with fine entry, high ballast ratio, deep draft and low freeboard is shining through and through in all weathers and points of sail, whereas Simon Curwen’s Biscay 36 still manages to hold him off.

Damien Guillou (FR) , also on a Rustler 36, is working hard on his comeback. Back in Les Sables d’Olonne with a broken windvane bracket, he had Vincent Riou and Jacques Fort reinforcing the support bracket, switching the 10mm bolt for 12mm, adding an extra bracket for strength, before leaving 6 days after the fleet. Since then, he has sailed through unstable winds out of Biscay and has been consistently posting daily averages in the top of the fleet. His seven seasons racing Solitaire du Figaro are certainly coming handy!

Most importantly, all boats are now out of Biscay. None of them has had meaningful interactions with orcas, despite an early fright for Elliott Smith (USA) who has found time to assemble his hard dodger at sea and is busy fighting mast collar issues and leaks. Most sailors stopped hurting themselves except for Guy Waites (UK) who had a “disagreement” with Sagarmatha’s boom and his head!

All skippers are finally enjoying some time off the wind with a decent sea state, rising temperatures and barometers posting good speeds on a straight line to Lanzarote. The leaders are expected into the Rubicon Marina film drop at 2000hrs UTC today FRIDAY 26th with the first 10 sailors expected through in the first 30 hours.

Each sailor must approach the Lanzarote film drop buoy 300 metres south of Rubicon Marina with a reefed mainsail. When abeam they drop all headsails and sail slowly for 20 minutes passing over films and letters before hoisting full sail to continue the race. Don, Jane and Aïda will stream live videos interviews in French and English on Facebook, Rob will shoot and cut videos for NEWS RELEASE and Nora will update pictures of the sailors as they drop their video footage of their first two weeks at sea and share their first taste of the GGR adventure. For many of them it will be the first chance to find out their position in the fleet!

Departing the film drop, sailors will face a wind hole forming Saturday between the Azores and Lisbon. It is set to gradually come down over the Canaries on Sunday and stay there until late Monday. This may create a first weather gate between the leaders and the ones in pursuit, followed by the doldrums on their way to the next mark: Trindade island in Brazil.

The skippers, in addition to their daily tweets, and weekly recorded safety calls to race control will be able to share their stories in real time with the beginning of the weekly 20-minutes exclusive sat phone interviews to accredited media starting on week 4 of the race. If you are an accredited media, click here  to request your personal interview, they are exclusive to you!

Follow the race :

• LIVE TRACKER on the GGR website tracker
• Download the Yellow Brick app on Android or iPhone
• Follow or social media news of the website, Facebook, Instagram
• Listen to satellite calls on SoundCloud
• And follow the entrants tweets on Twitter, Facebook, or the GGR website

Weekly exclusive satellite call interview for accredited media here !

# Heavy weather and big waves impacting entrants, as low-pressure systems head towards Europe and the first entrant considers retirement.

# Damien Guillou (FR) sailing back to Les Sables with windvane issues- must restart before Sunday 11th 1600hrs

# Injuries, electrical shorts, leaks and heavy weather takes a toll on boats and sailors alike.

# Four lead boats converge on Cape Finisterre from the north and east with Tapio Lehtinen’s  west route closing down on the south route leaders.

# Another week of headwinds along the coast of Portugal slow progress to the Lanzarote film drop.

Top picture: Golden Globe Race 2022, skipper : Damien Guillou ©Yann Riou – polaRYSE / PRB

The new September start date for the Golden Globe has not made it easy departing Les Sables d’Olonne. It is a transitional season in the Bay of Biscay and the route towards Lanzarote is uncertain as the fleet has been hit with several low pressure systems moving towards Europe. 

This means strong headwinds and heavy seas for the entrants.The fleet split in two groups early with a west option to catch today’s rotation and a direct route to the Cape Finisterre and a South option along the coast of Asturias and Galicia in sheltered waters and calmer winds. Local Frenchman Arnaud Gaist, who was headed North, tacked in the afternoon and sent a message: “All is well on Hermes Phoning”. 

The results will unfold Friday as Tapio Lehtinen, the only sailors who persisted in the west option pushing through the tough conditions, will converge with Pat Lawless, Simon Curwen and Abhilash Tomy who are leading the easier south option towards Cape Finisterre before  starting their descent along the coast of Portugal. Watch this space as another week of headwinds is predicted. Entrants express real frustrations to GGR Control on all communications.

Race favourite Damien Guillou (FR) is returning to Les Sables d’Olonne to fix his windvane mount which came loose in the heavy weather. After spending Tuesday night in heavy seas trying to effect repairs, he had no option than to return. The GGR Notice Of Race allows any entrant to restart up to one week from the official start. He has until Sunday the 11^th at 14:00 UTC to start again.

This will no doubt stir memories for the people of Les Sables d’Olonne who saw Michel Desjoyeaux come back in 2008 after 200 nautical miles for repair, and ultimately win his second Vendée Globe. Time will tell, and the boats of both events have little in common but the headwind facing the fleet next week may well provide a good opportunity for a come-back!

The strong headwinds and seas are taking a toll. Leaks, electric shorts, radio problems, weatherfax issues have been mentioned several times. Guy deBoer (USA) was seasick and gashed his leg but is now trucking along. Ertan Beskardes (UK) was hit by a wave ondeck, fell  into his cockpit and was knocked unconscious, hurting his arm. Contact was made with GGR MSOS 24hr telemedicine doctors. Today he sent an encouraging message “all good on board, just slow progress, weather good, food super”. Edward Walentynowicz (Canada) who is otherwise having a good race mid-fleet informed GGR control today he was pondering retirement and will call his wife and Team Manager Magda to discuss his options prior to making a final decision. If he remains in the GGR he will receive an 18 hour time penalty.

As the lead boats are heading out of the Bay of Biscay, the fleet is still receiving regular forecast on HF, VHF radio and weather fax to work on their strategy, including choices negotiating the Cape Finisterre Traffic separation Scheme, before heading into more headwinds along the coast of Portugal over the weekend as a low-pressure system is forming over the Azores. This week is tough, and the next days certainly interesting as sailors exit Biscay into the Atlantic towards Lanzarote. Hold fast!