National Sailing Academy Antigua starts the McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR) in three days
by McIntyre Mini Globe Race 21 Feb 15:02 GMT
23 February 2025
The 15 men and women, about to risk it all and race solo around the world in an adventure that many believe is impossible. They have all worked hard to make the start line. One previously commanded an English Aircraft carrier, another swam length of UK © Rob Havill / MGR2025
On Feb. 23rd at 11.30am local time, 15 solo sailors will set off from Falmouth Harbour ANTIGUA in home-built ALMA GLOBE 580, 19ft-5.8 metre plywood yachts to race 26,000 miles around the world.
They will not return until March of 2026! This is the first time Antigua has ever hosted an around the world yacht race and this one is sure to attract the attention of people around the Globe.
This world first event, never attempted in mini yachts is hosted by the National Sailing Academy where all entrants are moored making final preparations and counting down to the start.
These adventurous men and women representing eight countries arrived two weeks ago after racing 3000 miles solo across the Atlantic in the third edition of the Globe 580 Transat (also hosted by the National Sailing Academy) from Marina Rubicon in the Canaries to Antigua as part of their qualifying requirements to enter the McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR).
The McIntyre MGR is organised by Australian adventurer and solo sailor Don McIntyre who also organises two other circumnavigating events, the well-known solo Golden Globe Race starting from Les Sables d'Olonne in France and the fully crewed Ocean Globe Race starting from the UK.
This MINI solo challenge is extreme by any definition and sure to deliver many dramatic emotional and amazing stories. The passion and enthusiasm of the crews in this adventure is nothing short of remarkable. After years of building their boats in backyards and garages around the world, then preparing themselves and their tiny yachts, they are all eager to get under way. Living for over a year in a plywood box, facing all the oceans of the world is a life defining challenge.
From Antigua, the MGR fleet sails directly to Panama, but instead of transiting the canal they will be trucked across to the Pacific side. Then they sail across the Pacific for Fiji arriving in mid-June for a three-week stopover before continuing the race across the top of Australia and then deep south to the Southern Ocean bound for Cape Town in South Africa. After an extended Xmas break beside Table Mountain, it is up and across the South Atlantic to Recife in Brazil for the final stopover before heading home to Antigua.
An MGR welcome reception was held at the National Sailing Academy on the 17th February, attended by His Excellency Governor-General Antigua Barbuda Mr Rodney Williams and European Parliament Minister Mr Chet Greene (Antigua's Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Immigration). Both were delighted to meet the entrants and hear their stories. The Honourable Mr Greene gave a rousing humorous address recognising this extreme adventure and challenge, bordering on lunacy (in its literal form) and noting that "Mr Google" suggests that originality demands a degree of "Lunacy" which leads to innovation! so complimented the organisers. He was happy to see the Antigua Barbuda name and flag sail around the world.
The start of the MGR also marks the official launch of the Globe Yacht Club, open to any circumnavigating sailors. Don McIntyre presented His Excellency the Governor General with the first GYC Burgee, official GYC gold coin and a 2025 MGR bulkhead plate to mark the occasion.
The next day work stopped for a special sailing day with these adventurous skippers onboard their ALMA Globe 580 One Design Class yachts. A group of "Sailability" sailors and local school children were given a chance to experience this grand adventure out on Falmouth Harbour in a stiff breeze! These yachts are specially designed to race around the world and are proving very popular with sailors from 37 countries currently building them. The school kids did not stop smiling all day!
Start day promises to be quite a spectacle inside Falmouth Harbour with the start line just off Pigeon Beach, a fantastic viewing opportunity for all spectators to watch the action. After leaving the Academy dock at around 10am the fleet will parade with Fog horns blaring past the Caribbean 600 yachts assembled and around Falmouth Bay Marina for all those having Sunday morning coffee to cheer on, before these mighty mini 580 yachts make their way to the start area and off around the world! MGR Organisers hope to see locals and visitors out on the water in tenders or yachts for a rousing farewell and good luck in Antigua's first ever solo around the world yacht race.
"It is very exciting for us to be here with the National Sailing Academy Antigua to launch the Mini Globe Race which has been six years in the planning. The warm welcome, super friendly locals and great support has brought us back three times with our 580 Transat race and we love it here. The sailors are excited and making the most of their perfect surroundings and will be sad to leave, but at the same time, excited to start this unbelievable adventure and wondering when they will return!": Don McIntyre, ALMA Globe 5.80 Class Founder and Event Organiser.
The McIntyre Mini Globe Race is a world first event and has never been attempted by Mini Ocean racers. The course around the world celebrates the 75th Anniversary and follows in the footsteps of John Guzzwell, who in 1955 set off in his home built 20ft timber yacht TREKKA to become the first ever "Mini Yacht" to sail around the world.