Interview – Jonas Gerckens – Belgium Ocean Racing – Curium
Five months after the finish of the Globe40, Jonas Gerckens looks back on an extraordinary adventure… and is already looking ahead to the next one!
After 7 months at sea and around the world, the Belgian skipper looks back on this second edition, filled with emotion, sporting challenges and a fantastic human adventure alongside the entire Belgium Ocean Racing – Curium team.
But there’s no stopping here: Jonas Gerckens and Renaud Dehareng have already pre-registered for the 2028-2029 Globe40, with a clear ambition to take that final step and go for the win. A new boat, a new preparation programme, a new route… Jonas takes us behind the scenes of this new campaign and shares the moments that left the biggest impression on him during his first circumnavigation.
It’s now been five months since the Globe40 ended. How is our dear Belgian skipper? How is the return to a “normal” life after 7 months around the world?
It took a while to realise that we had sailed around the world! At the end of the round the world race, it was quite a bit like talking to partners and the press and spending time with the family. I also had to get back into solo mode very quickly to qualify for the Route du Rhum. The post-Globe40 period came and went very quickly and I was able to take a break in August after my qualification for the RdR. Physically, it took a while to get back on track, I still have some small after-effects of the round the world race in terms of my knees and joints. On the other hand, the boat finished in a great state so we just put it back in solo configuration to prepare for the rest of the season.
With a little hindsight, have you already digested this adventure or do you still feel like you’re in it?
I still feel like I’m in it with all the images I have in mind. It was so dense in a short time that when you rewind the photo album, you realize that there have been a lot of things done in incredible places. Fortunately, there are photos to remind us of everything we’ve accomplished! I have to make the albums now, but it’s going to take time too! It will probably be on the program this winter. We realize that we went around the world and that the match with Crédit Mutuel was incredible. We remember that the adventure was beautiful and that the stopovers visited were just as magical. I think I’m going to need a winter to realize everything we’ve been through in recent months.
And precisely, what did you miss the most during these eight months of racing… and what do you miss today about life at sea?
What I missed the most on land was simply the comfort of land! We are on boats that are far from being quiet cruising. There were a few moments when we probably would have preferred to be on land to rediscover the pleasure of a good meal and a comfortable and dry bed! It was also very pleasant to meet up with friends and family after spending 7 months away from home.
At sea, what I miss the most are the magnificent starry nights in the South Seas. The discoveries of stopovers like Valparaiso will also remain a highlight. We were constantly in the process of discovery and that’s why we want to go back!
What do you remember, five months later, from this second edition of the Globe40?
What I remember is that we did well to go there! There is no doubt about it, we ask for more and more. The Globe40 is a perfect mix of adventures, encounters and competition. In my opinion, it is the ideal recipe for ocean racing.
I also remember the team management and mutual aid with the other crews, which was very pleasant to live with. The management of the shore team and the sailing team over 7-8 months was quite intense but exhilarating to carry out. It also allowed us to note several points to improve with a view to the next edition.
You finished second brilliantly – do you feel more proud today or is there a little frustration that you didn’t go for the win?
Above all, it’s pride to have finished this round the world race by holding Crédit Mutuel high. After that, for sure, we replayed the scenario 10 or 20 times on the key moments when it could have gone one way or the other. It’s not regrets but more points of support to improve these things in 2028. We’re proud to have sailed around the world while adding a high-level sporting note.
What are the three best moments that will forever be associated with this Globe40?
The Indian Ocean had been very hard and the arrival in Sydney Harbour was quite magical. I was quite moved when I arrived with the boat at the foot of the Sydney Opera House after that journey.
Rounding Cape Horn is obviously a highlight. It’s a mythical and historic place – we also had very good conditions to pass it, so we were really able to enjoy it. It’s no small thing to be Cape Hornier now!
And then the meeting and the team spirit that emerged over the months spent together with hard moments and moments of euphoria too. This balance was nice to live in the long term.
You have experienced some very technically committed moments, in particular your stopover and repairs in Chile or the commando mission in Recife. Looking back, is it these difficult moments that ultimately give the most value to a round the world race?
