New podcast episode: Circumnavigator Christian Sauer reaches the finish line of the Mini Globe Race
Leonie Meyer
· 20.03.2026
Christian Sauer built his boat himself for the Mini Globe Race over a period of around two and a half years. The race is sailed on 5.80 metre boats, all built according to the same concept. The solo regatta led around the globe in four stages: from Antigua to Panama, on across the Pacific to Fiji, then to Cape Town and finally back to the Caribbean. At the time of the photo, his boat is back in Antigua. Originally 15 participants started, but only 11 made it to the finish. The German participant explains why this was the case.
Everyday life at the Mini Globe Race
In the podcast, he gives an impressive account of how demanding such a journey is on body and mind. With dwindling strength, aching shoulders and a permanent lack of sleep, even everyday life on board becomes a challenge for the German participant. At times, Christian Sauer even had to be hospitalised, but he still fought his way through from stage to stage.
On the first leg, the sailor did not yet have a Starlink system on board, which made communication difficult at the beginning. The longest passage led from Panama to the Marquesas Islands. In moments like these, the loneliness at sea became palpable, as Christian Sauer describes in the podcast. At the same time, however, there was also an intensive dialogue between the participants, who all had similar experiences.
Challenges and special moments
The regatta participant also talks about technical challenges: Repairs en route were part of everyday life on board, as were the organisational peculiarities of the first Mini Globe Race. In addition to some of the hardships, there were also special moments for Christian Sauer: fantastic sailing areas, encounters with people in remote harbours and diverse landscapes.
The Swiss Renaud Stitelmann stood out in the regatta field, winning every leg. In the podcast, the two sailors talk about what differentiated his approach from that of the others and how Christian Sauer himself approached the regatta.
Our guest talks openly about how he feels physically and mentally after his arrival and the successful circumnavigation. He also talks about the finances of such a project. What's next for him and would he sail around the world again? Find out in the YACHT podcast.
Here you can listen to the YACHT sailing podcast with Christian Sauer
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Leonie Meyer
Editor News & Panorama
