McIntyre Mini Globe Race begins, Caribbean 600 send off, Cole Brauer's new gig
by David Schmidt 25 Feb 08:00 PST
February 25, 2025
ALMA Class Globe 580 one design Yachts are building in 37 countries with nearly 100 active builders. After the third running of the Globe 580 Transat Race and now start of McIntyre Mini Globe Race imminent, interest in this unique class is growing rapidly © World’s Toughest Row / MGR2025
There's an old saw that goes something like this: Thou shall not sail offshore on a yacht with less waterline, as measured in feet, than thou has in years. I first heard this 20 years ago when I was doing a distance race with my dad and some of his buddies aboard my family's former J/44, and I remember being surprised that some of the crew—who, based on the above maxim, should have been sailing aboard 60-footers—wanted more waterline. As the guy doing bow, I was pretty happy that I didn't have to deal with an even bigger spinnaker pole.
But now, 20 years deeper, I see the wisdom of the saying, especially as my old sports injuries creep their way into my recovery curve from hard days spent on the water.
All that to say that I've clearly gone soft in my gathering years.
Case-in-point: the McIntyre Mini Globe Race, which began on Sunday (February 23) on the waters off of Antigua, is taking 16 singlehanded sailors on an around-the-world course aboard homebuilt 19-footers called ALMA Globe 580s.
The course, as mentioned last week, transits from the Atlantic to the Pacific via the Panama Canal, and it transitions from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean via the Timor Sea, but it boldly rounds the Cape of Good Hope before then crossing the South Atlantic and working its way back to Antigua.
There are stops along the way, but there are also proud sections of nothing but big blue on the charts.
Let's zoom back in on the fact that these are homebuilt 19-footers that are being sailed by adults who—again, according to the above maxim—should be racing in 30-, 40-, 50-, 60-, and even 70-footers.
"I've raced solo around the world in a [50-foot] yacht and solo across the Atlantic in a Globe 580," said Don McIntyre, the race organizer, said in an official race communication. "Our MGR entrants may be sailing little yachts, but the adventure is huge and just as emotional and demanding in many ways as the big boat solo events.
"Yes, it is all cute and fun in the ports, and budgets and workloads are mini by comparison, but alone at sea, when you are the only person to face the challenges 24 hours a day, the fear can be just as real and the physical and emotional strain just as intense," McIntyre continued. "The big deal here is that anyone, no matter age, gender, income or skill, can make this happen if they want it badly enough!!"
This is a big deal, indeed. And 25,200 nautical is a long way to race, alone, aboard a boat that could fit inside my office.
According to the MGR's press release, Leg 1, which takes the fleet from Antigua to Panama, began in 15 knots of air that built to 20-25, with gusts into the 30-knot range, within 10 minutes of the starting gun sounding.
These are brave souls.
I can only imagine that these boats are a handful in a breeze, and while the loads are certainly a lot lighter than those found aboard bigger keelboats, the amount of space—both on deck and below—sounds tight. Granted, I stand 6'1", but I can already feel my body banging against the tiny boat in a seaway. Then there's the matter of moving around on a pitching deck, and I start seeing the wisdom of going to sea on boats whose waterline matches my age.
That said, these 16 sailors are off at sea engaging in an adventure of a lifetime, while I find myself sitting in my admittedly comfortable office, facing a robust week of work.
Suddenly, a 19-footer that's surrounded by a lot of blue doesn't sound so crazy. (But I'll admit that I'd still way rather be making this same circumnavigation aboard my dad's old J/44.) While I can't say that I have plans to build an ALMA Globe 580 in my garage anytime soon, I will be following this race for the next year, and I'll certainly keep a candle lit that their offshore passages are safe and speedy.
Speaking of the warm water and bigger boats, Monday marked the start of the RORC's annual Caribbean 600.
Sixty-six boats, ranging from a 35-footer up to a 100-footer, are contesting this year's edition, which will wend its way past 11 Caribbean islands and across 600 nautical miles of brine before crossing the finishing line off of Antigua.
Given the number of entries, not to mention the quality of the fleet, all participating sailors can expect serious competition, plenty of sail changes and wind shifts, and plenty of tricky transition zones between island-created lees and open waters.
But, given the event's stunning course, which stretches from St. Maarten to Guadeloupe, they can also expect some fantastic scenery.
And, as anyone from North America knows, the weather should be a heck of a lot finer there than it is here.
Finally, American solo skipper Cole Brauer has been in the news a lot of late.
Brauer was recently recognized for her amazing work in the Global Solo Challenge, in which she finished second, becaming the first American woman to race nonstop around the world. She also earned some headlines for her recent 70-day passage from Spain to Hobart, Tasmania aboard First Light, the Class 40 that she raced in the GSC, with Elizabeth Tucker, the boat's new skipper.
And while the two were sailing First Light from Hobart to Sydney, where Tucker is based, the news broke that Brauer has been named the new co-skipper of the IMOCA 60 Malizia—Seaexplorer.
Brauer will be joining Team Malizia's skipper Boris Herrmann and fellow co-skipper Will Harris.
"Becoming part of Team Malizia is truly a dream come true," said Brauer in a team communication. "The first time I experienced foiling on Malizia - Seaexplorer was in New York last year. The feeling was unbelievable! Now, I get to race on this amazing boat, bring my own experience to the team, and fully join the Malizia family. I'm so excited to learn from this remarkable group of people and take part in exciting races of the IMOCA circuit."
The team has their work cut out: 2025 will include racing and training aboard Malizia—Seaexplorer, as well as competing in the Admiral's Cup (the team will take on this event aboard two yachts, a TP52 and a Carkeek 40).
Then, in late August, Team Malizia will take part in The Ocean Race Europe.
Hats off to Brauer for inspiring a new generation of offshore sailors through her impressive work in the GSC, and for earning her way into sailing's big leagues. We at Sail-World strongly suspect that we will be hearing a lot more from Brauer in coming years, and we wish her great luck with her latest endeavor.
May the four winds blow you safely home.
David Schmidt
Sail-World.com North American Editor