Fleet finds its feet

The 16-strong Golden Globe Race fleet faces first Biscay test.

Photography by Golden Globe Race

10 September 2026

Sixteen solo skippers are settling into life at sea in the 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe Race, with strong headwinds, rough seas and early repairs providing an immediate test after an emotional departure from Les Sables-d’Olonne.

The 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe Race is underway, with 16 solo sailors beginning an approximately 30,000-nautical-mile, non-stop circumnavigation after departing Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, on Sunday 6 September.

Thousands of supporters lined the harbour channel to farewell the fleet before the sailors headed into the Atlantic for what is expected to be a seven-to-eight-month voyage.

A handshake carrying nearly six decades of Golden Globe history. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the only finisher of the original 196869 Sunday Times Golden Globe, gives one of the GGR2026 skippers a final handshake and a few words of encouragement before leaving the dock at Les Sables-dOlonne. Credit: Don McIntyre / GGR2026 FRANÇAIS Une poignée de main chargée de près de six décennies dhistoire du Golden Globe. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, seul marin à avoir terminé le Sunday Times Golden Globe original de 1968-69, serre une dernière fois la main de lun des skippers de la GGR2026 et lui adresse quelques mots dencouragement avant de quitter le ponton des Sables-dOlonne. Crédit : Don McIntyre / GGR2026

GGR2026 skippers and guests gather around a scale model of Donald Crowhurst’s legendary trimaran Teignmouth Electron. The 2026 edition remembers the complex human story of the original 1968–69 Golden Globe, including Crowhurst’s tragic disappearance, as a new generation of sailors prepares to face the same oceans. Credit: Rob Havill / GGR2026 FRANÇAIS Les skippers de la GGR2026 et leurs invités réunis autour d’une maquette du légendaire trimaran Teignmouth Electron de Donald Crowhurst. L’édition 2026 se souvient de l’histoire humaine complexe du Golden Globe original de 1968-69, notamment de la disparition tragique de Crowhurst, alors qu’une nouvelle génération de marins s’apprête à affronter les mêmes océans. Crédit : Rob Havill / GGR2026

Sixteen GGR2026 skippers leave Les Sables-dOlonne behind as the fleet completes the short coastal course before heading into the Atlantic. Light winds made for a gentle beginning, but the Bay of Biscay would soon deliver strong headwinds, rough seas and the first real test of the seven-to-eight-month adventure. Credit: Don McIntyre / GGR2026 FRANÇAIS Les seize skippers de la GGR2026 laissent Les Sables-dOlonne derrière eux et terminent le court parcours côtier avant de mettre le cap sur lAtlantique. Le vent léger a offert un départ en douceur, mais le golfe de Gascogne allait rapidement apporter vents contraires, mer formée et le premier véritable test de cette aventure de sept à huit mois. Crédit : Don McIntyre / GGR2026

The Golden Globe Race is deliberately different from contemporary ocean racing. Competitors sail older-style production yachts using traditional navigation, without GPS or electronic weather routing, on a course that takes them around the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn before returning to Les Sables-d’Olonne.

Historic farewell

The final days ashore combined safety inspections and briefings with a series of events celebrating the race’s history.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the only finisher of the original 1968–69 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race aboard Suhaili, attended the Captains’ Dinner and gave each of the 16 skippers a final handshake before they left the dock.

The 2026 event also remembered Donald Crowhurst, whose story remains an enduring part of the original race. His son Simon Crowhurst presented the official commemorative coin to this year’s entrants.

A parade of sail brought together historic and traditional craft, including the locally built Viking replica Olaf d’Olonne, the Swan 57 Explorer and Bernard Moitessier’s famous ketch Joshua, along with around 25 wooden Olonnois boats.

Light winds give way to Biscay conditions

The fleet initially faced barely enough breeze to fill the sails as it completed a short coastal course before heading offshore.

Britain’s Henry Wootton, sailing the Cape George 36 Privateer, was first around the final mark.

Conditions soon changed. The breeze strengthened after the first night and, by Tuesday morning, the fleet was encountering southwesterly winds of 25–35 knots and seas around three metres as the skippers worked their way across the Bay of Biscay.

Seasickness and leaks were already being reported across the fleet.

At 12:00 UTC on Tuesday 8 September, France’s Damien Guillou was leading aboard the Rustler 36 Solarem after taking a more southerly route.

The fleet had split between northern and southern options as the sailors attempted to negotiate both the strong headwinds and an approaching high-pressure system.

“Getting out of the Bay of Biscay is always a struggle,” said Golden Globe Race founder and chairman Don McIntyre. “The first boats around may suddenly jump ahead of the fleet by a day or two.”

