Just one month into the Golden Globe Race 2026, the fleet has clearly divided into two groups, with France’s Damien Guillou and Ireland’s Pat Lawless continuing to stretch their advantage at the front.
The leading duo maintained speeds above six knots through Monday as they raced south well offshore from Brazil, with Guillou’s Rustler 36 Solarem making 6.6 knots going into the night.
Guillou was 1,035 nautical miles ahead of third-placed Ertan Beskardes aboard Miss Beagle, despite Beskardes racing a sistership with similar potential.
More Than 1,000 Miles Clear
The scale of the advantage is remarkable little more than four weeks into the solo non-stop round-the-world race.
Guillou’s relatively rapid exit from the Bay of Biscay allowed him to connect with favourable wind patterns that have carried Solarem steadily away from much of the fleet.
After four weeks and two days, his advantage over third place is equivalent to roughly one-and-a-half Round Ireland Races.
Beskardes, who had been expected to be among Guillou’s closest challengers, remained on the other side of the Atlantic and was making around 4.5 knots.
Lawless Holds Firmly to Second
Between them, Pat Lawless continues to produce an impressive performance aboard his Saltram Saga 36 Silvermines Hydro.
The Irish skipper has so far outsailed all but one of the highly rated Rustler 36s and remains firmly established in second overall.
Guillou’s Solarem has held an edge in the conditions encountered so far, but Lawless remains very much in contention.
Silvermines Hydro recorded 149 nautical miles made good over the previous 24 hours in an east-southeasterly wind and was making 6.2 knots going into Monday night.
Golden Globe Becomes Two Races
The growing separation confirms the pattern that has been developing for more than a week, with Afloat noting at the weekend that the Golden Globe had effectively become two different races.
That division has since become even more pronounced, with Guillou and Lawless increasingly isolated at the front while the chasing fleet battles to limit its losses across the Atlantic.
Afloat is continuing to follow Lawless and Silvermines Hydro throughout the race in its Golden Globe Race coverage.
Race Tracker below:
