Globe40: Preparing for the final push

The 2022-23 Globe40 is an eight-leg doublehanded round the world race in Class40s. Seven teams were at the beginning on June 26, with four teams having started the 2000 nm Leg 7 on February 5 from Recife, Brazil to St Georges, Grenada. Among the teams is American Joe Harris with Roger Junet who file this report on February 16, 2023:

We finished Leg 7 which was very fast and mostly downwind – either tight or broad reaching – so very wet on deck. It was a perfect leg for the Class40s as these boats are designed for this point of sail and they really fly.

We were all averaging boatspeeds between 10 and 14 knots but Whiskey Jack really took off, so credit to Mel and Tom who pushed their boat hard. We have done the usual rig check and have now hauled GS2 out of the water to check the keel, rudders, and sail drive and all seems good. We will use the next 4 days to go over the boat carefully and be sure everything is ready on February 24 for the last leg start to Lorient, France.

My family – as well as Roger’s family – will be coming to Grenada soon so we are both looking forward very much to that. Roger and I have been reflecting on the fact that we are on the last leg of the race and we both have mixed feelings, as we will miss the racing but are both ready to get off the boat and be done with the difficult living conditions. I guess that is to be expected.

So onward for the final push – thank you to all GS2 friends for your support.

Race details – Entries – Tracker

Note: The scoring format gives extra value to the longer legs.The coefficients for the last two legs has Leg 7 as coefficient 1 and the return sprint across the Atlantic to Lorient for leg 8 is coefficient 2.

Standings (after seven of eight legs):

The inaugural Globe40 is an eight leg round the world race for doublehanded Class40 teams. As all legs count toward the cumulative score, the longer distances more heavily weighted. The first leg, which took seven to eight days to complete, had a coefficient 1 while the second leg is ranked as a coefficient 3 leg. The race is expected to finish March 2023. Seven teams were ready to compete, but a Leg 1 start line collision eliminated The Globe En Solidaire with Eric and Léo Grosclaude (FRA) while the Moroccan team of Simon and Omar Bensenddik on IBN BATTOUTA retired before the Leg 2 start.

Start:
Tangier, Morocco – June 26

Stopovers:
Leg 2 start: Sao Vincente, Cape Verde Islands – July 17
Leg 3 start: Port Louis, Mauritius – September 11
Leg 4 start: Auckland, New Zealand – October 29
Leg 5 start: Papeete, French Polynesia – November 26
Leg 6 start: Ushuaia, Argentina – January 8
Leg 7 start: Recife, Brazil – February 5
Leg 8 start: St Georges, Grenada – February 24

Finish:
Lorient, France