In a proud moment of global connection and spirit of adventure, the University of Fiji had the privilege of escorting sailors participating in the upcoming Mini Globe Race, the world’s first solo circumnavigation challenge for mini yachts.
UniFiji says the historic race began in November 2024, launching from Europe and charting a course across the globe with Fiji as a key destination in the third leg of the journey.
They say the Mini Globe Race features Class Globe 5.80 yachts, 5.8-metre, amateur-built vessels crafted from plywood and epoxy, designed to survive the harshest sea conditions.
They add that a total of 15 sailors set out from Portugal, with 12 now continuing, each sailing solo in what is considered one of the most ambitious endurance events ever attempted on small boats.
UniFiji says among them is Jasmine Harrison, a young sailor from England who only began sailing in 2023, and she described the journey as a test of both resolve and resilience.
Harrison says her boat is only 5.8 metres long and she left Portugal in December.
She says now she is in Fiji, and it has been a crazy journey, especially since she only started sailing last year.
She adds that the hardest leg was from Tonga to Fiji; she had four days with no wind and then the roughest seas she had ever faced.
Harrison says it has been brutal at times, but every stop, like this one, is a blessing.
Race organiser Don McIntyre, who is overseeing the event from Vuda Marina, emphasised the scale of the challenge.
He says most sailors spent one to three years building their boats from flat-pack kits.
He says these are the smallest ocean-class yachts in the world, and the race is a true test of survival, seamanship, and human determination.
McIntyre says now they face the most difficult stretch yet, sailing into the Southern Ocean toward Cape Town.
The University of Fiji partnered with the Mini Globe Race for this leg of the journey, providing cultural support.
UniFiji Vice Professor Shaista Shameem says the leg’s restart from Vuda Marina was marked with a traditional Fijian drua escort, with a symbolic starting signal, honouring the Pacific’s seafaring legacy.
She says this partnership reflects UniFiji’s commitment to global citizenship, resilience, and the spirit of learning beyond the classroom.
Professor Shameem says the university also welcomed the possibility of future collaboration, with McIntyre expressing hope for Fijian participation in the 2028 edition of the race.
She adds they love to see Fijian sailors next time, and if anyone from the university wants to build a boat, they are here to help.
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