Guillou Leads Golden Globe Race Past Cape of Good Hope
Damien Guillou became the first competitor in the 2026 Golden Globe Race to pass the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Current Conditions
Damien Guillou, sailing the Rustler 36 Solarem, reached the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope on 3 November 2026 as the first competitor in the 2026 Golden Globe Race. Pat Lawless retired on 17 October after a Solent stay failure aboard Silvermines Hydro, and the race has seen several other withdrawals.
Why it matters
The race is sailed in traditional long-keel yachts without modern navigation aids, so equipment failures and severe weather are central to whether competitors can finish. Race organisers report that three severe weather systems have affected parts of the fleet over the past ten days.
Race reporting records gusts forecast to reach 70 knots, and Israeli skipper Daniel Pinsky hand-steered his Baba 35 Exodus under bare poles through winds exceeding 60 knots. The fleet has about 20,000 nautical miles left to cover, and the full extent of storm damage across the fleet has not yet been reported.
The players
Damien Guillou
Guillou is a French sailor leading the 2026 Golden Globe Race aboard the Rustler 36 Solarem.
Pat Lawless
Lawless is an Irish sailor who retired from the 2026 Golden Globe Race aboard Silvermines Hydro.
Daniel Pinsky
Pinsky is an Israeli sailor who hand-steered his Baba 35 Exodus under bare poles through winds above 60 knots.
The details
Failed fastenings in Lawless's steering gear compounded a rigging problem that forced his retirement. American skipper Guy deBoer was ruled out on 4 November after a violent fall below decks aboard Spirit, with race management citing medical advice.
Timeline
6 September 2026: Golden Globe Race starts from Les Sables-d'Olonne
17 October 2026: Pat Lawless retires after a Solent stay failure
3 November 2026: Damien Guillou passes the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope
4 November 2026: Race management rules out Guy deBoer on medical advice
Seasonal Patterns
The 2026 race follows the original 1968 Golden Globe Race format, which required sailors to use traditional long-keel yachts without modern electronic navigation. The Southern Ocean stretch past the Cape of Good Hope is where the original race also exposed sailors to the most severe conditions, and the current fleet is facing storms of similar intensity.
Readers following individual competitors should check race tracking updates for position changes, since retirements and weather delays can alter standings quickly. Anyone tracking the race should note that the remaining sailors face sustained storm conditions across several ocean regions.
The takeaway
The 2026 Golden Globe Race shows how equipment failures and severe weather can end a traditional single-handed circumnavigation, even for experienced sailors. Following race updates closely is the best way to track how the remaining fleet handles the Southern Ocean.
What happens next
The fleet still has the Indian Ocean, Australian waters, the Pacific and Cape Horn ahead, with around 20,000 nautical miles remaining for much of the field.
Further reading
For ongoing conditions affecting sailors at sea, follow the latest Current Conditions reports.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ireland Afloat.
