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The Mini Globe Race 2025, an ocean course aboard yachts built by their skippers, is distinguished as much by the compactness of the boats as by the ruggedness of the course. Setting out from Fiji on July 26, 2025, the fleet arrived at Thursday Island, Australia, after a 2,000-mile leg marked by technical incidents, severe weather and demanding navigation through the coral maze of the Great Barrier Reef.
Autopilot failures: navigating under stress
Recurring incidents with Hydrovane and other autopilot systems have led to critical situations. Several skippers had to steer by hand for days on end, including Jasmine Harrison on Numbatou we have to work at sea in an acrobatic posture to tighten the pilot's mounting. Without a functioning pilot, sleep management becomes a vital issue. This shows the limits of redundancy on units of less than 6 meters, particularly exposed to spray and constant pitching.
Navigating the passes: the complexities of Australia's coral reef system
The approach to the Great Barrier Reef via the Raine Island Passage confronted the sailors with short, confused seas, full moon and 1.5-knot adverse currents. Renaud Stitelmann and Keri Harris crossed these passes in the middle of the night, without sleep, for almost thirty hours. This situation illustrates the need for precise coastal navigation in coral areas, without the resources of large sailing ships: no radar, few detailed electronic charts, and a heavy reliance on observation and good seamanship.
Autonomy and safety: an unstable balance
Christian Sauer was struck by his boom, causing an open wound to his skull. In the absence of a doctor on board, he underwent a remote care procedure with MSOS. Although built to the specifications of the Globe 580 class, these yachts have limited space for storing medical equipment. The vulnerability of these yachts makes effective first-aid procedures and individual skipper preparation all the more crucial.
The psychology of solitude: between introspection and tension
Sailing alone on a unit of less than six meters, on the high seas, for several weeks at a time, requires considerable mental resilience. Keri Harris sleeps without a mattress to gain weight, Adam Waugh celebrated a lead with a bath in a bucket of sea water. The leading crew of Stitelmann, Harris, Turner and Pasanau show just how much humor, friendly rivalry and mental discipline are needed to perform in this ocean race.
Amateur construction: between robustness and permanent repairs
ALMA Globe 580 class yachts are built in epoxy plywood by their skippers. This architecture favors accessibility, but requires constant monitoring of structural condition and fittings. Before leaving Fiji, several sailors were still in the process of reinforcing their rigs. The challenge lies in maintaining the unit's reliability, while optimizing performance and weight.
The Mini Globe Race 2025 is more than just a ranking. It highlights fundamental marine skills: sailing, looking after, repairing, enduring. With 7,000 miles to go to Cape Town, every mile covered is a lesson in seafaring on a human scale.