The Vendée marina packed with supporters ahead of the GGR2026 start. Thousands came to Les Sables-dOlonne to farewell the 16 solo skippers before they disappeared over the horizon for seven to eight months of non-stop, unassisted sailing around the world. Credit: Don McIntyre / GGR2026 FRANÇAIS La marina de Vendée pleine de supporters avant le départ de la GGR2026. Des milliers de personnes se sont retrouvées aux Sables-dOlonne pour saluer les 16 skippers solitaires avant de les voir disparaître à lhorizon pour sept à huit mois de tour du monde sans escale et sans assistance. Crédit : Don McIntyre / GGR2026

Just a few hours before the start of the GGR2026, two very different cabins tell the same story of four years of preparation coming down to the final frantic hours. Louis Kerdelhués Biscay 36 IE Charge is still surrounded by gear, clothing and last-minute preparations. Different skippers, different systems one enormous challenge ahead. Credit: GGR2026 FRANÇAIS À seulement quelques heures du départ de la GGR2026, deux cabines très différentes racontent la même histoire : quatre années de préparation qui se jouent dans les toutes dernières heures. Le Biscay 36 IE Charge de Louis Kerdelhué est encore entouré de matériel, de vêtements et des derniers préparatifs. Deux skippers, deux méthodes un même immense défi devant eux. Crédit : GGR2026

Damien Guillous Rustler 36 Solarem is already packed, secured and ready for sea. Credit: GGR2026 FRANÇAIS Le Rustler 36 Solarem de Damien Guillou est déjà rangé, sécurisé et prêt à prendre la mer. Crédit : GGR2026

The reality of the Golden Globe Race, live and unfiltered. Norways Helga Marie Mara Løvenskiold Kveseth rests below aboard Showgirl after a punishing start across Biscay, where strong headwinds, rough seas, seasickness and frustrating leaks quickly replaced the celebrations of Les Sables-dOlonne. GGR Window Live is bringing these raw moments directly from the boats. Credit: GGR2026 FRANÇAIS La réalité de la Golden Globe Race, en direct et sans filtre. La Norvégienne Helga Marie « Mara » Løvenskiold Kveseth se repose à lintérieur de Showgirl après un début éprouvant dans le golfe de Gascogne, où vents contraires, mer difficile, mal de mer et fuites frustrantes ont rapidement remplacé les célébrations des Sables-dOlonne. GGR Window Live permet désormais de vivre ces moments bruts directement depuis les bateaux. Crédit : GGR2026

Good news from Louis Kerdelhué aboard IE Charge. After reporting that the control head of his Hydrovane was moving freely and could not be secured, the young French skipper considered returning to Les Sables-dOlonne. A few hours later, he reported that a temporary repair was holding and he was continuing south. Credit: GGR2026 FRANÇAIS Bonne nouvelle de Louis Kerdelhué à bord dIE Charge. Après avoir signalé que la tête de commande de son Hydrovane bougeait librement et ne pouvait plus être correctement fixée, le jeune skipper français avait envisagé un retour aux Sables-dOlonne. Quelques heures plus tard, il annonçait quune réparation temporaire tenait et quil poursuivait sa route vers le sud. Crédit : GGR2026

Early repairs for GGR fleet

The opening miles have also produced the first technical problems.

Sweden’s Pär Nyman returned to Les Sables-d’Olonne aboard the Rustler 36 Lazy Otter after losing a critical rigging component before the start and subsequently discovering a rudder problem offshore.

A haul-out revealed a broken bolt, with another snapping during removal. Repairs were underway, with Nyman hoping to restart early on Wednesday 9 September.

French skipper Louis Kerdelhué also reported trouble aboard his Biscay 36 IE Charge when the control head of his Hydrovane self-steering system could not be secured.

Kerdelhué considered returning to Les Sables-d’Olonne, but subsequently reported that a temporary repair was holding and continued racing.

Britain’s Ertan Beskardes, meanwhile, demonstrated the different approach required in a race of this duration. After running as high as second aboard the Rustler 36 Miss Beagle, he stopped sailing overnight to rest before resuming around midday Tuesday.

Following the race

The Golden Globe Race is providing daily tracker briefings and its GGR Window Live service throughout the circumnavigation, giving followers access to onboard footage and updates from the sailors.

Race organisers reported more than 40,000 unique website visitors on start day, while the first daily tracker briefing attracted more than 30,000 viewers.

With the Southern Ocean still around two months away, the fleet must first negotiate the North Atlantic, the equatorial doldrums and the long passage south.

The opening days in Biscay suggest the challenge has already begun in earnest.

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