Golden Globe Race 2026: Guillou in the lead, GGR Window Live sparks debate

Since the start in early September in Les Sables-d’Olonne Frenchman Damien Guillou has pulled clear of the field in his Rustler 36 ‘Solarem’. His closest rival is Irishman Pat Lawless in the Saltram Saga 36 ‘Silvermines Hydro’. Both are sailing south of the equator in the south-east trade winds, heading for the Brazilian island of Trindade. In third place is the Briton Ertan Beskardes on his ‘Miss Beagle’. Meanwhile, the remaining competitors continue to battle changeable winds in the intertropical convergence zone.

Even away from the front of the field, the race remains in flux: following repairs to structural damage sustained off Lanzarote, the American skipper Guy deBoer has resumed his round-the-world voyage aboard the ‘Spirit’. He is now sailing in the Chichester class and is therefore outside the regular rankings. This class allows participants to continue their voyage after a stopover without being classified as non-stop competitors.

• Here Head over to the official race tracker.

GGR Window Live: On-board insights without a return channel

Away from the actual racing action, one particular aspect of the Golden Globe Race is currently the subject of much discussion: the newly introduced GGR Window Live. Hardly any other innovation in this edition is both more technically challenging and so controversial.

The system was developed in collaboration with the Swedish company TriPeak. It transmits images and selected data from participating yachts to shore. The skippers do not receive any information in return. The aim is for the technology to analogue concept of the race fit.

Spectators can follow the sailors via a series of live feeds. The footage offers a clearer insight into daily life on board than was possible in previous editions. The organisers estimate that the race’s impact on social media has increased by 400 to 500 per cent compared with 2022.

Gunnar Christensen’s report following Tropical Storm ‘Gonzalo’ recently demonstrated the kind of insights the system can provide. He gave a vivid account of how he experienced the conditions – with winds of 50 knots and high seas – and how he lost some of his equipment.

Visibility, Rules and Privacy

It is a first – and is at the same time sparking divided opinions and heated debates. Norwegian skipper Helga Marie “Mara” Løvenskiold Kveseth set the ball rolling. During one of her live broadcasts, she questioned whether she would continue her regatta campaign unless her shore team significantly stepped up their social media communications.

The Norwegian sees her participation in the 2026 Golden Globe Race primarily as an opportunity to raise awareness of women’s rights. She wants to increase the visibility of women in extreme sports. During the live session, she said: “The huge personal and financial investment will only be worthwhile for her if she can use the attention to promote her message and her foundation.” Reaching a wide audience is therefore a key part of her campaign.

​She had previously asked passing merchant ships via radio to check her social media presence. Dissatisfied with the reach achieved, she subsequently did not use the communication window to report on her situation on board, but rather to issue tactical and communication instructions to her shore-based team. The organiser deemed this a clear breach of the rules and issued a warning.

• ​​The 2026 Golden Globe Race: Sail like it’s 1968. Experience it like it’s 2026
• ​Lanzarote-Gate is over: Guillou leads the 2026 Golden Globe Race
• ​Tropical storm “Gonzalo”: First test for the Golden Globe Race

Around the world as in 1968: Is that still possible?

​Yet the incident sparked far more than just a discussion about compliance with the rules. On social media in particular, questions were increasingly being raised about the spirit of the race. Can a race that aims to recreate the conditions of the legendary 1968 round-the-world yacht race as faithfully as possible really be reconciled with the expectations of the digital age? The broadcast can bring the audience closer to the race. At the same time, it carries the risk of distorting the original spirit of the event.

​A live broadcast that sparked debate:

New insights and unanswered questions

​However, even setting this debate aside, there is criticism of the format, which the organiser is addressing in a self-critical manner. Not all skippers are entirely positive about the concept.

Of the original eight participants, two have already withdrawn. The Swede Pär Nyman has also recently expressed growing concerns. He fears that the constant presence of cameras infringes on the sailors’ privacy and reduces the space for personal and mental development that is so important for a round-the-world sailing voyage.

The first month has thus demonstrated both: the GGR Window Live provides immediate insights into a largely isolated regatta. At the same time, it presents participants and organisers with questions that the original race did not face – and which will probably only be answered over the course of the coming months.