Countdown to the Historic McIntyre Mini Globe Race
by McIntyre Mini Globe Race 10 Dec 09:12 PST
23 February 2025
The ALMA Globe 5.80 class forms a close-knit community, with builders collaborating and race competitors supporting one another. Pictured here, Hulls 100 and 99 have just been unloaded from a 40ft container in Lagos. (L to R) Daniel Turner, Mike Blenkinsop, Dan Turk, John Blenkinsop © Christine Elizabeth Turner
In just two weeks, on 28 December 2024, a fleet of home-built, plywood ALMA Globe 5.80 yachts measuring 19ft / 5.8m will launch from Marina de Lagos, Portugal, marking the beginning of the third Class Globe 5.80 Transat Race.
Fifteen ocean-ready, self-constructed ALMA Globe 5.80 Mini yachts will compete solo, journeying westward around the globe unsupported in the 2025 Mini Globe Race. This historic world-first event, six years in the making, celebrates the 75th Anniversary of John Guzzwell’s 1955 solo circumnavigation aboard his self-built 20ft TREKKA. The third edition of the Globe 580 Transat race serves as qualifying for the MGR starting on 28 December 2024. Twelve men and women will sail from Marina de Lagos, Portugal, to Marina Rubicon in Lanzarote, then across 3,000 miles of the Atlantic to the Antigua National Sailing Academy before embarking on their global challenge!
With open access to Starlink and various forms of satellite communication and tracking, live event coverage will be available.
The McIntyre MGR is one of three distinct around-the-world events organized by Australian adventurer Don McIntyre and Ocean Frontiers Pty Ltd. The other events include the solo Golden Globe Race in 2018 and 2022 departing from Les Sables d’Olonne, and the crewed Ocean Globe Race from 2023 celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the first Whitbread race.
Following their ‘warm-up’ leg to Marina Rubicon Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, the fleet will set sail for Antigua on 11 January. This transatlantic race of 3,600 miles will qualify competitors for one of the most daring solo around-the-world races ever envisioned, the McIntyre Mini Globe Race.
In the spirit of John Guzzwell and Trekka, the first mini yacht to successfully solo circumnavigate (1955-1959), the race route traverses westward from the Antigua National Sailing Academy through Panama, Tahiti, Fiji, the Torres Strait, the Cape of Good Hope, and Recife, with several additional ports along the way. The longest passages may last up to 60 days at sea. The McIntyre MGR is set to launch from Antigua on 23 February 2025, concluding in March 2026 after an epic 13-month journey covering over 28,000 miles, rigorously testing the sailors and their small yachts.
“When I first share details about the MGR, most people express disbelief, suggesting it’s impossible, so I recognize that this adventure will generate excitement and compelling stories both on and off the water. Unlike the Vendée Globe sprint, this is a feasible and budget-friendly journey that special sailors can undertake, set to inspire and astonish many. The entire fleet of 15 yachts costs less than a single foil of an IMOCA! Yet, these ALMA Globe 5.80 yachts are built to be dependable ocean voyagers, specifically designed for solo circumnavigation, just like an IMOCA!” explains Don McIntyre, the event organizer.
“All participants must fulfill rigorous entry requirements, and safety equipment standards are comprehensive and adhere to best practices, with each vessel assigned a dedicated 24/7 safety manager to oversee daily progress and manage international logistics.”
The McIntyre MGR is set to be a spectacular event for followers. Like all of Don McIntyre’s unique adventure races, such as the Golden Globe Race and Ocean Globe Race, the Mini Globe Race will be thoroughly documented, featuring weekly written and recorded audio updates, daily news, and LIVE Tracker reviews on the MGR Facebook Page, YouTube, and Instagram, alongside continuous fleet tracking via the MGR Yellow Brick YB 24-hour tracker.
While finding a title sponsor for the MGR is ongoing, the Class Globe 580 one-design yacht established in 2020, which has attracted over 235 participants from 35 countries, has secured a unique sponsor for the next five years. Henceforth, the class will be known as the ALMA Globe 5.80. ALMA was founded in 2007 by a discreet and generous philanthropist, aiming to support remarkable individuals who excel in their fields yet remain largely unknown to the public. Does that ring a bell? Like Don McIntyre!
“The manner in which Don McIntyre is making sailing more accessible to ordinary people is truly exceptional and inspiring. Given the frequent discussions around mental health in the media and across social platforms, we genuinely believe that your races have a significant positive impact on the well-being of those participating in your events,” stated an ALMA representative. Follow ALMA’s Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Over the years, ALMA has positively influenced the lives of musicians, artists, solo sailors, individuals with disabilities, and even a big wave surfer who recently rode the largest wave on a bodyboard at the infamous Nazaré in Portugal. ALMA also champions theater and film and proudly supports the imminent launch of a movie on Teenage Suicide, predominantly crafted by teenagers, including the script, original soundtrack, and leading roles.
“I am genuinely thrilled to have ALMA involved in promoting the ALMA Globe 5.80 Class. I have no doubt that this uncomplicated, sturdy, build-it-yourself adventure yacht is establishing itself as a classic in its own right, and adventure generates good people and inspires many!” Don McIntyre, founder of the Alma Globe 5.80 class and event organizer.
The McIntyre MGR features 13 men and two women representing nine nations: five from Australia, three from the United Kingdom, and one each from Germany, Canada, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. Four Australians have transported their boats in containers to the starting point, while one is sailing down from the USA. The remaining competitors either trucked their boats or are sailing to the launch site. Neils Kamphuis from the Netherlands is participating only in the Globe 580 Transat. Each of these men and women, both young and old, has inspiring and fascinating stories, with no two being alike.
Twelve skippers and their teams have already arrived in Lagos, the Portuguese home of the ALMA Globe 5.80 since 2021. Father and son duo Mike and John Blenkinsop, hulls 99 and 100, constructed two identical ALMA Globe 5.80s, both shipped in a 40ft container from Queensland, Australia. In contrast, Dan Turk sailed his “Little Bea” solo across the North Atlantic from Nova Scotia, Canada, to Portugal for the start and is now prepared in Lagos. Teams are required to assemble in the marina no later than December 17, with several Christmas parties planned before the December 28 start.
“It is a tremendous honor to host the start of the Globe 580 Transat as they embark on their journey to the McIntyre Mini Globe Race in Antigua. Lagos was the port for the Portuguese discoveries in the 15th century, and our marina stands as the ideal stopover for sailors, whether they seek short or long-distance adventures. Wishing the best of luck to all competitors!” said Martinho Fortunato, manager of Marina de Lagos.
The race from Lagos to Lanzarote is a 550-mile qualifier for the Globe 580 Transat, following an eight-day stopover. This tradition harkens back to the original Mini Transat started in the UK by Bob Salmon in 1977 and serves as a wonderful way to prepare the fleet before the 3,000-mile race across the Atlantic to the Antigua National Sailing Academy.
“Marina Rubicon is delighted to facilitate the Atlantic stop for the GLOBE 580 Transat. Since the inception of this race in 2021, and again in 2023, we have supported the event and the 580 Class. It is gratifying to witness the growth of both. We are very thankful that Don McIntyre has chosen Marina Rubicon and our team to be part of this extraordinary event. Marina Rubicon extends best wishes to the entire fleet, hoping every starter arrives safely in Lanzarote.” said Rafael Lasso, Marina Rubicon Manager.
