Mini Globe Race: Christian Sauer completes historic solo circumnavigation of the globe
Fabian Boerger
· 10.03.2026
The McIntyre Mini Globe Race is making history: for the first time, single-handed sailors are circumnavigating the world in boats just 5.80 metres long. Many skippers built their yachts themselves - like the German Christian Sauer. He spent 271 days at sea in the Mini Globe Race and completed around 24,000 nautical miles. On Monday evening (local time), 9 March, Sauer reached Antigua and successfully completed his circumnavigation on the "Argo".
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Many uncertainties on the way around the world
An achievement that he himself did not believe in a year ago. Shortly before his arrival in Antigua, he told YACHT: "In Lagos in December 2024, I definitely hadn't thought about what it would be like to sail around the world." He got his "Argo" ready to sail just in time for the qualifying race from Lagos to Lanzarote - He even had to catch up on some of the work later during the stopovers.
"There were so many uncertainties that I didn't know whether I could cope, whether I could handle the boat." The certainty only came after the first Atlantic crossing: once he arrived in Antigua, his decision was made: he would dare to sail around the world.
From remote islands to lively metropolises
On 23 February 2025, the fleet set off from Antigua, sailed through the Panama Canal along the Barefoot Route through the South Pacific, passed the north coast of Australia, crossed the Indian Ocean via Cape Town and returned to the Caribbean. The route took them through 15 countries - from remote islands to bustling metropolises.
Swiss wins the Mini Globe Race
The Swiss Renaud Stitelmann was the first to enter the harbour of Falmouth in the south of Antigua on Sunday morning, 8 March, with his "Capucinette", construction number 28. This was the perfect way for him to secure overall victory. Stitelmann dominated the race right from the start, winning almost all four legs. According to the organisers, he set a new race record of 180 days, 11 hours and 25 minutes. Future participants will have to measure themselves against this mark - for example at the next edition of the Mini Globe Race in 2029.
Second place went to the Australian Daniel Turner with "Immortal Game", construction number 5, just a few hours after the Spaniard Pilar Pasanau ("Peter Punk", construction number 98). She came fourth. Turner made his own history in the process: he was the first participant to successfully sail a boat built in his own backyard around the world. Third place went to the Brit Kerri Harris on the "Origami" (build number 47).
Here to the preliminary overall results of the Mini Globe Race.
Sauer fights his way up to seventh place
Christian Sauer finished the race in seventh place. He remained stable in the midfield right from the start - despite massive physical problems. Shoulder pain plagued him and threatened the continuation of his journey on several occasions. But Sauer gritted his teeth and sailed on. The situation worsened on the last leg from Recife in Brazil to Antigua: an inflammation in his left ear was added to the challenge, as were the demanding conditions on board. "The movements in the boat when sailing hard into the wind are simply abnormal," said Sauer.
But now he has made it. Sauer reached the finish line off Falmouth Harbour on 9 March. Now he has to realise what he has done and perhaps even achieved, he said shortly before crossing the finish line. On 20 March, the Mini Globe Race will be celebrated with a presentation at the Antigua Sailing Academy, which will also be broadcast live.
A race of records
The Mini Globe Race is also setting records beyond the rankings: Jasmine Harrison on "Numbatou" (construction number 88) is the first British woman to sail solo around the world on the smallest boat. The Spaniard Pilar Pasanau is the first single-handed sailor from her country to achieve this feat on a mini boat. Josh Kali breaks the US record: he steers the smallest American yacht ever to circumnavigate the globe.
All three follow a pioneer. 70 years ago, in 1955, John Guzzwell was the first person ever to sail solo around the world - on "Trekka", a self-built wooden boat 6 metres long. His ship became the model for the standardised Alma Globe 580 class, in which today's record-breaking sailors sail. Guzzwell died in 2024 at the age of 94. A few weeks earlier, he had taken over the patronage of the boat class that continues his legacy.
More about the Mini Globe Race:
YACHT accompanied Christian Sauer on his circumnavigation. The most important reports from the individual stages:
Prelude: Globe 5.80 Transat
Stage one: Antigua to Panama
Stage two: Panama to Fiji
Stage three: Fiji to Cape Town
Stage four: Cape Town to Antigua
Fabian Boerger
Editor News & Panorama
