Storm struck

Tropical Storm Gonzalo has brought a major weather test for the McIntyre Golden Globe Race fleet, with solo skippers facing winds above 30 knots, sudden shifts and seas potentially reaching five metres near Cabo Verde.

01 October 2026

The Golden Globe Race fleet is contending with the developing tropical system as it pushes south, with race organisers identifying several skippers who could experience the strongest conditions as Gonzalo crosses their route.

The National Hurricane Center’s 03:00 UTC advisory on 25 September confirmed Gonzalo was moving north-northwest at seven knots, with maximum sustained winds of 40 knots. The forecast called for strengthening to 45 knots, with gusts reaching 55 knots.

Race control reported four skippers already experiencing winds of 30 to 35 knots as the system developed, with conditions varying significantly depending on each yacht’s position relative to the storm.

The storm builds, and the world watches. This GGR Window LIVE image from 24 September captures the conditions aboard Swiss skipper Etienne Messikommers Tradewind 35 cutter BERNARD. As night approached, he reduced sail and set a reefed staysail in strengthening winds and seas of around three metres, giving viewers a real-time glimpse of the demands of solo ocean racing. Credit: GGR2026 FRANÇAIS La tempête se renforce sous les yeux du public. Cette image de GGR Window LIVE du 24 septembre montre les conditions à bord de BERNARD, le cotre Tradewind 35 du skipper suisse Etienne Messikommer. À lapproche de la nuit, il a réduit la voilure et établi une trinquette arisée dans un vent qui forcissait et une mer denviron trois mètres, offrant aux spectateurs un aperçu en direct des exigences de la course au large en solitaire. Crédit : GGR2026

A snapshot of the race as it unfolds. This YB Tracker screenshot illustrates the fleet positions, routes and wind conditions featured in Don McIntyres daily GGR2026 tracker reports on YouTube and Facebook. Credit: GGR2026 / YB Tracking FRANÇAIS Un aperçu de la course en temps réel. Cette capture décran du tracker YB illustre les positions de la flotte, les routes et les conditions de vent présentées dans les points quotidiens de Don McIntyre sur la GGR2026, diffusés sur YouTube et Facebook. Crédit : GGR2026 / YB Tracking

One of three skippers expected to face the worst of the storm. American sailor Gunnar Christensen works at the mast of his Hans Christian 34 cutter POMPOEN during the Lanzarote film drop. Now farther south, he joins Louis Kerdelhué and Matt Woodside among the three sailors race control expects to be hardest hit by Tropical Storm Gonzalo, with powerful gusts, sudden wind shifts and seas potentially reaching five metres. Credit: Don McIntyre / GGR2026 FRANÇAIS Lun des trois skippers qui devraient subir le plus fort de la tempête. Le marin américain Gunnar Christensen manuvre au pied du mât de son cotre Hans Christian 34 POMPOEN lors du passage à Lanzarote pour la remise des films. Désormais plus au sud, il figure, avec Louis Kerdelhué et Matt Woodside, parmi les trois marins que la direction de course prévoit comme les plus durement touchés par la tempête tropicale Gonzalo, avec de fortes rafales, de brusques changements de direction du vent et des vagues pouvant atteindre cinq mètres. Crédit : Don McIntyre / GGR2026

Among those considered most exposed were France’s Louis Kerdelhué aboard the Biscay 36 ketch IE Charge, and US sailors Gunnar Christensen aboard the Hans Christian 34 cutter Pompoen and Matt Woodside aboard the Cape George 36 Tipi Haere.

As the trio worked southwest, race organisers warned they could encounter rapidly changing winds, swinging from strong southerlies through east and towards north as the system passed.

The shifts could also create confused seas, adding another challenge for solo sailors simultaneously managing sail plans, self-steering systems and fatigue.

Farther west, Britain’s Henry Wootton aboard Privateer and Norway’s Helga Marie Løvenskiold Kveseth aboard Showgirl were better positioned to avoid the worst of Gonzalo if they maintained their progress.

Italy’s Guido Cantini, sailing Hannah of Cowes, was approaching a passage through the Cabo Verde islands, while Israel’s Daniel Pinsky aboard Exodus had passed Santo Antão and was continuing towards the Doldrums.

