The 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe Race has reached Lanzarote with plenty of stories already written and another weather challenge taking shape. On day 11 of this solo, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world race — sailed in small full-keel production yachts that left Les Sables-d'Olonne on 6 September — the fleet has arrived at its first film-drop gate at Marina Rubicón, with roughly 301 days still to go.

France's Damien Guillou, aboard the Rustler 36 SOLAREM, was first to arrive and happy to discover he was leading for the first time. Seven hours later came Ireland's Pat Lawless on his Saltram Saga 36 SILVERMINES HYDRO, shocked and delighted to find himself second when he had been convinced every Rustler 36 was ahead of him. Both completed their first film-drop rendezvous at Marina Rubicón on 16 September, and both were soon heading south again at speed.

Damien Guillou at the helm of SOLAREM off Lanzarote
Damien Guillou at the helm of SOLAREM off Lanzarote. © Don McIntyre / GGR2026

Lanzarote: a Marina Rubicón film drop, a mast climb — and straight back to sea

Guillou reached the Marina Rubicón buoy at 12:15 local time on Wednesday 16 September. After his twenty-minute interview with the GGR team, he anchored for about an hour to tackle a job best not postponed: he climbed to the masthead to replace a sheave in the spinnaker block, using the relative calm to complete the repair himself. Anchoring for unaided repairs is permitted under GGR rules; bringing in a shore team is not. Even within sight of a marina, self-reliance remains central to the challenge.

At 19:15, Lawless followed. With one reef in the mainsail and his headsail furled, he eased the pace but was still making five to six knots as the race team's RIB kept station alongside for his interview. These are rendezvous, not stopovers, mirroring the efforts of the 1968 pioneers: a brief chance to collect footage, recordings and letters before continuing south. There is no compulsory rest at Lanzarote.

Pat Lawless greets the GGR team on learning he is second
Pat Lawless celebrates on learning he is second, just seven hours behind the leader. © Rob Havill / GGR2026

"This is exactly what makes the Golden Globe such an extraordinary adventure. Damien anchors, climbs his mast, fixes the problem himself and gets straight back into the race. Pat is chasing hard, the boats behind are finally flying, and now another windless trap threatens to split the fleet again," said founder Don McIntyre.

The Bay of Biscay breakaway that changed the race

The leaders' advantage was laid down on 9 September, when a high-pressure system spread lighter winds across the Bay of Biscay. Guillou's position close to the Spanish coast gave him a favourable angle towards Cape Finisterre. By the next day the contrast was stark: Guillou logged 162 nautical miles in 24 hours while Britain's Henry Wootton (PRIVATEER) managed just 24 and Canada's Isa Rosli (OLLEANNA) was almost stationary. Even so, the lead refused to settle: on 13 September Guillou was about 83 miles ahead of Lawless, and as the wind eased the Irishman clawed back some 30 miles in a single day to cut the gap to roughly 50.

The chasing fleet, finally flying

Behind the leaders, the pursuit has been anything but passive. Italy's Andrea Lodolo (BIBI) heads the chase, with Britain's Ertan Beskardes (MISS BEAGLE) firmly in contention. Some duels have been close enough to watch without a tracker: on 11 September Switzerland's Etienne Messikommer (BERNARD) and Italy's Guido Cantini (HANNAH OF COWES) were half a mile apart, and on 17 September Messikommer and Israel's Daniel Pinsky (EXODUS) were just 1.9 miles apart.

Pat Lawless's SILVERMINES HYDRO sailing off Lanzarote
Pat Lawless's SILVERMINES HYDRO heads south after the Lanzarote rendezvous. © Don McIntyre / GGR2026

deBoer's comeback and a stretching fleet

For American Guy deBoer (SPIRIT), nearing the Canaries carries particular weight: his 2022 race ended when his yacht grounded on Fuerteventura after the Lanzarote film drop. His return has already shown how quickly fortunes change, jumping from 27 to 177 miles between reports; he is now on his backup Windpilot after trouble with his Hydrovane brackets. France's Louis Kerdelhué (IE CHARGE) also had to improvise a windvane repair. Further back, Wootton has transformed his week with 172 miles in 24 hours, and Norway's Mara Løvenskiold Kveseth (SHOWGIRL) logged 161, sailing brightly on GGR Window Live.

Mara Lovenskiold Kveseth on deck of SHOWGIRL
Norway's Mara Løvenskiold Kveseth aboard SHOWGIRL. © GGR Window LIVE / GGR2026

At the back, a race against the calm

For Sweden's Pär Nyman (LAZY OTTER), the opening challenge was simply getting back to sea after repairs in Les Sables-d'Olonne, while Turkey's Selim Yalçın (HELP DISABLED CHILDREN) has balanced forward progress with work aboard. Both could be exposed to the fading winds forecast for 20–21 September on the northern approach to the Canaries — a real risk that the fleet splits again while the leaders keep pulling away.

GGR2026 tracker map on 17 September
The GGR2026 tracker at 16:30 UTC on 17 September, with the leaders already beyond the first gate. © GGR2026 / YB Tracking

Through GGR Window Live, followers watch the contrast between hard-driving sailing and the ordinary routines of life aboard. The system offers one-way live coverage: it brings the sailors' world ashore without giving them a window out. The GGR remains a race of traditional navigation and individual decision-making.

Gunnar Christensen below deck aboard POMPOEN
Gunnar Christensen below deck aboard POMPOEN. © GGR Window LIVE / GGR2026

The boats are moving fast again. The question now is how many can keep moving if the wind switches off. To follow the race live and meet all the skippers, visit the official Golden Globe Race website.