Image: Ertan Beskardes (TREKKA) departing Marquesas, bound for Tahiti. Credit: Mark Sinclair / MGR2025
Pirates, Squalls, and Paradise Found – an exciting life within a huge adventure.
Leaders depart Tahiti bound for Tonga (1500 miles) for an 8 day pitstop, then onto Fiji (500 miles) and the finish of Leg 2 at VUDA MARINA and a four week regroup before the start of Leg 3 to Cape Town, South Africa, on 26th July 2025.
Not so long ago, racing 10,000 miles solo across oceans in a 19ft/5.8mtr plywood box to Tahiti would demand headlines! But these “Mighty ALMA Globe 580 Mini’s” make it look too easy, but it ain’t! And there are 18,000 miles still to go!
South Pacific Shenanigans: MGR Fleet Battles Storms, Sharks, and the Allure of Tahiti
The McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR) 2025 fleet has officially fallen under the spell of the South Pacific—a place where dreams of palm-fringed beaches collide with the reality of torrential rain, viscous squalls, Loud lightening, questionable dinghy landings, and the occasional shark encounter. As Leg 2 (Panama to Fiji) enters its eighth week, the skippers have traded open-ocean solitude for the chaotic charm of French Polynesia, proving once again that adventure sailing and intense racing is equal parts euphoria and exhaustion.
From the mystical Marquesas to the treacherous Tuamotus and finally the long-awaited shores of Tahiti, this leg has delivered everything from 60-knot squalls to impromptu beach BBQs with locals. The fleet is now scattered across the South Pacific, with leaders like Renaud Stitelmann (CAPUCINETTE) well rested in Papeete now bound for TONGA , while the indomitable John and Mike Blenkinsop (DELJA 99 & 100) continue their slow but steady charge westward toward the Marqueseas.
Now from the front (and rear) of the fleet.
PART 1: MARQUESAS MADNESS – Where sailors go to recharge body and sole (OR REPAIR THEIR BOATS)
Renaud Stitelmann (CAPUCINETTE) – The Unstoppable Leader
Renaud, ever the perfectionist, was first into Hiva Oa and wasted no time sampling the local cuisine—though his real victory was navigating the island’s notorious anchorage at night. "I saw the island in daylight but still had to sail three hours in pitch black not fun," he said.
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After a brief stop, he and Dan Turner (IMMORTAL GAME) sailed south to Baie Hanamoenoa on Tahuata Island, where they were given fresh tuna by a French cruising couple. "Sashimi for lunch, then snorkeling with manta rays," Dan reported. "This place is ridiculous."
Then it was a short hop to Ua Pou island 20 miles closer to Tahiti for the taker off , cutting about four hours off your race time! Most entrants did the same plan, but the rolly harbour and tricky surf at the entrance caused anxious moments for some and maybe a penalty for accepting security assistance to get out?
Keri Harris ( Origami) - Fast but not enough!
Keri’s back in the game , happy to have a new ARIES wind vane purchased from another yacht in Marquesas, hunting Renaud, in his sights each day, but failed to catch him.
Dan Turk (LITTLE BEA) – The Canadian Connection
Dan’s arrival in Hiva Oa was marked by an unexpected reunion. "Two Canadians sailed over from another island just to meet me because they heard about the race!" he said. One of them, Jan, even offered to sew him a custom sunshade—using an industrial sewing machine aboard their 45-footer. "Sailors helping sailors—that’s what this race is about," Dan grinned.
He also bonded with Pilar Pasanau (PETER PUNK), his friendly rival since Lanzarote. "We had lunch at a roadside spot where all the locals eat," he said. "I wanted to hit the market, but they close from 12 to 2. Island time, man."
Jasmine Harrison (NUMBATOU) – Birthday in Paradise
Jasmine arrived just after her birthday, greeted by MGR sailors bearing chocolate cake, bread, and—of course—beer. "She went from exhausted solo sailor to party animal in seconds," her mother reported.
Her time in the Marquesas wasn’t all celebrations, though. The anchorage in Hiva Oa was "rolly as hell," but nearby Tahuata Island made up for it. "She swam with manta rays… and two sharks," her mum added. "One was 6 feet long and 2 meters away when she turned around. She grabbed her knife, but it swam off. No drama!"
Christian Sauer (ARGO) – The Ultimate Fixer-Upper
Christian’s journey has been a masterclass in perseverance. Between a worsening skin condition (still undiagnosed), a slipping windvane, and electrical gremlins, he’s had his hands full. "I arrived with flat batteries, and now my solar panels are shaded by the sails every afternoon," he sighed.
Still, he managed to climb ARGO’s mast ( at risk of capsising the mini) mid-passage to retrieve a lost halyard—no small feat for a 100kg man on a bouncing 5.8-meter boat. "I’m not racing, I’m adventuring," he laughed.
Ertan Beskardes (TREKKA) – The Reluctant Island Hopper
Ertan, ever the city boy, found the Marquesas beautiful but… repetitive. "Tropical islands are all the same," he shrugged. "How do people live here permanently?" His solution? Swimming ashore with his clothes in a dry bag (no dinghy), renting a car to explore, and harvesting coconuts with Jakub Ziemkiewicz (BIBI). "The locals are amazing—always offering lifts," he said. "But I’m ready for Tahiti. Civilization, showers, real food."
