Imagine?  Four years of planning, building, then preparing and training while all the time dreaming about sailing your own home-built plywood 19ft – 5.8mtr yacht 3000 miles solo across the Atlantic! Now It’s Time! That day arrives! 12 sailors just set off doing just that!

Marina Rubicon has hosted all three McIntyre Globe 580 Transats since 2021 and anticipates an even larger fleet of ALMA Globe 580 yachts in the next 2026 edition, including the inaugural TWO-HANDED CLASS. This will be the first ever two-handed MINI Race across the Atlantic, generating strong interest with the fleet limited to 20 entrants. Credit: Rob Havill / G580Transat / MGR2025The race started in patchy, drifting conditions, unusual for the waters around Marina Rubicon, which are renowned for excellent sailing conditions that attract many Olympic sailing classes for training camps away from the European and UK winter. Eventually, the wind picked up! Credit: Nils JannichsenThe adventure began on Dec. 28th 2024 sailing from Marina de Lagos Portugal 600 miles to Rubicon Marina in Lanzarote, Canary Islands as the first qualifying voyage to enter the Globe 580 Transat. A week of final preparations, parties and fun made a buzz of activity in the days leading up to start which dawned as a clear blue-sky day. A light easterly wind suggested a windward start. The close bond between all entrants on this grand adventure was obvious as last hugs were shared between this special family of sailors. Together they are entering the unknown. In a world where most are wrapped in cotton wool and discouraged from expressing their true self, seeking out challenge, this voyage is real. It’s a genuine adventure that surely has risks they willingly accept , yet they have worked hard to minimise and mitigate those risks.

On Saturday 11th January at 1400hrs the start gun fired on the third edition of the McIntyre Globe 580 Transat, a true adventure sailing one-design “Mighty Mini’s” that stands out in the crowd from the usual slick ocean racing fleets. Sailed by an eclectic group of adventurous romantic sailors, these passionate men and women of all ages and from all walks of life have one thing in common. They are all chasing dreams. They let nothing get in the way, selling houses, giving up careers and leaving loved ones behind, not just for a month, but for most, nearly 18 months!! WHY? Well after the Atlantic crossing to Antigua, all but one are continuing solo around the world!!!

“It is impossible to describe the emotion as they left the marina…they just wanted to go and they are all a very close brotherhood now, all looking after and watching out for each other …it’s amazing! I have never seen it so intense and happy in all the events we run. I really think building their boats and setting out on such a long-held dream is increasing the fire in their belly. They all know that it is just the start and that the big one, the dream, the MGR is just over the horizon.”

DON MCINTYRE, ALMA Globe 5.80 CLASS FOUNDER & EVENT ORGANISER

Winds were very fluky at the start, dropping to nothing on the 10-minute gun, then fluffy and frustrating with some caught too far from the line with no wind on the gun! Niels Kamphuis (45, NL, #163 Biggest Monkey ) drifted onto the start marker buoy while Renaud Stitelmann (60, CH, #28 Capucinette) was first across the line to pick up breeze and away. Slowly the wind returned, and all shot off toward the south at great speed under asymmetric Spinnakers. Last across the line 40 minutes after the start was long distance swimmer and solo Atlantic rower Jasmine Harrison (25, UK, #88 Numbatou). Sadly, she was caught inshore far from the line with no wind.

They are bound for the National Sailing Academy in Antigua, the host port for the finish of the McIntyre Globe 580 Transat and the start of the McIntyre Mini Globe Race.  Four other sailors are joining the MGR in Antigua expanding the fleet to 15.  The 580 Transat is a qualifier for entrants planning to sail in the MGR which starts on February 23rd, 2025.