Globe40 2025/26 Stage 2 - 33-minute gap at the equator for leaders, fleet out of the doldrums

Globe40 Stage 2 day 10 - Another sunset but no wind © Jangada Racing

A gap of only 33 minutes at the Equator between BELGIUM OCEAN RACING-CURIUM in the lead and CREDIT MUTUEL this Wednesday, October 8, late morning, with 16 leadership changes between four Class40s since the start in Mindelo... no, this isn't the finish of the CIC NORMANDY CHANNEL RACE... but the second leg of the 2025/2026 GLOBE40; and the frontrunners have 5,859 miles left to cover at 6:00 PM on the direct route.

It's difficult to come up with other figures to demonstrate the sporting intensity of the event for those who think it's just a beautiful journey to exotic lands... but you still have to get there and before the nearest competitor. The Franco-Belgian confrontation is not letting up and these two have clearly decided not to leave each other, and it's likely that this will last for a while yet. But beware, the young Germans of NEXT GENERATION BOATING AROUND THE WORLD were not very successful in their crossing of the doldrums, and are currently more than 100 miles behind the leaders, but in the new phase that is coming up, a long port tack to get around the St Helena high of at least a week to 10 days, the speed differences are likely to make the difference and we know the German sailboat is very fast at certain points of sail. And with only 15% of the course (a little over 1,000 miles out of 7,000) having been sailed, the story is far from over.

For the fleet of sharp-nosed Class40s (the "sharps"), this doldrums will leave its mark; for the past four or five days, for some, the place has lived up to its historic reputation: particularly extensive, particularly unstable, and particularly difficult to navigate during this period. A timeless, almost philosophical moment, where time seems to stand still, where moving at 1 knot becomes a feat, all in temperatures of 35 degreesC outside and 30 degreesC in the water, a life punctuated by squalls, gusts as strong as they are unpredictable, lightning, and overly dark clouds... Nature exults and brings the sailors back to their fragile dimension, as frail individuals passing through this maritime beyond. In any case, the images are beautiful, and the skippers were able to enhance their anticipation by capturing these powerful photos and images. Thank you all for your submissions; in the daily competition for the best Instagram post, it seems that the Austro-English crew of WILSON AROUND THE WORLD could be nominated with the superb images submitted.

On this Wednesday evening, the fleet of pointus is slowly emerging from the doldrums, having encountered a light breeze since the start of the day, allowing them to regain speeds that seemed somewhat unattainable the day before. Surprisingly, the group of five finds itself practically on the same line from east to west, with gaps sometimes very small: BARCO BRASIL and FREE DOM have resumed their shared dance, 0.4 miles apart at 18:00, while WILSON is keeping watch 10 miles away. And JANGADA RACING and WHISKEY JACK, after another breakaway and then an equally surprising comeback from the latter, will also be getting back to their old ways. Heading south, a long stretch between Brazil to the west and the St. Helena High to the east, before the big leap to the forties and the tip of South Africa. This adventure in the Doldrums will remain a lasting memory for all these sailors, most of whom were crossing it for the first time.

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