The Half Way Mark!
Hi everyone. Another update from as the team continues to push on, juggling big sails, big seas, and even bigger efforts. All of it driven by the very real promise of a proper shower and a cold drink somewhere on the horizon.
This leg has tested both the crew’s patience during the low winds and the seams of the sails in the squalls. Long days, heavy work, and constant adjustments have become the norm. But there’s also a very good reason to pause and celebrate.
The 2025–26 Clipper Race is officially past the halfway mark. There are more miles behind them than ahead now, the team keeps digging deep, keeping spirits high, and chasing every opportunity to make the most of what the ocean offers next.
While they may not be sitting at the very front of the fleet right now (and as any sailor will tell you, you can never get too comfortable in first place), spirits on board remain high. As Arthur put it, “We might not be in the best position of the fleet, yet we are currently ahead of the other half and still strongly motivated to get a good result.” Motivation, it seems, is not in short supply out on the open ocean.
Much of the crew’s focus has been on reading the sky. Squalls, rain showers, sudden gusts, and rapidly shifting wind directions can appear with very little warning. The team even raced through monsoon conditions during the Ocean Sprint. To put the workload into perspective, they’ve averaged well over 60 sail changes this race so far, compared to just six changes during the entire Leg 2. It’s been a constant chore of adjustment, teamwork, and staying one step ahead of the weather.
Here is the latest from Arthur on Day 23 (10 Feb):
After passing the two Northern waypoints we gybed and chose a route a bit more West to maintain wind speeds, finding some current and avoiding the wind hole off of the coast. We learned that LBS (London Business School) had damaged their boom with a crash gybe into their backstay runner, which you are supposed to move forward during the maneuver. This put their mainsail out of use and might have given Warrant an opportunity to take over and may have other consequences for them!
We’re flying our Code 2 now and have finalised repairs on our Code 3 and mainsail, so all that rest is bringing us to the finish line with approximately 170 miles to go. Arrivals completely depend on how much the wind will slow us down. Meanwhile the last boats are finishing their Ocean Sprint, where the Monsoon seems to have calmed down and we seem to be getting the 3 points. It was a record time for Team GOSH across all of the previous sprints!
Over our lunch meeting today we discussed practicalities for arrival and jobs for the days after. From the 16 February there will be a couple of days with some off-time which will be great. For next race the conditions will be completely different and this stopover is a great opportunity to waterproof all of our gear and get ready for much colder temperatures as we head North!
The next update will come directly from Arthur himself, once he’s properly offshore, slightly less salty, and has caught up on both his sleep and his socials.
Until then, fair winds and steady progress, Team GOSH ⛵
