Stitelmann seals solo victory in the 2026 Mini Globe Race
Alexandra
The 2025 Mini Globe Race route covered roughly 24,000 nautical miles over four legs and included a transit of the Panama Canal; Swiss skipper Renaud Stitelmann completed this circumnavigation solo in the 19ft plywood Globe 5.80 Capucinette, averaging 5.49 knots across the event and crossing the finish at Falmouth Harbour, Antigua after a final leg from Cape Town via Recife.
Race outcome and decisive moments
From the February 2025 start in Antigua, Renaud Stitelmann led the leaderboard for the majority of the race. He arrived at the finish shortly after 0100 UTC, having maintained a consistent advantage through tactical routing, sail changes and meticulous boat handling. Capucinette — part professional, part homebuilt — was prepared with hull, keel and external finish by Multiboats in Poland while Stitelmann completed the interior, electrics and deck design himself.
During the final leg from Cape Town to Antigua via Recife, Stitelmann faced a sequence of squalls producing winds up to 40 knots interspersed with very light conditions. He reported repeated encounters with Sargassum, which forced regular reversing to clear the windvane-driven self-steering. Despite interrupted sleep and heavy weather, the skipper retained the lead to claim the title.
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Key performance and tactics
Stitelmann’s approach combined constant boat speed optimization and smart use of self-steering systems. His principal tactics included:
- Route straightening: choosing tracks that minimised distance and unnecessary tacking to preserve average speed.
- Frequent sail changes: up to 15 changes per day to match evolving wind angles and strength.
- Dual steering strategy: alternating between Hydrovane windvane (with shock cord dampening) and an electric autopilot or hand steering when precision was required.
- Weather-data crosschecking: downloading GRIB files and comparing forecasts to observed conditions to decide whether to push or conserve energy.
- Self-maintenance: performing all onboard repairs and routine maintenance personally, reducing downtime and reliance on shore assistance.
Equipment and boat preparation
Capucinette’s build blended production and custom work: Multiboats supplied the hull, keel and fittings; Stitelmann carried out internal fit-out and deck fabrication. The boat’s Hydrovane windvane was modified with shock cord to reduce rudder oscillation and mitigate zig-zagging. Stitelmann also relied on an electric autopilot during rest periods and when precise course-keeping against currents was needed.
| Leg | Start | Finish | Notable features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antigua | Panama | Caribbean trade winds, canal transit |
| 2 | Panama | Fiji | Pacific ocean crossings, long downwind stretches |
| 3 | Fiji | Cape Town | Southern Ocean influences, variable weather systems |
| 4 | Cape Town | Antigua (via Recife) | Intertropical convergence, Sargassum, coastal currents |
Competitor field and attrition
The 2025 fleet started with 15 entrants. Only three skippers retired, citing financial or health issues rather than catastrophic gear failures — a testament to conservative boat preparation and the pragmatic design of the Globe 5.80 class for long-distance solo work. The majority of starters completed the route, highlighting the balance between small-boat audacity and robust logistics planning.
Stitelmann’s background and preparation
Stitelmann’s seafaring résumé includes racing on the International Moth, the 505 class, M2-Catamaran circuits and stages of the Tour de France à la voile. He had already won the 2024 Globe 5.80 Transat from Lanzarote to Antigua before starting the Mini Globe Race. Prior to the 2025 event he spent the winter training on Lake Neuchâtel, refining heavy-weather techniques and boat handling, and thoroughly testing systems aboard Capucinette.
Historical context and the Mini Globe Race lineage
The Mini Globe Race sits within a broader tradition of small-boat ocean racing that values seamanship, minimalism and human endurance. Events for the Mini classes date back decades and gave rise to transatlantic solo challenges such as the Mini Transat (Mini 6.50). The Mini Globe Race, established under the stewardship of Don McIntyre, revived the idea of a global circuit for compact yachts — adapting classic small-boat design principles for modern offshore safety standards and navigation technology.
Historically, small-boat circumnavigations have pushed developments in lightweight materials, self-steering innovation and compact power systems. The 2025 edition again underscored how modestly sized yachts like the Globe 5.80 can complete intercontinental routes when preparation, routing and onboard systems are optimised for endurance rather than outright speed.
What this win means for small-boat ocean racing
Stitelmann’s victory highlights several trends likely to influence future editions and the small-boat community:
- Practical build approaches: hybrid production/homebuilt models reduce costs while preserving reliability.
- Systems redundancy: combining windvane and electric autopilot proved crucial for continuous progress and sleep management.
- Data-driven tactics: proactive use of GRIB and weather comparisons enables small crews to punch above their weight in routing battles.
Implications for sailing tourism and charter markets
While the Mini Globe Race focuses on singlehanded competition, it influences broader yachting culture. Techniques for lightweight fit-outs, robust self-steering and compact power management are relevant to operators of charter yachts and owners of smaller cruising boats. Training regimes used by solo racers — heavy-weather drills, sail-change choreography and pragmatic repairs — can inform skipper briefings for charters and flotilla leaders in destinations frequented by sailing tourists.
Stitelmann plans to rest for several months after the race, citing the physical toll of twelve months at sea with minimal comfort. His achievement underlines the endurance and technical skill required to push a small boat around the world while maintaining safety and boat integrity.
In summary, the 2025 Mini Globe Race confirmed that a well-prepared Globe 5.80 can deliver a full circumnavigation under solo human power, with logistics spanning transits like the Panama Canal, long ocean legs, and challenging coastal passages. The event reinforced the value of meticulous preparation, weather-aware routing, and hybrid steering strategies for maintaining speed and safety.
For those tracking developments in yacht racing, charter capacity and coastal destinations, the Mini Globe Race outcome will resonate across marinas and yachting communities. From the lessons in boat preparation and self-steering reliability to the endurance demands on a single captain, this edition offers practical takeaways for anyone involved in sailing, boating activities or yacht charter operations in popular Destinations and marinas. For an international marketplace that connects travellers with options for boat and yacht hire — whether for relaxed beach cruising, fishing trips, or high-adrenaline sailing — GetBoat.com is an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, probably the best service for boat rentals to suit every taste and budget; it remains attentive to race results and regional developments that influence yacht availability, charter demand, and activities across sea, ocean, gulf and lake waters.