Canadian Isa Rosli aboard Olleanna had taken a more southerly course and was expected to encounter strong westerly winds before they shifted northwesterly. Sweden’s Pär Nyman aboard Lazy Otter was approaching from the north and was expected to miss the worst conditions.

Westing could make the difference. British skipper Henry Wootton aboard his Cape George 36 cutter PRIVATEER during the Lanzarote film drop. Now pushing southwest, his more westerly position could help him avoid the worst of Tropical Storm Gonzalo as he works towards the Doldrums. Credit: Don McIntyre / GGR2026 FRANÇAIS Gagner dans louest pourrait faire la différence. Le skipper britannique Henry Wootton à bord de son cotre Cape George 36 PRIVATEER lors du passage à Lanzarote pour la remise des films. Désormais lancé vers le sud-ouest, son positionnement plus à louest pourrait lui permettre déviter le plus fort de la tempête tropicale Gonzalo tandis quil progresse vers le Pot-au-Noir. Crédit : Don McIntyre / GGR2026

Repairs stand between SPIRIT and a return to the race. American skipper Guy deBoers Tashiba 36 lies alongside at Marina Rubicón, Lanzarote, while organisers await the surveyors report on the required chainplate and hull structural repairs. The work must be approved, completed and validated before a new green card can be issued for him to continue in Chichester Class. Credit: Don McIntyre / GGR2026 FRANÇAIS Des réparations indispensables avant de reprendre la course. SPIRIT, le Tashiba 36 du skipper américain Guy deBoer, reste à quai à Marina Rubicón, Lanzarote, tandis que les organisateurs attendent le rapport de lexpert maritime sur les réparations nécessaires aux cadènes et à la structure de la coque. Les travaux devront être approuvés, réalisés puis validés avant la délivrance dune nouvelle carte verte lui permettant de poursuivre en classe Chichester. Crédit : Don McIntyre / GGR2026

Holding on as the seas build. Swiss skipper Etienne Messikommer steadies himself below deck aboard BERNARD in this GGR Window LIVE image from 24 September. Still wearing his sailing gear and safety harness, he offers viewers a glimpse of life inside a yacht at sea as night approaches and conditions deteriorate. Credit: GGR2026 FRANÇAIS Bien saccrocher tandis que la mer se creuse. Le skipper suisse Etienne Messikommer se maintient en équilibre à lintérieur de BERNARD sur cette image de GGR Window LIVE du 24 septembre. Toujours vêtu de sa tenue de mer et de son harnais de sécurité, il offre au public un aperçu de la vie à bord à lapproche de la nuit, alors que les conditions se dégradent. Crédit : GGR2026

Window on the storm

The deteriorating weather has also provided a dramatic demonstration of GGR Window Live, the race’s Starlink-powered one-way streaming system.

Swiss skipper Etienne Messikommer was shown aboard his Tradewind 35 cutter Bernard reducing sail and setting a reefed staysail as winds increased and seas built to around three metres.

Developed with Swedish technology partner TriPeak, GGR Window Live allows viewers to watch the sailors at sea without providing the skippers with outside information, maintaining one of the fundamental isolation principles of the Golden Globe Race.

Meanwhile, two competitors remain ashore undertaking repairs.

American Guy deBoer’s Tashiba 36 Spirit remains at Marina Rubicón in Lanzarote awaiting approval of structural repairs involving the chainplates and hull. The work must be completed and approved before a new green card can be issued allowing him to continue in Chichester Class.

Turkey’s Selim Yalcin remains in Cádiz aboard Help Disabled Children while working to resolve radio problems.

GGR Stats launches

Away from the weather, organisers have announced the launch of GGR Stats, a new platform bringing together race data from the 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions of the Golden Globe Race.

The platform will provide information including average speeds, total distances sailed, 24-hour runs, arrivals at key marks and comparisons between boats and skippers.

Developed by GGR volunteer Oron Mizrachi, the platform is intended to give followers a deeper view of performance and route choices across the fleet and between different editions of the race.

At sea, however, the immediate priority remains Tropical Storm Gonzalo and its passage through the fleet.

goldengloberace.com

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