McIntyre Mini Globe Leg 2 underway

The entire fleet of 15 ALMA Globe 580 mini’s successfully trucked across Panama from Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean in ten days.
Three pitstops planned, Marquesas 4700 miles – 8 days, Papeete 500 miles- 7 days, Tonga 1500 miles – 8 days, then to Vuda Marina Fiji finish – 500 miles, arriving late June.
Strict NOR celestial Nav requirements challenging for entrants. One retires racing but continues to cruise the pacific with the fleet.
Windvanes, Starlink Mini, solar charging and rigging were the big issues for this stopover, with weather and avoiding shipping the next challenge.
“All for one and one for all” as the skippers’ pool resources and skill sets to stay in the game.

In an extraordinary feat of maritime logistics the McIntyre Mini Globe Race fleet has completed an unprecedented overland Transfer of 15 ALMA Globe 580 yachts from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This sets the stage for the most demanding leg of their around-the-world adventure. On Tuesday 25th March they set off on leg 2, a 7,200-Mile Pacific Challenge to Vuda Marina Fiji, the longest of five legs in this extraordinary 26,000 mile solo odyssey around the world sailing plywood home built 19ft-5.8mtr minis.

Pacific Odyssey Begins

The start gun fired in 33 degree temperatures and 5 to 10 kt winds beside the approach channel to the Panama Canal. Constant shipping movements meant electric engines were allowed to be used under the Sailing Instructions. The “Flamenco Signal” port control advised a window between ships to allow a quick transit across the busy canal and freedom to the Pacific. Later that night Dan Turk ( #20 LITTLE BEA / CA ) found himself in light winds and strong currents being pushed toward rocks and requested assistance from Christian Sauer (#103 Argo / DE ) who returned 1.5miles to tow him to safety. Dan‘s outboard battery died from 70% to zero unexpectedly over just two minutes? Shortly afterwards, the fleet entered a favorable 2-3kt current for about 180 miles, a great way to break clear of the land in light winds. Now on their way across the Pacific, competitors face a monumental 7,200-nautical-mile epic Leg 2 race to Fiji.