Imagine? Four years of planning, building, then preparing and training while all the time dreaming about sailing your own home-built plywood 19ft – 5.8mtr yacht 3000 miles solo across the Atlantic! Now It’s Time! That day arrives! 12 sailors just set off doing just that!

The race started in patchy, drifting conditions, unusual for the waters around Marina Rubicon, which are renowned for excellent sailing conditions that attract many Olympic sailing classes for training camps away from the European and UK winter. Eventually, the wind picked up! Credit: Nils Jannichsen

The adventure began on Dec. 28th 2024 sailing from Marina de Lagos Portugal 600 miles to Rubicon Marina in Lanzarote, Canary Islands as the first qualifying voyage to enter the Globe 580 Transat. A week of final preparations, parties and fun made a buzz of activity in the days leading up to start which dawned as a clear blue-sky day. A light easterly wind suggested a windward start. The close bond between all entrants on this grand adventure was obvious as last hugs were shared between this special family of sailors. Together they are entering the unknown. In a world where most are wrapped in cotton wool and discouraged from expressing their true self, seeking out challenge, this voyage is real. It’s a genuine adventure that surely has risks they willingly accept , yet they have worked hard to minimise and mitigate those risks.

Twelve passionate, crazy sailors in “Mighty Minis” about to set sail with Don McIntyre, 580 Founder (back center left), and Rafael Lasso, Rubicon Marina manager (back center right).Credit: Aïda Valceanu

On Saturday 11th January at 1400hrs the start gun fired on the third edition of the McIntyre Globe 580 Transat, a true adventure sailing one-design “Mighty Mini’s” that stands out in the crowd from the usual slick ocean racing fleets. Sailed by an eclectic group of adventurous romantic sailors, these passionate men and women of all ages and from all walks of life have one thing in common. They are all chasing dreams. They let nothing get in the way, selling houses, giving up careers and leaving loved ones behind, not just for a month, but for most, nearly 18 months!! WHY? Well after the Atlantic crossing to Antigua, all but one are continuing solo around the world!!!

“It is impossible to describe the emotion as they left the marina…they just wanted to go and they are all a very close brotherhood now, all looking after and watching out for each other …it’s amazing! I have never seen it so intense and happy in all the events we run. I really think building their boats and setting out on such a long-held dream is increasing the fire in their belly. They all know that it is just the start and that the big one, the dream, the MGR is just over the horizon.” – DON MCINTYRE, ALMA Globe 5.80 CLASS FOUNDER & EVENT ORGANISER

Marina Rubicon has hosted all three McIntyre Globe 580 Transats since 2021 and anticipates an even larger fleet of ALMA Globe 580 yachts in the next 2026 edition, including the inaugural TWO-HANDED CLASS. This will be the first ever two-handed MINI Race across the Atlantic, generating strong interest with the fleet limited to 20 entrants. Credit: Rob Havill / G580Transat / MGR2025

Winds were very fluky at the start, dropping to nothing on the 10-minute gun, then fluffy and frustrating with some caught too far from the line with no wind on the gun! Niels Kamphuis (45, NL, #163 Biggest Monkey ) drifted onto the start marker buoy while Renaud Stitelmann (60, CH, #28 Capucinette) was first across the line to pick up breeze and away. Slowly the wind returned, and all shot off toward the south at great speed under asymmetric Spinnakers. Last across the line 40 minutes after the start was long distance swimmer and solo Atlantic rower Jasmine Harrison (25, UK, #88 Numbatou). Sadly, she was caught inshore far from the line with no wind.

An amazing long-range forecast is suggesting solid NE Tradewinds for the next 12-13 days allowing the fleet to bypass the usual Cape Verde Islands as a way point before turning to the west. Cutting this corner could make for a fast passage to Antigua cutting 4-5 days from the trip. After the gun the fleet split into three groups, three heading down the east side of Fuerteventura, another group of six down the west side and a group of three heading far west passing between Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Colourful paint jobs distinguish the ALMA Globe 580 one-design yachts. Christian Sauer (44, Germany) in the Xmas Tree Boat “ARGO” and professional sailing instructor Adam Waugh (UK) sailing “Little Wren” are two of the best. Credit: Rob Havill / G580Transat / MGR2025

48 hours after the start, the fleet is now approx. 240 miles SW of Lanzarote making good speed. They are all clear of the Acceleration Zones between the islands where the prevailing wind is squeezed between the high mountains increasing strength and turbulence. Some experienced 3-4mtr seas and winds gusting to 35kts enjoying the full moon lighting up the seas but looking forward to some sleep!

Leading the fleet Keri Harris (56, UK, #47 Origami) had been averaging 6.9kts for a while, but sailed into the light wind shadow in the lee of Tenerife and slowed to 3kts allowing Adam Waugh (61, UK, #170 Little Wren) to close within 12 Miles followed close behind by Dan Turk (52, CA, #20 Little Bea). The rest of the fleet is stretched across 85 miles to the Southeast, and all are sailing on a South Westerly course to cut the corner in the days ahead. It is already clear that the competition sailing one design yachts with identical Quantum sails will generally keep the fleet together, but a few are super competitive ex-dinghy sailors pushing hard, while others are settling in for the long haul.

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 75th 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.