Crazy, dangerous, should never happen?

All 12 solo skippers completed the 2025 McIntyre Globe 580 Transat on their home-built 19-foot plywood Globe 5.80 Mini Class boats. Leaving the Canary Islands on January 11, Renaud Stitelmann (SUI) on Capucinette won the third edition, covering the nearly 3000nm course to Antigua in 22 days, 5 hours, and 26 minutes.

The competitors now turn their sights to the McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR), an even crazier adventure around the world. After all, why stop at one ridiculous solo ocean crossing when you can just keep going?

“Here we are after six years of planning and preparation,” said event organizer Don McIntyre. “It’s as exciting to look back, as it is to look forward. With 90 active builders, maybe 55 boats sailing this year with 25 successful transatlantic crossings.

“There have been serious ocean voyages in all weathers to 70 knots and huge seas, and now we have 15 amazing sailors about to sail solo around the world. WOW! This is all about dreams, adventure, and inspiration, but above everything it is honest to goodness fun and living life to the max! I am seriously happy for everyone involved.”

The MGR begins February 23 and has five legs that extends from Antigua to Panama, with the fleet trucked across to the Pacific Ocean. The course then extends with stops in the South Pacific, Australia, South Africa, and Brazil en route back to Antigua.

“No one knows what will happen now,” admits McIntyre. “The MGR is as much an adventure today as it was for John Guzzwell in Trekka 75 years ago. So to the people out there who say our around the world events are crazy, dangerous and should never happen, or worse…Well sometimes life happens…hey!”

Except for Niels Kamphuisy, the 11 other Transat entrants are set to compete in the MGR. They will be joined by four additional skippers at the Antigua start line: Ertan Beskardes, Joshua Kali, Eric Marsh, and Gary Swindail. The 15 entrants represent eight countries: Australia (5), United Kingdom (4), Germany (1), Canada (1), Ireland (1), Spain (1), Switzerland (1), and USA (1).

• Details: https://minigloberace.com/
• Notice of Race: https://minigloberace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Mini-Globe-Race-Notice-of-Race-Nov-2024.pdf