A week after the start, Damien Guillou and Pat Lawless continue to pull away, while lighter winds threaten to slow much of the Golden Globe Race fleet. Further back, the groups are beginning to merge, with offshore positioning helping some skippers gain ground. Today’s update is based on the 08:00 UTC tracker positions on 13 September.
THE LEADERS
🇫🇷 Damien Guillou – SOLAREM
Damien remains firmly in control after covering 160 nautical miles in 24 hours, extending his advantage over Pat to approximately 83 miles. Making 6.9 knots at the time of the report, he continues to benefit from stronger breeze and a carefully prepared boat, while sharing increasingly inventive camera views through the GGR Window.
🇮🇪 Pat Lawless – SILVERMINES HYDRO
Pat recorded 141 nautical miles in 24 hours and was moving at 6.3 knots. Although Damien gained another 19 miles over the day, Pat remains well clear of the chasing boats and should continue benefiting from stronger wind while much of the fleet slows.
THE CHASING PACK
🇮🇹 Andrea Lodolo – BIBI
Andrea has moved ahead of Ertan into third place, covering 124 nautical miles in 24 hours. Making 5.5 knots, he was approximately 79 miles behind Pat and 17 miles ahead of Ertan, with his steady course helping him maintain strong progress.
🇬🇧 Ertan Beskardes – MISS BEAGLE
Ertan has slipped behind Andrea after a slower 93-nautical-mile day. Making 3.9 knots in lighter breeze, he now faces pressure from Guido as the boats behind close the gap.
🇨🇭 Etienne Messikommer – BERNARD
Etienne delivered a solid 124 nautical miles in 24 hours, matching Andrea’s daily distance. His relatively direct course is helping him make efficient progress, while his talkative GGR Window sessions continue to offer a lively account of life aboard.
🇮🇹 Guido Cantini – HANNAH OF COWES
Guido covered 117 nautical miles in 24 hours and was sailing at 4.6 knots. His straighter offshore route is working well, allowing him to gain on Ertan and remain competitive within the chasing group.
🇮🇱 Daniel Pinsky – EXODUS
Daniel is positioning himself farther offshore, away from the lighter winds nearer the coast. He recorded 102 nautical miles in 24 hours and was making 4.3 knots, although Guido’s stronger daily run has gained him ground.
🇫🇷 Louis Kerdelhué – IE CHARGE
Louis covered 111 nautical miles in 24 hours and was moving at 4.4 knots. Mara’s faster progress farther offshore is bringing her closer, increasing the pressure from behind as the fleet begins to bunch together.
🇺🇸 Guy deBoer – SPIRIT
Guy recorded 102 nautical miles in 24 hours and was making 4.1 knots on the more inshore route. The difference in wind strength has been costly: Mara covered approximately 41 miles more over the same period.
CLOSING THE GAP
🇳🇴 Mara – SHOWGIRL
Mara produced one of the strongest performances in the fleet, covering 143 nautical miles in 24 hours. Sailing farther offshore in stronger breeze, she was making around five knots and is closing on Louis and Guy.
🇨🇦 Isa Rosli – OLLEANNA
Isa remains narrowly ahead of Gunnar after covering 122 nautical miles in 24 hours. Making 4.6 knots, he is maintaining steady progress as the boats farther back begin to reconnect with the middle of the fleet.
🇺🇸 Gunnar Christensen – POMPOEN
Gunnar covered 123 nautical miles in 24 hours, gaining a mile on Isa over the day. His position slightly farther offshore is providing better breeze than the boats nearer the coast, with a reported speed of 4.3 knots.
🇬🇧 Henry Wootton – PRIVATEER
Henry remains on the more inshore route, where lighter wind is limiting his progress. He recorded 91 nautical miles in 24 hours and was sailing at 3.5 knots, behind the stronger daily performances of the boats farther offshore.
🇺🇸 Matt Woodside – TIPI HAERE
Matt covered 58 nautical miles in 24 hours and was moving at 3.4 knots. His inshore position continues to offer less breeze, leaving him with a slower passage south.
AT THE BACK OF THE FLEET
🇹🇷 Selim Yalcin – HELP DISABLED CHILDREN
Selim is moving again after spending several days working on unfinished preparations and making his boat more comfortable. He covered 87 nautical miles in 24 hours and was sailing at 3.7 knots, approaching the race very much as a personal adventure.
🇸🇪 Pär Nyman – LAZY OTTER
Pär is progressing safely and closing on Selim, although he remains absent from the public tracker. He is being monitored through backup tracking equipment, placing him approximately 100 miles behind Selim, while efforts continue to restore his primary tracker or switch the public feed to a backup.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
An expanding area of lighter wind is expected to slow most of the fleet over the next 24 hours, with some boats potentially dropping to 2.5–3 knots. Damien and Pat should initially retain better breeze, potentially adding another 30 miles to their advantage over the middle of the fleet.
The updated forecast suggests slow progress rather than a complete stop. Stronger northeasterly winds should begin spreading south again in roughly 36 hours, eventually providing a faster approach to Lanzarote.
Damien could reach the Lanzarote film gate late on 15 September, with Pat following afterwards, although those timings remain weather dependent. At the gate, skippers will spend 20 minutes sailing slowly while the team interviews them and collects footage, audio cassettes and letters before they continue racing.
Daily Report Archive Skipper tweets from 13/09/2026
