Mini Globe Race 2025: the crazy round-the-world race with 5.80-meter boats

The volcanic Australian yachtsman and race organizer Don McIntyre, the daddy of the Golden Globe remake and the Ocean Globe Race, is a peculiar character, organizing quite unique regattas, but you have to give him credit that he has inaugurated a strand of events that is having a certain following. Among these, one of the “craziest” is undoubtedly the one related to the birth of the Globe 580 class, a boat smaller than a Mini 650, which can be purchased in kit form, to be made of marine plywood.

Globe 580, round-the-world tour starts in February

For this class Don McIntyre has thought of an ad hoc event, in addition to transatlantic races the goal is the Mini Globe Race 2025. A solo, stage race that will sail a sort of round-the-world race, but avoiding sailing in the Southern Oceans and sailing in the opposite direction from classic round-the-world races. The departure of the first leg is scheduled for February 1, 2023, from Panama with destination Antigua, on March 23 there will be the one from Panama to Fiji, on July 3 the hardest one will start, from Fiji to Cape Town, passing however north of Australia. On December 4, 2025 will be the Cape Town – Recife colta, finally on February 5, 2026 from Recife to Antigua.

There are currently 15 skippers registered.

Globe 580, how to buy it and how much it costs

The design plans for the Globe 580 cost only 300 euros, the simple plywood construction means that you can build this hull in a few months by trying it yourself or alternatively find a small boatyard or craftsman in the industry to make the boat. This is essentially a one-design boat; the mast kit is supplied by Selden for 3500 euros. The deck equipment kit costs 3700, all steels on the other hand are offered for 1800 euros. With less than 10 thousand euros, therefore, one buys the starter kit, to which must be added the cost of plywood and more or less handcrafted fabrication at a shipyard. We can imagine that with a figure less than or around 30 thousand euros the boat could be fully ready to sail.

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Winning a world championship in your own land is a crazy thrill. Right Magdalena?

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