French skipper Damien Guillou has won the Golden Globe Race's final offshore prologue as the 16-boat fleet moves into its last round of inspections ahead of the 6 September start from Les Sables-d’Olonne. Guillou brought his Rustler 36 Solarem home first in the three-day SITraN Challenge, ahead of British skipper Henry Wootton's Cape George 36 Privateer and Italian Andrea Lodolo's Rustler 36 BiBi.
The prologue was the fleet's final extended offshore systems test before the 28,000-nautical-mile solo, non-stop round-the-world race.
Light conditions at the start were followed by a northerly breeze that never fully established, while a persistent westerly component produced short, choppy seas during the opening 24 hours.
Competitors used the passage to test satellite communications, HF radios, trackers, windvane self-steering systems and emergency procedures.
Waypoint Errors Catch Seven Boats
The prologue also produced an unusual navigational twist when seven boats failed to complete a technically valid rounding of one virtual waypoint.
The specified latitude was 46°30′N, equivalent to 46.500°N in decimal notation. Some navigators instead entered 46.30°N—or 46°18′N—placing the position about 12 nautical miles farther south.
Other competitors passed on the wrong side of the required position, with one missing it by just 25 metres. No protests were lodged, and organisers decided against penalties because the SITraN Challenge was being run as a training and systems-check event.
The finishing order therefore remained Guillou first, Wootton second and Lodolo third.
Podium Line-Up – SITraN Challenge Prologue runner-up Henry Wootton of Privateer (left), winner Damien Guillou of Solarem and third-placed Andrea Lodolo of BiBi at Port Olona. Photo: Bernard Gergaud
Live Coverage System Tested Offshore
Seven yachts also completed the first multi-boat offshore trial of the new GGR Live Window, designed to provide live coverage from competitors during the circumnavigation. Developed with Swedish technology partner TriPeak, the system uses Starlink satellite connectivity to transmit live video and selected boat data ashore.
Crucially for a race governed by restrictions on modern marine technology and outside assistance, communication is strictly one-way. Messages, weather information, internet data and navigational assistance cannot be transmitted back to the skipper.
The trial revealed intermittent audio and camera glitches, as well as some operator errors, but organisers said they collected useful operational data. Further software refinement and testing will continue before the start.
Guillou has now added Solarem to the programme, bringing the number of Golden Globe Race skippers participating in the Live Window to eight.
Final Safety Checks Under Way
Attention at Port Olona now turns to detailed safety and equipment inspections on Wednesday and Thursday, 26 and 27 August.
Checks will cover safety and emergency equipment, communications, rigging and navigation equipment as well as compliance with the Golden Globe Race's traditional-technology rules.
Pre-start testing has already uncovered failures in the long-range HF/SSB radios aboard two yachts. Both units are being replaced before departure.
The Parade of Sail is scheduled to begin at 2 pm on Sunday, 6 September, before the Golden Globe Race yachts leave the Vendée Globe Marina individually from 2.30 pm at two-minute intervals.
The fleet will then head down the Les Sables-d’Olonne channel and begin its solo non-stop circumnavigation.
