Tiny craft, huge oceans... brave sailors in the Mini Globe Race enjoy some Durban hospitality

Intrepid adventurers or utter madmen, a small fleet competing in the Mini Globe Race have popped in to Durban for a mandatory pitstop two thirds of their way into their circumnavigation.

The Mini Globe Race is a single-handed yacht race that started in Antigua on February 23, and takes the competitors westwards around the world. In total they will sail roughly 26 000 nautical miles, broken up into four challenging legs. The shortest leg was from the start to Panama. Leg two had three pitstops enroute to Fiji.

Here in Durban, the participants are three quarters of the way through leg three, where they are refuelling, restocking and rejuvenating before tackling one of the toughest coastlines in the world. What makes this solo circumnavigation astonishing, the crafts they are competing on are all handmade and are only 5.8meters long.

This event is the brainchild of Don McIntyre, who is reviving ‘old school’ yacht racing. South African’s will best know one of his events, the Golden Globe Race made familiar by the phenomenal achievement of Kirsten Neuschäfer who won a couple of years ago.

Leading the pack is Swiss sailor, Renaud Stitelmann. The gentle visitor is relishing his time here. ‘This is my first time in South African and the arrival here in Durban, and in Fiji are both my favourite memories so far in the MGR. The welcomes in both places went direct to my heart.’

Stitelmann sailing under the club burgee of Cercle de la Voile de Grandson, is a highly experienced yachtsman, having grown up exploring with his family. ‘I think my father first took me on sailboat when I was 4 years old. I feel at peace when I am on the water. In the middle of the ocean, I enjoy the solitude, and I am in humbled by the immensity of the empty a space on this planet.’

The front runner has clinched victory in the first two legs and is currently leading leg three. It took ages for him to drift across the finish line here in Durban on Thursday, arriving in a lull in our windy season. Just behind Stitelmann, Australian Daniel Turner’s finish was stalled when the wind evaporated. Bobbing offshore of Durban, he got to witness a breathtaking summer storm before quietly arriving in the middle of the night.

Third into our city, retired British Navy Captain, Keri Harris said: "We sailed through a few impressive fronts between Mauritius and Durban. Nearing Durban, the storm that Dan witnessed barrelled towards me. I went through a flurry of tacks to attempt to stay clear of it, which was mostly successful.’

Harris had a faster finish in a building north easterly than his opponents and was welcomed by former Rear Commodore of Dinghies, Bryce Bower who presented the Captain with an icy cold beer shortly after he crossed the line. ‘Having spent many years traversing the oceans, this experience has made a huge impact on me. The world is vast, varied, bountiful and beautiful. And it has been a privilege stopping off here in Durban.’

Sixth across the line in Durban, Spanish sport star Pilar Pasanau has had an impressive race, finishing third in leg two and currently is lying fourth overall on the provisional leaderboard. Out of a list of 15 entries, 11 are still racing, Pasanau is the leading lady ahead of British adventurer and novice sailor, Jasmine Harrison who accidentally holds the MGR record for most milage in 24hours, 179 miles sailed when she accidentally left her asymmetrical spinnaker up for a day and rocketed her way across the ocean.

They depart in the next weather window, racing towards the finish line of leg three in the Mother City, where they will spend Christmas. A few days before New Year’s, they will then turn their bows towards the epic race conclusion in Antigua, via St Helena Island and Recife.