Mini Globe Race 2025: Leg One 1200 miles – Antigua to Panama – A Thrilling Start to a Global 26000 mile Adventure
- Falmouth Harbour, National Sailing Academy, Antigua to Shelter Bay Marina, Panama – 23 February to 13 March 2025
- High average speed again of 5.68kts, 136 miles a day and best 24hr run 160miles.
- Knockdowns, Underwater collisions, flooding , broken forestay and high temperatures add to the fun of this incredible adventure!.
- 15 Alma Globe 580’s overland to the Pacific!
The inaugural McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR) has officially set sail, and what a start it’s been! The first leg from Antigua to Panama has already delivered drama, camaraderie, and a masterclass in offshore sailing in these Mighty Mini’s. With 15 ALMA Class Globe 580s battling it out over 1,200 nautical miles, the MGR is proving to be everything the sailors themselves expected, the ultimate test of skill, endurance, and a whole lot of fun in boats they built themselves.
A Picture-Perfect Start in Antigua
The race kicked off on 23 February in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, under a brilliant blue sky and a steady 15-knot breeze. National Sailing Academy, with its commitment to youth and disabled sailing, provided the perfect backdrop for the event. The skippers, already local heroes, took kids and disabled Antiguans for a sail during an open day, earning cheers and admiration from the community. As the fleet paraded through Falmouth Harbour Marina, they were met with foghorns, bagpipes, and the kind of enthusiasm that only a Caribbean island can muster.
And They’re Off!
The start was nothing short of spectacular. Fourteen boats jostled for position, with Adam Waugh on Little Wren crossing the line first. Eric Marsh on Sunbear had a minor hiccup, running aground while sorting out headsail issues, but he was back in the race just eight minutes later. Meanwhile, Jasmine Harrison on Numbatou was already turning heads, flying her bright pink A5 spinnaker and “hooting along” down the coast.
The fleet quickly settled into their routines, with Renaud Stitelmann on Capucinette showing why he’s the one to watch. Sailing wing and wing with his A5 spinnaker, Renaud looked like he was on a leisurely Sunday cruise rather than a grueling ocean race. By the first night, the fleet was tightly packed, only a few miles separating the top five boats.
High Seas, Whales, and Knockdowns
The Caribbean Sea served up its usual mix of beauty and challenges. Strong currents became the wildcard creating confusing, even dangerous seas that kept most of the skippers busy and alert for much of the passage. Strong tradewinds kept the average speeds high, but at times when against the current, 6mtr short steep seas developed, all this when inside cabin temperatures were running at 33degrees. Dan Turk on Little Bea had a close encounter with what could have been a small whale, which brought his boat to a sudden halt from 6kts and sent him flying into the galley bulkhead.
The Final Push to Panama and Question 2!
As the fleet approached Panama, the competition heated up as much as the cabin temperature and strange smells below! The topic of conversation became Dark ships with no NAV lights? only AIS and increasing traffic. Renaud crossed the finish line first, completing the leg in 8 days, 18 hours, and 40 minutes. Once again the average speed for the 1200 miles was 5.68kts or 136 miles a day! Not bad for a semi displacement 19ft /5.8mtr ocean voyaging MINI! Keri Harris followed just five hours later, with Dan Turk close behind. The top four boats finished within 10 hours of each other, setting the stage for an incredibly tight race. Adam Waugh, who took a more northerly route to avoid adverse currents, sailed an impressive 1,232 nautical miles and arrived relaxed and in good spirits.
What’s Next?
With Leg One complete, the fleet is now preparing for Leg Two – a mammoth 6,700-nautical-mile journey to VUDA MARINA, Fiji via the Marquesas Islands, Tahiti, and Tonga with only 23 days allowed for stopovers. The skippers will face new challenges, from navigating the doldrums to crossing the vast Pacific Ocean. But if the first leg is anything to go by, they’ll tackle it with skill, determination, and a healthy dose of humor.
But first they are bound for the warm waters of the Pacific, overland!. Too small for the Panama canal, two trailers have been modified to carry the ALMA Globe 580s, the 100KM across the isthmus one at a time. The clock is running, and start day is now set back one day for 24th March 2025
Read more in the Full Article
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