RACE LEADERS CLOSE IN ON ANTIGUA AS ARRIVAL WEEK BEGINS
Monday 12th January 2026
Antigua & Barbuda (Jan. 12, 2026) — The front of the World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic 2025 fleet is entering its decisive final stretch, with the leading boats now within a few hundred nautical miles of Nelson’s Dockyard/English Harbour, where the first finishers are expected to arrive this week.
Overall race picture: a Swiss-led sprint to the finish
According to the latest tracker-based estimates reported locally, Swiss four-man crew “44 West” has been setting the pace and is projected to be the first boat to Antigua, with 269 nautical miles remaining and an ETA of Wednesday, Jan. 14.
Close behind, another Swiss crew, “Kiwi Fondue,” is listed in second overall with 364 nautical miles to go, targeting Jan. 16, while South Africa’s “Ocean Mavericks” sits third with 464 nautical miles remaining and a Jan. 17 arrival target.
Category leaders to watch
With the fleet spread across multiple divisions, several category battles are tightening as the finish line approaches:
Trios:“Southsea Scullers” leads the trio division, sitting fifth overall with 616 nautical miles remaining and an estimated Jan. 20 arrival.
Pairs: Swiss duo “Stelantic” is the leading pair in sixth overall, with 675 nautical miles remaining and a Jan. 21 target.
Solos: In the solo race, “Jasper” is the reported leader (15th overall) with 925 nautical miles remaining and a Jan. 27 target; “Mad Atlantic” and “Aire Wave” are also on course with late-January estimates.
Life mid-ocean: progress measured in miles — and morale
Beyond the leaderboard, crews continue to describe the race as a grind of heat, fatigue, and incremental milestones. The UK’s Royal Navy-backed “Oardacious” team, for example, reported passing the 1,500-mile mark earlier this month, describing a stretch of calm seas and oppressive sun that can be as punishing as storms because it slows progress and wears crews down.
How to follow the race in real time
Fans “dot-watching” can track boats via the YB Races app. Race organizers note that trackers typically update hourly early on, then shift to four-hourly updates once teams are farther offshore.
What’s next in Antigua
With the first boats now on the doorstep, the coming days will bring the race’s most electric scenes: finish-line flares, dockside reunions, and a steady cadence of arrivals into English Harbour as more crews complete the Atlantic crossing. Local reports are already encouraging residents and visitors to head to Nelson’s Dockyard for the first finishes expected this week.
