Trindade is still in sight, the wind keeps changing its mind, and Ertan Beskardes would quite like to get moving!
In this Week 6 phone call from the McIntyre Golden Globe Race 2026, Ertan catches up with Don McIntyre aboard his Rustler 36, Miss Beagle. Rain showers, shifting breezes and repeated sail changes have kept him busy, but progress remains slow. After raising and lowering the spinnaker several times, he is making around 1.5–2 knots under a little genoa and waiting for something more useful to arrive.
Keeping the boat moving has been his biggest challenge so far, but Ertan remains in good spirits. His onboard systems are working well, and he explains how he traced his one troublesome leak to a small hole between the gas locker and the normally watertight cockpit locker. Several days of sailing well heeled over had allowed water to accumulate, followed by a few hours of investigation and cleaning up.
Nearly 40 days into the race, Ertan is keeping active with sail handling, moving around the boat and doing squats. There is plenty of food aboard, his trousers still fit, and he says he feels good—although he misses his family very much.
The radio helps him keep up with other entrants and world news, while his Window Live broadcasts give followers a close look at everyday life aboard Miss Beagle. Don also shares some amused feedback from viewers checking Ertan’s navigation calculations. As Ertan says, everything aboard is real!
His next objective is Tristan da Cunha, aiming to sail as directly as conditions allow before working farther south. First, though, it would be nice to see Trindade finally disappear over the horizon!
And when Ertan asks Don whether any wind is coming, the conversation takes an unexpected turn towards baked beans. Offshore weather forecasting, Don style!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Rain showers, shifting winds and slow progress
01:12 Weather reports and the course ahead
02:17 Live broadcasts, boat systems and a locker leak
04:03 Staying fit, feeling well and missing family
05:13 Potatoes and provisions aboard Miss Beagle
05:35 Listening to the fleet on the radio
06:16 World news and enjoying life at sea
07:16 Next objective: Tristan da Cunha
07:58 Live navigation lessons and Trindade still in sight
09:04 Don’s baked-bean wind forecast
Follow the race: goldengloberace.com
Meet Ertan and Miss Beagle: Ertan Beskardes’ skipper profile
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