McIntyre Mini Globe Race Leg 3 - Orcas, head wounds and 144-mile days

12 McIntyre MGR ALMA Globe 580 sailors tested their `head protection` mandatory under the Notice of Race with Adam Wade, general manager of Vuda Marina Fiji ,before setting off 10,000 miles across the Pacific to the Southern Ocean, bound for Cape Town, SA © Don McIntyre / MGR2025

The McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR) fleet bid an emotional "Vinaka vakalevu!" to VUDA MARINA Fiji on July 26th, with a start so picturesque it could have been a postcard—if not for the fact that 12 hardened sailors were about to embark on a 10,000-nautical-mile odyssey through some of the planet's most treacherous waters.

• Tight racing as the McIntyre MGR fleet battle reefs, rivalries & Orcas in gruelling Fiji-to - Australian Thursday island section.
• Close quarters intense racing in the Pacific as Skippers push limits in their 19ft/5.8mtr home built ALMA Globe 580 yachts on the 10,000-Mile Odyssey to Cape Town.
• Renaud Stitelmann (#28 Capucinette / CH) holds the lead, finishing Section 1 in Thursday Island at 2:30 AM on 12th August (local time) after 16.5 days. Averaging 5.5 knots and 131 miles per day over 2,200 miles from VUDA MARINA, Fiji, he narrowly leads Keri Harris (#47 Origami / UK) by just 1.5 hours, with Dan Turner (#05 Immortal Game / AU) arriving 9.5 hours behind Keri.
• Boom strikes, sleep deprivation, currents & midnight duels: A wild Pacific ride as the fleet splits entering the treacherous Great Barrier Reef Passage at night, approaching from the Coral Sea in 30kts winds and 3mtr plus seas!"

The University of Fiji's drua (traditional voyaging canoe) I Vola Sigavou marked the eastern end of the start line, while Captain Coconut's trusty COCONUT (the unofficial "Big Mama" boat of the fleet) held the west. A Fijian choir sang farewells, warriors blew conch shells, and the skippers—some still scrambling with last-minute fixes—set off in a light NW breeze.

First blood? A brutal first night out of the blue lagoon. Adam Waugh (#170 LITTLE WREN / UK) spent it hand-steering in 20-30kt gusts, muttering about how this was not the South Pacific paradise he'd dreamed of. Jakub Ziemkiewicz (#185 BIBI / IE) battled an ear infection feeling off!, Jasmine Harrison (#88 NUMBATOU / UK) wrestled a stubborn Hydrovane mount and no sleep hand steering, and Christian Sauer (#103 Argo / DE) questioned his life choices after discovering a faulty rigging terminal just before departure.

UK sailing instructor Adam Waugh onboard Little Wren excited about the new challenges on this tough leg to Cape Town - photo © Adam Waugh / MGR2025

Meanwhile, Renaud Stitelmann (#28 Capucinette / CH) and Dan Turner (#05 IMMORTAL GAME / AU) engaged in a drag race, swapping leads like two kids fighting over the last cookie. Keri Harris (#47 ORIGAMI / UK) —ever the maverick—zoomed off north, muttering, "Why follow when you can lead?"

The Middle Pack: A Floating Soap Opera..The "Friendly Rivalry Club" (aka the mid-fleet) saw Pilar Pasanau (#98 PETER PUNK / ESP) who would ultimately push ahead and join the lead pack, Jakub Ziemkiewicz 's (#185 BIBI / IE), Eric Marsh (#79 SUNBEAR / AU), Josh Kali (#157 SKOOKUM / US), Adam Waugh (#170 LITTLE WREN / UK), Jasmine Harrison (#88 NUMBATOU / UK), and Gary Swindial (#111 Question 2 / AU) were locked in a VHF-fueled gossip fest.

Highlights:

• Jasmine's Hydrovane Yoga: Hanging upside-down over NUMBATOU's stern, loosening bolts like a contortionist mechanic.
• Dan's Orca Encounter: Threw fish scraps overboard, only to be greeted by a pod of killer whales—luckily, they only wanted snacks, not his rudder but started to miss Australia and question going on?.
• Gary's Midnight Flight: Fell out of his bunk onto a kettle. The kettle lost.
• Josh kept Skookum in the groove, hand-steering by day, self-steering by night, and savouring the company of other sails on the horizon racing hard but not for long.

By Week 1's end, Renaud led, Keri lurked in 3rd, and Christian (ARGO)—despite his rigging drama—overtook Ertan Beskardes (#01 TREKKA / UK), who in the rear is still unflappable, still clean-shaven, and still in no rush to spoil a good passage with unnecessary sweat.

