Globe40 2025/26 Stage 2 - the Globe40 takes on the doldrums
by Sirius Events 5 Oct 2025 13:50 BST
2 October 2025
Globe40 2025/26 Stage 2 Day 4 © Jean-Marie LIOT / Globe40
The Class40s of the second edition of the GLOBE40 set off on Thursday, October 2, from Mindelo, Cape Verde, in magnificent conditions, then glided south in a light breeze.
A calm start to the race suited the crews as they embarked on this second marathon leg of the event, with nearly 7,000 miles to cover. The young Germans of NEXT GENERATION BOATING AROUND THE WORLD took the lead as they left the Cape Verde Islands, while their Belgian and French competitors were stuck in a windbreak off an island in the archipelago. BELGIUM OCEAN RACING had to deal with serious damage, as part of the helm was broken during the start phase after getting caught in a tensioned rope. Ultimately, the Belgian team decided to continue and repair at sea.
But for everyone, the encounter with the famous and dreaded intertropical convergence zone, known as the "doldrums," was approaching; The meeting point between the northwest trade winds of the Northern Hemisphere and the southeast trade winds of the Southern Hemisphere, the doldrums have been a frightening myth since the sailing world of recent centuries: nature runs riot in this space, between calms that can last for days, brutal storms, and lightning of all kinds. The GLOBE40 skippers have therefore had to face the throes of this first difficulty of the course for the past 24 hours, especially since the zone is at this precise moment particularly extensive and active between latitudes 10 degrees North and 2 degrees North, with the development of a small, well-defined depression axis. The competitors successfully negotiated the first convective zone with a very easterly route, and today, the leading group will enter a more relaxed zone that is gradually shifting westward. The beautiful image attached with lightning in the program testifies to the meteorological chaos of the area.
The race has nonetheless lost its rights with already 3 successive leaders since the start; the 3 Class40 scow ("round noses") are within 6 miles; BELGIUM OCEAN RACING, currently the furthest south, took the lead at 02.00 to give it up again by 1.4 miles to CREDIT MUTUEL at 06.00; both at the time these lines are described are making good progress at 0.6 knots; and the pointy noses which are following the leading group at 80 miles the tension is no less; WILSON AROUND THE WORDL is still making a very good run, currently leading the sharps. The duels of the previous legs have resumed for BARCO BRASIL and FREE DOM, while JANGADA RACING and WHISKEY JACK are doing the same after the latter's somewhat daring solo attempt to the west.
This morning, 600 miles have been covered since leaving Mindelo. The skippers are feeling the heat with this gradual descent towards the equator, water temperatures at 30 degreesC, and the stormy atmosphere of entering the doldrums. The race should still last at least 24 to 48 hours for the frontrunners before crossing the equator, located 440 miles to the south, and before catching the flow of the southeast trade winds for a long port leg around the St. Helena High.
Verbatim: Julia Virat aboard Whiskey Jack
"We're living the legend, ha ha, the mythical doldrums are spoiling us!
Since last night, we've been sailing from storm clouds to calm areas without wind. Actually, not even that! Without wind, it would be almost easier than what we actually have: a light wind that sometimes turns 180 degrees, making any attempt to choose or adjust the sail futile... Lightning everywhere, torrential rain, strong winds and gusts in any direction, as long as it's unpredictable...
Well, the good news is that it's very beautiful.
Tonight it was like a scene in black and white. The black of the sky thickening gravely under the most promising clouds, the white of the moon continuing to diffuse its light behind the thinnest veils of cloud, outlining the silvery contours of the surrounding clouds.
And Beneath that, the boat, tossed about with its sails, also black and white.
This morning, it's a real festival! Every color is there. I see a tiny patch of blue sky amidst the enormous clouds, their outlines gilded by the rising sun. There's pink, yellow, orange, purple—it's magnificent!
Amazingly relieved that it's finally daylight.
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