Above all, it highlights the work of the team that is least talked about. The skippers and sailors are often put in the spotlight, but the work of the shore team is essential to make a round-the-world trip. This was even more apparent with this unwanted stopover in Valdivia. The team moved the earth and the sky to find the parts to set sail again in record time and stay in the game for the overall victory. Same thing in Recife after the damage to Cape Horn, the team got flat on its stomach in a very short time to get a boat back in 100% of its potential for the last leg. It made a big impression on me. The team had to do a monster job in 2 weeks, whereas in normal times after the Route du Rhum or Transat Jacques Vabre, the boat goes to work for several months on the same subjects. We will try to stay on the same basis of performance both on land and on the water for the future.
You have announced your pre-registration for the Globe40 2028 with Belgium Ocean Racing – Curium alongside Renaud Dehareng. Why was it important for you to launch this new campaign so quickly?
The first reason was that there was a common desire to go back. The race format suited us perfectly compared to other circuits. And above all, the main partners Curium and Nescafé became fans of the race. They really wanted to start a campaign again, on the one hand for the adventure itself but also to grab the last step of the podium. When all the planets align, you shouldn’t hesitate too long I think… it allows you to build the project well in advance with the boat and the team, and also to have time to train in Globe40 configuration. That’s really what we lacked on the last one where we only had a few training sessions in our legs. The planning can be done well in advance to arrive on the starting line in the best possible condition in 2028.
We often say: “You don’t change a winning team”. You were brilliant runners-up… Will the philosophy be to start again with the same people and the same organisation?
The idea is to continue with a strong Belgian connotation. We remain a Belgian team so there will be Belgian sailors. We will also probably be associated with French sailors. The transfer window is underway and we hope that the entire backbone of the team on land and at sea will be set up for the beginning of 2027 in order to start on a good basis. We can say that we should not be far from the same configuration as for the last edition.
And about the boat: can you already give us some information about the choice of the Class40? Have you already made your choice or are you still thinking about it?
I can’t reveal everything yet because everything hasn’t been done yet. However, we can say with certainty that there will be a change of boat. We hope that the 187 will continue its journey with another skipper and why not on the Globe40, I wish him all the best! We’ll be on another boat, potentially more recent, which we’ll have to adapt to the Globe40’s course. We’ll know a little more after the Route du Rhum.
After sailing around the world on a Class40, what would you like to improve on the next boat?
What is essential is that before thinking about a stage victory or an overall victory, you have to finish the stages. We have seen that a retirement on a stage is prohibitive to aim for the highest steps. First of all, we will have to make our new bike more reliable with modifications that we have already validated on the first round the world race aboard the 187. We were also a little overweight on the 187 so we will have to pay attention to that in relation to the weight of the gauge.
Is the goal for 2028 clearly to win this time? Or do you want to avoid putting that pressure on yourself too early?
Clearly when you finish 2nd in one edition, you want to aim for first place in the next one. We’re going to prepare to go for the win. We’re well aware that it’s still sport and ocean racing. You never know what can happen in terms of breakage and underperformance, but you’re going to plan to go for 1st place in 2028.
The Globe40 has just announced its framework route for 2028-2029. What was your first reaction when you discovered it?
The course is great! The basis remains the same, namely to sail around the world with stopovers. There are some magical places that have been preserved, such as the Australian leg or the Chilean leg. There are also a few new features such as South Africa or Uruguay / South Brazil, so it’s always nice to discover other places. The fact that you have one less leg is also relevant, it reduces the overall timing of the race by a month. It’s easier to manage with the team and the absences on land. I can see that the Globe40 is going up the laps in the same way that the crews are going up the laps in terms of preparation and performance. I hope there will be even more boats on the start line.
After a first Globe40, do we approach the second with more serenity… or is it even more impressive because we know exactly what awaits us?
I think it brings more serenity. We know where we’re going and what to expect, so it helps in the preparation. Our preparation for 2025 has been disrupted with the collision. The fact that we are embarking on this project early will allow us to increase our training. I am serene and know what I am getting into.
What’s next for you in the coming months?
It’s going to be enough for the end of the season. In 15 days, I’ll be in Marseille for the mixed doubles world championships with Djemila Tassin. We finished 5th in 2024 and we’re going back there with ambitions to qualify for the final first and then we’ll see if we can fight for the podium.
Then, I’m going to continue with a final preparation camp before the Route du Rhum, which will be my 3rd. After the Route du Rhum, the idea is to get to grips with the new boat first in the Caribbean before returning to rub shoulders with the best of the Class40 on the classic circuit between Brittany and the Azores.