Globe40 Leg 6 Update: Fierce Strategies and Competitions on the Road to Lorient
by Sirius Events 7 Apr 05:59 BST
7 April 2026
Globe40 Leg 6 - Credit Mutuel © Jean-Marie Liot / Globe40
Having set off a week ago from Recife, Brazil, the eight competitors in the final leg of the 2025/2026 GLOBE40 have already encountered several different conditions: a doldrums crossing quickly after the start, but relatively mild and completed in two days; a long stretch of sargassum seaweed with a very strong presence offshore, either isolated or in entire patches; and since this weekend, a strong acceleration by the leaders, who have regained the high speeds of the Southern Ocean in the Northeast trade winds.
However, at no point have they been able to sail a direct route, and to date, they have covered nearly 1,936 nautical miles, but only 1,230 nautical miles on the direct route, more than 60% further. The culprit is the infamous Azores High, positioned far west of the archipelago of the same name, which will likely force everyone to make a wide detour. Before they can hope to find a low-pressure system that would propel them downwind at full speed towards Europe, unless a third scenario, predicted by some forecasts, predicts a significant lull in the final miles towards Lorient. In any case, it's a fertile ground for strategists, depending on whether the high-pressure system moves eastward, whether a low-pressure system arrives, and whether the approach to Lorient will be quick or slow.
The fleet's mindset seems to be in perfect harmony among the different teams: after a start to the leg where everyone was sizing each other up in this final push, it's clear for the past few days that a single watchword is on everyone's lips: FULL SPEED AHEAD! No more holding back now; they need to go as fast as possible before the big right turn, rounding the Azores, and entering the Bay of Biscay. The whips are out, the men—and women—will be going all out, and the equipment will have to hold up.
In the 10:00 PM rankings on Monday evening, only 2.4 miles separated CREDIT MUTUEL, still in the lead, from BELGIUM OCEAN RACING - CURIUM. After being slower in the first few days, then regaining the lead following a brilliant westerly tack, the French team briefly believed they had a maximum advantage of 28 miles and could break away. But the Belgians had other ideas, and finding the right settings between two patches of seaweed, they are now cruising at 18 knots in pursuit of the white horse...
180 miles behind the leading group, the other seven competitors are separated by just 112 miles, with varying degrees of positioning to the east and south. NEXT GENERATION, in 3rd place, has chosen a more easterly position. BARCO BRASIL has gained a slight lead over WILSON - the oldest boat in the fleet - which is still sailing a remarkable race. FREE DOM is determined to overtake the latter two, and WHISKEY JACK is 35 miles behind. JANGADA RACING has opted for a much further easterly position; we'll have to wait until they round the Azores at the end of the week to see if this strategy pays off.
In any case, this final leg, of which only about a third has been completed so far, is thrilling and should remain so given the unpredictable weather forecasts and the fierce determination of the riders.
To follow the race visit www.globe40.com/cartographie.