WEEK 2: "Reefs, Rivalries & Rogue Booms"

The Great Barrier Reef Gauntlet

As the fleet approached Australia's Great Barrier Reef, things got spicy. Renaud (CAPUCINETTE) was first through Raine Island Passage in the full moon early hours, battling 1.5kt currents and confused seas. Keri (ORIGAMI) followed a few hours later with the moon, channeling his inner naval commander with cryptic messages like "Damage Control State 3, Condition Yankee!" (Translation: "I'm tired but pretending I'm not.") Both did not sleep in the reef for 30 hours.

Keri Harris was multitasking…enjoying and capturing the emotion, contemplating the meaning of life and retirement, all while he looks for and pushes hard to catch Renaud Stitelmann. He sleeps on boards, no pillow or mattress and has left his shoes behind - photo © Keri Harris / MGR2025

Dan (IMMORTAL GAME) screeched past Cape York like a kid on a sugar high, grinning at being back in Aussie waters and dreaming about meat pies with sauce and a beer! Pilar (PETER PUNK) now with the lead pack with pride? She smashed a 144-mile day, proving PETER PUNK is not messing around.

The Mid-Fleet Thunderdome. The Jakub (BIBI) vs. Eric (SUNBEAR) vs. Adam (LITTLE WREN) showdown reached gladiator levels. At one point, BIBI and SUNBEAR were just 2 miles apart, neither skipper sleeping as they dueled under A3 spinnakers. The Race, more important than the adventure.

“A world of his own”…Jakub contemplates where he is and how to keep systems under control, all the while pinching himself to remind him where he is and what he is doing!!..Living a dream!! - photo © Jakub Ziemkiewicz / MGR2025

Eric (SUNBEAR)—the fleet's 72-year-old legend—diverted to Bligh Entrance, 100 miles north gambling on a longer but safer route. Adam (LITTLE WREN) finally pulled ahead of Jakub, celebrating with a bucket bath (Keri's comment: "Not THAT bucket!").

Christian's Boom Surprise (Not the Fun Kind) Christian (ARGO) had a close encounter king hit with his boom, resulting in a head wound that would make a pirate proud with blood! After consulting MSOS medics, he shrugged it off, bandaged up like a Bart Simpson superhero, and kept charging — because what's an ocean race without a little blood? And he was too far south anyway!..but he caught up...

Christian Sauer (#103 Argo / DE ) head butt the boom! blood, groove, headache , but all OK and wondering WHY? because he knew HOW!!! …..OUCH!! - photo © Christian Sauer / MGR2025

Gary's Hydrovane Drama & Darwin Decision..Gary (QUESTION 2) announced he'll retire in Darwin unable to spend more pocket money? His Hydrovane repair (leaning over the stern like a circus act) was heroic, so after one last party in Thursday Island with the "Family" he heads home for less adrenaline-fueled sailing.

Current standings: (as of August 12)

1. Renaud - CAPUCINETTE (Still the boss)
2. Keri - ORIGAMI (The rogue strategist)
3. Dan - IMMORTAL GAME (Orca whisperer)
4. Pilar - PETER PUNK (Speed demon)
5. Jakub - BIBI (Ear infection survivor)
6. Eric - SUNBEAR (Wily veteran)
7. Adam - LITTLE WREN (Bucket-bathing champion)
8. Josh - SKOOKUM (Steady as she goes)
9. Jasmine - NUMBATOU (Snack-powered sailor)
10. Christian - ARGO (Boom-battered but unbowed)
11. Ertan - TREKKA (Cleanest shirt in the fleet)
12. Gary - QUESTION 2 (Darwin-bound but proud)

The lead pack are in Thursday Island and the mid pack have entered the reef and are navigating the hazards at night while the tail enders are about to enter the reef at night! ERIC has gone chasing BLIGH!! - photo © MGR2025

What's next?

The tailenders are still in the coral sea making for the Torres Strait. The leaders after a five-day Pit-stop, push off into the Arafura Sea with its short steep waves and crazy currents, where reefs, tides, sleep deprivation and fishing boats will test them all the way to Cocos Keeling, another dream destination! A paradise 2700 miles west. Then? Their world could literally tip upside down! The Indian Ocean, where Cape Town looms like a distant mirage over the treacherous Southern Ocean with intense low-pressure systems amongst the Agulhas current. With over 7000 miles still to Cape Town. Can Renaud hold his lead? Can Keri's push past ? Will Dan give up meat pies and continue in the MGR? Will Christian's head wound earn him a badass nickname? Stay tuned for stories of the next MGR Leg 3 section.

Fair winds, salty dogs!

Jakub Ziemkiewicz (#185 BIBI / IE) with five Boobies onboard for the night. This guy just wanted to steer! Other entrants had to fight to keep them outside! - photo © Jakub Ziemkiewicz / MGR2025

Follow the adventure

The fleet's progress is being tracked LIVE on MGR's Facebook and YouTube channels, with an ETA in Cape Town by early December. After a brief Christmas break, the final leg to Antigua begins December 28.

This is sailing history in the making—a human-powered circumnavigation in the smallest boats ever to attempt such a feat. The Southern Ocean awaits.