Golden Globe Race leader Damien Guillou has emerged from a severe South Atlantic storm, still leading the solo round-the-world race after diverting north to avoid the most dangerous conditions.
The French skipper, sailing the Rustler 36 Solarem, encountered winds of around 40 knots, gusting to 60 knots, and seas of four to five metres as the powerful weather system swept across the fleet on Monday, 26 October.
Race chairman Don McIntyre reported that Guillou had positioned himself in a gap between the storm's most severe conditions, with seas of up to nine metres reported farther south in the system.
The development follows Afloat's earlier report on the approaching 70-knot storm, which had threatened the fleet as it approached the Southern Ocean.
Storm Jib Only as Guillou Avoids Worst Conditions
Guillou sailed under storm jib alone as the system passed, having changed course northeast several days earlier on race management's advice.
Earlier forecasts had suggested gusts exceeding 90 knots in the storm's most extreme sector, subsequently moderating to around 70 knots.
The French sailor's diversion placed him clear of the storm's dangerous core, although the manoeuvre cost him distance and time. In a brief message to race control, Guillou reported strong winds, storm jib only and that everything was fine.
By Monday evening, he had covered about 6,929 nautical miles since starting from Les Sables-d'Olonne on 6 September. At the 20:00 UTC tracker update on 26 October, Guillou led by about 551 nautical miles over second-placed Ertan Beskardes aboard Miss Beagle.
Lodolo Reports 60-Knot Gusts and Heavy Seas
Italian skipper Andrea Lodolo, sailing Bibi in third place, also negotiated the severe conditions, reporting gusts of approximately 60 knots and very heavy seas.
Lodolo contacted race management after the worst had passed to confirm that he had suffered no damage. He then sailed in southwesterly winds of 25–30 knots with a four-metre swell, having spent the night continuously monitoring and adjusting his yacht.
The Italian remained third, about 675 nautical miles behind Guillou, after covering only 98 miles in the previous 24 hours.
Beskardes, meanwhile, had benefited from a more northerly position, which helped him avoid much of the storm's strongest weather.
Pat Lawless Continues North After Retirement
Ireland's Pat Lawless, who retired from the Golden Globe Race after a rigging failure, continued north aboard Silvermines Hydro, clear of the main storm.
The 70-year-old Kerry sailor had been lying second when a Solent stay failure forced him to abandon his challenge. Problems with the tiller-to-rudder head connection compounded his difficulties.
Race organisers reported on Sunday, 25 October, that Lawless was making progress north in favourable conditions, sailing at a comfortable broad-reaching angle.
Steering Trouble – Pat Lawless's Silvermines Hydro, with the yellow arrow highlighting the stern steering-gear area. Failure of the Solent stay, compounded by problems with the tiller-to-rudder-head connection, forced the Irish skipper to retire from the 2026 Golden Globe Race. Photo: GGR2026
Although his yacht remained capable of sailing, Lawless had judged that continuing through months of Southern Ocean conditions with the existing problems presented unacceptable risks. His retirement ended a promising campaign in which he sailed 5,644 nautical miles and came within about 100 miles of the leader.
More Unsettled Weather Ahead
The fleet's respite may be short-lived, with another low-pressure system developing west of the leading boats. Lodolo is expected to encounter the new system first, while a large area of high pressure forecast for Thursday, 29 October, could bring further tactical complications.
The front-runners may escape the worst of the lighter conditions, but boats farther back could face headwinds or prolonged periods of little wind.
After seven weeks at sea, the remaining Golden Globe Race competitors still face the Cape of Good Hope and the long Southern Ocean passage.
For Guillou, the immediate reward for his cautious storm avoidance is an intact yacht, a substantial race lead, and the chance to continue east toward the next major challenge.