Pilar Pasanau (PETER PUNK) – The Silent Contender
The Spanish solo sailor has been quietly holding onto 4th place, maintaining her reputation as one of the fleet's most skilled competitors. Her electric autopilot failed but the hydrovane is ok. Communication issues have made it difficult to get updates from PETER PUNK while sailing. While her friendly rivalry with Dan Turk (LITTLE BEA) continues to be a highlight for her.
"Pilar beat me by half an hour into Lanzarote, and she's still ahead now," Dan laughed. "I swear she's part fish—she just glides through the water." Pilar cleared out from Ua Pou ahead of much of the fleet and made steady progress toward Tahiti, her eyes firmly on the podium.
Jakub Ziemkiewicz (BIBI) – Sage, Sharks, and Survival Mode
Jakub, ever the optimist, credited his girlfriend’s "witchcraft" (white sage burning) for keeping storms at bay. Still, BIBI got knocked down hard , the biggest ever near Ua-Pou. "The boat just went over," he said. "I hung on, dragged the mainsail down, and prayed." His solution? A 30-meter warp off the stern to stabilize the boat. "Now I sleep a little better," he grinned.
Josh Kali (SKOOKUM) – The Tortoise Wins the Lifestyle Award
After 41 days at sea, Josh finally arrived in Hiva Oa with just 6 liters of water left but spirits high. "The little boat did great and is a lot of fun to sail!" he reported. His passage was marked by four becalmed days in the doldrums, but he took it in stride, maintaining a relaxed routine of hand-steering by day and audiobooks by night.
"I'd get up, make coffee, choose my sails, put on music, and steer for 10-12 hours," he said. "At dusk, I'd reef down and listen to audiobooks while checking the boat every 40 minutes." His approach may not be the fastest, but it's certainly the most zen. "There's a long way to go," he smiled. "Tortoise and hare, right?" Josh left Hiva Oa bound for Papeete, hoping for clearer skies after rain thwarted his plans to hike in the Marquesas. "I tried to sail to Tahuata Island on my last day, but there was no wind," he shrugged. "So I turned back and ate spaghetti bolognese instead. Priorities."
The Stragglers: Popeye, Blinky, and the Art of Sailing Side by Side
At the back of the pack, John “Blinky” Blenkinsop and Mike “Popeye” Blenkinsop (DELJA 99 & 100) continue their synchronized sailing spectacle, now 700 nm from Hiva Oa. They’ve weathered 60-knot squalls, rib injuries (courtesy of a slippery liferaft), and water balloon fights—all while staying within VHF range. “We call each other 20 times a day,” John admitted. “Mostly to say, ‘You’re too close, idiot.’”
PART 2: TUAMOTU TERROR – Squalls, Shipwrecks & Navigation stress
Renaud’s Brutal Sprint Through the Atolls
Renaud pushed hard and fast to cut straight through the Tuamotus, dodging forecast squalls and battling chaotic currents, claiming it as the toughest section so far where we had to drop sails to sleep or go to the toilet as the sea was too bad for hydrovane or autopilot? "Waves from all directions, thunderstorms every hour, weird currents," he reported. "I didn’t sleep much and was getting only 3 hours a day!!!" His reward? Arriving in Papeete so exhausted he forgot what day it was but time to fix some electronics issues.
Dan Turner’s Pirate Encounter & 60-Knot Squall
Before the weather hit and navigation challenges, Dan had an unsettling encounter. "A fishing vessel turned and followed me for an hour," he said. "No AIS, no VHF response. I wasn’t taking chances so I alerted my manager ."
Then came the storm bigger than a squall. "50-60 gusting70 knots from the wrong direction and going on for hours as the sea built in freezing rain, IMMORTAL GAME flying under bare poles at 6 knots," he said. He rang his wife delivering an emotional blow by blow description, which she then delivered LIVE on Facebook! He deployed a sea anchor to slow the drift, but the boat still took a beating. "I lay in my bunk locked inside listening to the mast shake. Not fun."
PART 3: TAHITI TRIUMPHS – Showers, icecream pizzas and restaurants.
Eric Marsh (SUNBEAR) – The Ageless Wonder
At 72, Eric is still out-sailing skippers half his age. He celebrated his birthday in Tahiti with his wife Brenda, who arranged a tow after his outboard failed. "I’m getting faster as I go," he said. "This fleet’s going to be neck-and-neck by Cape Town."
Adam Waugh (LITTLE WREN) – The Sextant Master
Adam navigated the Tuamotus using sextant sights—a nod to traditional skills. "My accuracy varied from 5 to 40 miles," he admitted. "Good enough for government work." This was his final TEST for his qualification under the Notice of Race.
Gary Swindail (QUESTION 2) – The Lonely Sailor
Gary’s biggest challenge? The solitude. "Every day’s the same. Wake up, sail, sleep, repeat," he said. "I call my wife on Starlink, but it’s not the same as seeing people."
Still, he’s pushing on, having arrived into the marquesas with a barnacle infested bottom that slowed him greatly. Freshly antifouled and dreaming of curried sausages his speed to Tahiti has increased on average 1.5kts faster!!
Solo 4300 miles in 19ft / 5.80 Mini Globe Race - Panama -Marquesas Garry Swindall home builder
WHAT’S NEXT? TONGA OR BUST (AND POSSIBLY A GALE OR TWO)