The twelve remaining skippers in the 2026 Golden Globe Race are 8,000 miles into their solo, nonstop, and unassisted circumnavigation and rapidly approaching the roaring forties.

On 3 November, frontrunner Damien Guillou became the first of the 2026 fleet to pass the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope.

He reported uncomfortable wind-against-current seas as he approached the waters where he was forced to retire by a self-steering failure in 2022.

A developing system could bring Guillou into winds of 25–28 knots around 6 November, followed by 6–7-metre seas.

GGR latest at a glance:

• Ertan Beskardes in second place
• Etienne and Andrea jostling for third
• Big storms, big damage for Daniel Pinsky
• Guy deBoer advised to retired after multiple injuries
• Mara banned from livestream

Beskardes settles into second

Pat Lawless’ retirement leaves returning entrant Ertan Beskardes in second place, and rapidly gaining ground.

While he proceeded at 4.5-5knots near a low-pressure system at the start of the week, he reported confused seas caused by the changing wind direction.

The conditions caused inconsistent speeds. Clad in warm gear and a fur hat, Beskardes now reports surfing between 8kts and 1 kt, and an average speed of 7kts.

‘Last night the waves were big, 5-6 metres. You can’t really sleep because you’re worried one will come and smack you on the side,’ he says in his livestream.

Concerned about pushing the boat too hard, Beskardes has reduced sail and opted for caution.

He says he is studying texts on ocean currents, including one by Jimmy Cornell, in preparation for the Southern Ocean.

The chasing pack

Stronger conditions seems to have (quite literally) put the wind back in Etienne Messikommer‘s sails.

The Swiss skipper has been making 6.5 knots, with 138 miles of daily progress.

Earlier in the race, Messikommer discussed struggling with motivation on his Live Window broadcasts, even wondering whether to quit.

Now he reports from Bernard, ’40+. Storm sail. Biggest sea I ever saw, beautiful & scary. Eating Haribos. Saw first albatross.’

Winds around his position are estimated at 28 knots, potentially gusting to 35, but the approaching high could soon interrupt his advancement.

Andrea Lodolo, who was been forced to sail west to survive an unfavourable low, is also making steady eastward progress.

He and Messikommer are still jostling for 3rd.

Big storms, big breaks

The last weeks have seen the passage of 3 storms with winds above 60 knots, with forecast gusts in some areas reaching 70 and plenty of broken gear.

‘I have been through storms like that before. Nevertheless I was afraid,’ reported Daniel Pinsky from Exodus.

‘I hand-steered EXODUS under bare poles in 60+ knots… shaking from cold, soaking wet after multiple crushing waves.’

Exodus was ‘a mess’ after the storm, he tweeted.

Pinsky experienced damage to the plywood vane on his self-steering gear and the failure of several hanks on his storm-jib.

In between bouts of heavy weather, he also had to climb the mast to recover a lost storm-jib halyard.

Just behind the chasing pack Pinsky has been keeping in touch with Mara Løvenskiold  and Henry Wootton, exchanging weather information over the radio.

Henry Wootton logged an impressive 174 daily miles on his Cape George 36, Privateer, while Pinsky is still recovering from his bout of storm-sailing.

Guido Cantini follows close behind their cluster. He writes, ‘Saw my first albatross today. an emotional moment. it means were at the doors of the ‘Great South’! I’m scared and excited at the same time.’

Further back in the fleet, Matt Woodside is gambling on the stronger, more dangerous winds farther south in a bold move to sail beneath the competition.

‘Good news from the USA on BBC,’ he writes from Tipi Haere.

In his livestream, Gunnar Christensen allowed himself a joyful fist-pump after hearing that Democrats had taken control of both chambers of Congress on the radio.

‘That’s really good news about the state of play in the United States of American with Congress. That’s all I’m going to say,’ he says before redirecting his attention to sailing and preparing a vegan couscous.

His northward track appears to reflect drifting and limited steerage as he makes just 0.7 knots in very light winds.

Pär Nyman‘s recovery of ground following his late start has stalled, but he is making 4.6 knots in apparently gentle conditions, heading in the right direction and maintaining steady progress.

In the meantime Isa Rosli battles barnacles, spending hours in the cold water scraping Olleanna‘s hull, in an ominous echo of team manager Jeremy Bagshaw‘s battles with hull fouling.

‘Light wind all day today & close haul/upwind sailing. Slow & can’t point/sail straight to the waypoint :(‘, writes Rosli.

Guy deBoer told to retire after injury

While sailing in roughly 15 knots of wind, Guy deBoer was thrown across the cabin as he worked at the galley.

He suffered a blow to the head, injuries that restrict his arm movement, and a deep cut under his back, making essential deck work and sail changes difficult.

Following medical advice, Race Management has determined he cannot continue his GGR voyage, even in the Chichester Class. The decision was confirmed on 4 November.

DeBoer remains aboard Spirit and is now being supported with weather guidance while a safe destination is considered.

Race management has suggested Punta del Este, while deBoer has expressed a preference for continuing east and potentially heading to Cape Town. If he continues, it will be at his own peril.

While his destination remains unresolved, he has been advised to steer southeast or east-southeast to avoid stronger winds and find more comfortable conditions.

Mara still suspended from Window Live

Following a string of unsanctioned communications with her team through the GGR Window Live, skipper Mara Lovenskiold‘s participation in the broadcast has been suspended.

Discussions between Race Management, the skipper and her team are still underway.

Technical difficulties with her YB tracker left Showgirl offline for over 28 hours.

Race management has now switched her tracking to an onboard YB3 backup unit installed below deck, which will update every 4 hours.

What’s next for the Golden Globe Race?

With 20,000 miles to go, the Golden Globe Race 2026 fleet now turns to the infamous Southern Ocean.

A developing South Atlantic high is expected to spread lighter winds across the middle of the fleet over the next days, slowing several boats that are currently making good progress.

Farther ahead, Damien could encounter significantly larger swell as the next system passes.

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