Damien Guillou continues to extend his lead as the fleet heads south, while Étienne Messikommer has consolidated third place, matching Pat Lawless’s progress over the past 24 hours. A developing depression near Cape Verde could bring stronger winds and complicate the route ahead, although the latest forecasts also suggest a possible opening through the Doldrums. Meanwhile, further structural concerns have left Guy deBoer’s departure from Lanzarote uncertain.
THE LEADERS
🇫🇷 Damien Guillou
Damien recorded 165 nautical miles in 24 hours, gaining another six miles on Pat. His priority remains building a cushion before the Doldrums, where the latest forecast offers the prospect of continuing south with fewer calms than previously expected.
🇮🇪 Pat Lawless
Pat maintains a strong second place, covering 159 miles in 24 hours and sailing at 6.4 knots. Now around the latitude of Cape Verde, he holds approximately 230 miles over Étienne, giving him a substantial advantage over the chasing fleet.
THE CHASING PACK
🇨🇭 Étienne Messikommer
Étienne is making the most of the stronger breeze, recording 159 miles in 24 hours and sailing at 6.7 knots. Having previously struggled in lighter conditions, he has firmly established himself in third and matched Pat’s daily distance.
🇬🇧 Ertan Beskardes
Ertan remains in the close contest with Guido behind Étienne. With the leading pair well clear, maintaining consistent daily progress will be important as the chasing boats approach the changing weather around Cape Verde.
🇮🇹 Guido Cantini
Guido continues steadily at 6.2 knots, with 142 miles covered in 24 hours. He remains close to Ertan, although Étienne’s stronger daily run has stretched the gap ahead.
🇮🇹 Andrea Lodolo
Andrea’s tracker has stopped updating regularly, leaving his displayed position behind his likely location. His last report, at 00:00 UTC, showed 6.3 knots and 142 miles in 24 hours; race management plans to contact him about the problem.
🇮🇱 Daniel Pinsky
Daniel was sailing at 6.3 knots, having covered 123 miles in 24 hours, allowing Mara to recover six miles on him. His lack of a weatherfax was also discussed: obtaining useful weather information through other permitted sources could become increasingly important as the route grows more complex.
THROUGH THE FLEET
🇫🇷 Louis Kerdelhué
Louis is moving at 5.5 knots, apparently taking a more measured approach after his spinnaker wrap during the Lanzarote film drop. He remains in the middle of the fleet as attention turns towards the developing weather system ahead.
🇨🇦 Isa Rosli
Isa covered 135 miles in 24 hours and was sailing at 5.8 knots. Henry’s faster daily run has reduced the distance between them by nine miles, adding pressure from behind.
🇳🇴 Mara
Mara is maintaining good speed at 6.3 knots, with 129 miles covered in 24 hours. In her latest satellite interview, she reflected on the psychological shift after Lanzarote, as the scale of the voyage ahead becomes more tangible.
🇬🇧 Henry Wootton
Henry is steadily recovering ground, recording 144 miles in 24 hours and sailing at 6.5 knots. His stronger daily distance has brought him closer to both Mara and Isa.
🇬🇧 Gunnar Christensen
Gunnar covered 132 miles in 24 hours and was making 6.1 knots. His position further north means the developing depression could be particularly relevant to his progress over the coming days.
🇺🇸 Matt Woodside
Matt continues south at 5.6 knots, with 126 miles covered in 24 hours. Along with Gunnar, he could encounter the approaching system as it moves northwest, depending on its eventual track and timing.
🇸🇪 Pär Nyman
Pär is taking a wide route around Gran Canaria after his Lanzarote film drop, sailing at 4.3 knots with 90 miles covered in 24 hours. The reason for the detour remains unclear, but it adds distance compared with a more direct route south.
IN PORT
🇺🇸 Guy deBoer
A further hull problem has been identified during work on SPIRIT. Testing under rig load revealed significant hull deformation near the mast area, and race management is awaiting the surveyor’s report before determining whether—and when—Guy can safely restart.
🇹🇷 Selim Yalçın
Selim remains in Cádiz, with no fresh update on his plans at the time of the broadcast. Race management is awaiting further news following his stop to address his radio problems.
WEATHER OUTLOOK
A depression developing near Cape Verde is forecast to move northwest over the next few days. Some forecasts show sustained winds around 35 knots, with gusts potentially reaching 45–50 knots in its stronger sectors, although the models disagree on the system’s precise position and intensity. Race management plans to send the fleet a weather advisory.
Further south, the southeast trade winds are extending north of the equator, potentially reducing the belt of calms across part of the Doldrums. That could help the leaders keep moving, but shifting winds and possible headwinds mean the passage remains far from straightforward.
Daily Report Archive Skipper tweets from 23/09/2026
