A Belgian start-up with the wind in its sails

This year, the legendary race, which started in Les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday 8th November, has 33 participants including six women, but unfortunately no Belgians. Nevertheless, Belgium will still be involved in the competition thanks to the start-up Great Circle Squid.

Founded in 2010 by an experienced sailor, a recognised marine weather analyst/router and a promising young meteorologist, the start-up specialises in marine weather services.

Based in Walloon Brabant, Great Circle Squid will provide digital tools, high-resolution weather forecasts and observations throughout the race, around the clock. It will transmit analyses of the movements of weather fronts, and each boat will be able to benefit from individualised routing solutions in order to detect periods and zones at risk of bad weather.

The Belgian start-up has won the selection for the second edition in a row. We reckon that it will once again enable participants to break records this year, while ensuring safety remains paramount.

And if the record of 74 days for circumnavigating the globe single-handedly is beaten, it will be thanks to the tenacity of one skipper and a little help from Great Circle-Squid.

We wish them smooth sailing!