Globe40: "Massive performance" - Lisa Berger's "Wilson" crosses the finish line

"What you can dream, you can do." This motto has always accompanied Lisa Berger and Jede Adwards-Leaney on their climb to the summit. They have lived by it. Now their dream of circumnavigating the globe is complete. "After eight months, we're back in Lorient. It's freezing cold, colder than Cape Horn. But also beautiful. It's an emotional moment," said Lisa Berger early on Sunday morning shortly before crossing the finish line in Globe40. Then "Wilson" crossed the finish line.

Globe40: Finale in the golden sunrise

At the start and finish port of Lorient, the organisers also took a bow, dedicating these lines to the "Wilson" crew: "The sun rises over Lorient, bringing waves of intense emotion. After thousands of miles, oceans crossed and challenges overcome, the Class40 'Wilson' has finally crossed the finish line. They have done it. The first circumnavigation is complete. An adventure that will go down in history forever."

In the golden morning light, this is more than just a finish. It is the culmination of a dream, of sacrifice and unwavering determination." Globe40

The skipper first praised her oldest boat in the 2010 fleet, saying "'Wilson' did so well! We can hardly believe we managed this little walk around planet Earth." The adventure lasted 227 days for former mini-sailor Lisa Berger and her partner Jade Edwards-Leaney. However, the small self-made team Wilson Around the World actually worked for almost two and a half years to realise their big dream of sailing around the world.

Two and a half years of work for the Globe40 dream

It all began with Lisa Berger's first idea when she crossed the finish line in the Mini-Transat at the end of 2023, the search for financing options and the purchase of the aged Lombard-Akilaria RC2. This was followed by the elaborate refit on her own: "a huge amount of work with a small budget". All the hardships, all the agonies, all the trials were worth it: Lisa Berger and Jade Edwards-Leaney have now completed their first circumnavigation.

They completed the final leg from Racife to the start and finish harbour of Lorient in 20 days, 13 hours, 56 minutes and 19 seconds. Then they had completed the biggest round of sailing racing, covering a theoretical 30,000 nautical miles and almost 40,000 in reality. For the last two boats, however, the Globe40 is still going on: Melodie Schaffer's "Whiskey Jack" still had around 150 nautical miles to go on Sunday morning, with Team Jangada Racing 65 miles behind. Click here for the tracker and the stage results of all teams.

But the European Offshore Doublehanded Champion Lisa Berger and Jade Edwards-Leaney are happy at the finish line. They kept their fan base, which had grown considerably during the double-handed circumnavigation, enthusiastic to the very end, illuminating the world's most remote areas through their eyes and sending their impressions ashore. On Facebook alone, more than 42,000 followers experienced the high flights and also the difficult Globe40 moments with this duo.

Around the world with a huge fan base at Globe40

Lisa Berger and Jade Edwards-Leaney have kept their fans in suspense and also made me laugh like no other crew in this race. If there was a fan prize, it would belong to this intrepid sea stalwart and her co-skipper, who always acted like a likeable rock in the surf at Lisa Berger's side. Jade Edwards-Leaney made a major contribution to the team's performance as a sailor and technically adept MacGyver. The skipper and her co-pilot demonstrated great passion, how you can turn dreams into reality even on a small budget.

The fan comments were not long in coming after crossing the finish line, ranging from "Incredible performance! You are my heroes" to "massive success" and "Wilson and her team rock". In the final classification of the top bow boats, the so-called "Pointers", Lisa Berger and Jade Edwards-Leaney are likely to have finished the Globe40 in third place on equal points with the French "Free Dom". Barco Brasil" is likely to win this extra classification with 32 points. The overall results, which were not yet updated on Sunday, can be found here. The results of the final stage (section 7) were still missing for the time being.

One thing is certain: we will soon be hearing from Lisa Berger again, who already has her sights set on the next big adventure: she wants to take part in the Global Solo Challenge 2027 take part. The race is scheduled to take its challengers around the world from Vigo in Spain in August next year, single-handed and non-stop.

Q&A with Lisa Berger: In the final week, Lisa Berger answered a lot of fan questions at sea and gave a good insight into the life and work of the crew at Globe40:

Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink experienced the toughest test of their careers in Globe40, who had finished the race two days earlier in Lorient. Here is the clip: