One Month To Go! - McIntyre Golden Globe fleet assembles in Les Sables-d’Olonne
The official “Meet the Skippers” press conference will be held on Thursday, 13 August at 17:00 CEST, streamed live on the Golden Globe Race Facebook and YouTube channels.
After years of preparation and online contact - and a November 2025 competitors’ conference that brought part of the group together - the full fleet is now taking shape at the marina. The mood combines relief, emotion, humour, camaraderie and uncertainty. These are responsible risk-takers preparing to face something extraordinary.
For years, each skipper has lived with one overriding goal: reaching the McIntyre GGR start line. Now the reality of what lies ahead looms large. Across the three previous Golden Globe editions, 43 sailors produced only nine finishes. For some there is self-doubt; for others, pure excitement. For all, arriving in Les Sables-d’Olonne is a milestone in itself.
FairWinds Virtual GGR launches today - with a sextant option
The FairWinds Virtual GGR gives followers everywhere the chance to join the adventure and compete around the world in real time. FairWinds is the official virtual sailing partner of the 2026 Golden Globe Race, and registration and GGR races are free.
Virtual sailors can take command of a Rustler 36, race through the same real-time weather systems as the ocean fleet and use celestial or chartplotter tools. Those who want the full retro challenge can navigate with a virtual sextant while following the positions of the real GGR sailors through integrated competitor tracking.
Meet the skippers in Les Sables-d’Olonne
The GGR Vendée Globe Marina pontoon and GGR Pavilion open to the public from Saturday, 22 August. At 14:30 that afternoon, Mayor Nicolas Chénéchaud will officially welcome the 17 provisional entrants to Les Sables-d’Olonne.
The public programme includes daily celestial noon-sight demonstrations at approximately 13:30, entrant poster signings from 14:00 to 15:00, and skipper Q&A sessions at 16:00 in the GGR Pavilion. Live boat tours will run on Facebook from 24 August to 3 September, while official French-language public group tours take place daily from 29 August to 3 September.
From 29 August, visitors can also see two legendary circumnavigation yachts - Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Suhaili and Bernard Moitessier’s Joshua - alongside the GGR fleet.
Fleet update: the final race to Les Sables-d’Olonne
Etienne Messikommer (Switzerland) has arrived aboard his vividly coloured Tradewind 35, Bernard, following an extensive self-led rebuild and refit. He is sailing in support of the PanEco Foundation, raising awareness and funds for the protection of Sumatran orangutans and their rainforest habitat.
Guy deBoer (United States) is sailing the Tashiba 36 Spirit and is due on 9 August - just one day before the arrival deadline.
Henry Wootton (United Kingdom) aboard the Cape George 36 cutter Privateer, and Pat Lawless (Ireland) aboard the Saltram Saga 36 Silvermines Hydro, are expected this weekend.
Colm Walker (United States/Ireland) continues the extraordinary qualifying voyage of his Tayana 37 Mo Chuisle from the west coast of the United States, through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic. His current ETA is 16-17 August. He therefore faces a late-arrival penalty, with his final start decision still pending.
Isa Rosli (Canada) is completing his remaining qualifying miles aboard the OE 32 Olleanna. His current ETA is 12 August, two days after the deadline, and he is also expected to incur a time penalty.
Entrants are required to arrive at the race venue by 16:00 local time on 10 August 2026. For each day late, half a day is added to the skipper’s elapsed race time. All ETAs remain subject to weather, boat speed and technical reliability.
The “Barnacle Battles” begin
Antifouling choices are a major technical focus after marine growth posed a serious threat to performance in both the 2018 and 2022 editions. Most entrants are using a hard antifouling base coat with three softer coats above it. Others are relying on Coppercoat, or on several layers of soft antifouling alone. A poor choice can cost thousands of miles and jeopardise a skipper’s chance of finishing.
Redundancy is another strong theme. Several skippers have fitted twin Hydrovane self-steering units, making dual installations an increasingly familiar sight on the dock. Emergency-rudder arrangements are being checked against long-standing GGR requirements, and every entrant must demonstrate a workable jury-rig solution for sailing home after a dismasting.
Final safety, medical and systems checks
The final month includes comprehensive safety inspections and an additional full day of medical training with MSOS. MSOS also provides 24/7 telemedicine support throughout the circumnavigation. Every boat carries a customised MSOS single-handed offshore medical kit, and each skipper has completed a three-day offshore medical course.
The traditional GGR SITraN Challenge Prologue starts at 14:00 on Sunday, 16 August and returns to the Vendée Globe Marina late on Wednesday, 19 August. The approximately 350-nautical-mile out-and-back course into the Bay of Biscay is the fleet’s final on-water systems check before the start.
Satellite-phone calls and messaging, YB3 tracking and messaging, HF SSB radio, radio beacons and emergency communications will all be exercised. The prologue will also host the first extended public test of the new one-way “GGR Window” LIVE system, which brings viewers aboard without sending modern information back to the sailor.
Heritage on the marina
The International Association of Cape Horners will hold its 2026 Cape Horn Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 16:00 on Friday, 4 September in the GGR Race Village. Video links will connect inductees who cannot attend in person.
Alongside Suhaili and Joshua, two ALMA Globe 580 yachts from the 2025-26 McIntyre Mini Globe Race and the Swan 57 EXPLORER, a veteran of the 2023 Ocean Globe Race will be displayed in the marina. With one month remaining, every day is focused on ensuring the skippers and their yachts are ready for one of sailing’s greatest tests.
“Here we go!”
“The GGR only happens once every four years, but when it does the world experiences something raw, totally and utterly human. It takes this adventure to a completely different level from all other solo races and human competition. Call it what you like, but the GGR stands out. It is a brutal demonstration of the human spirit and a race of attrition like no other.I am very proud of this group of sailors. I am thankful to all the volunteers helping to make this amazing event happen, and for the support of Les Sables-d’Olonne once again. Here we go! Life, hey!” Said Don McIntyre, Founder and Race Chairman
