Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre

The first words of Benoît Marie

Benoît Marie sets foot on the dock. He is still amazed by his performance, deeply moved to see his family … He only learned of his victory in the Bay of Pointe à Pitre, when a spectator boat told him that no one else had crossed the line. He goes to Denis Hugues, the Race Director and laughingly said to him: “There were not many bet on me at first, but I knew I had my chances, I really thought …” Some excerpts from his first words:

The race
“This year has been really tough. The wait could be highly demotivating and the more we waited, the harder it was to get into race mode. I really took care never to let it unsettle me. From Sada, we knew we would face strong winds, it was on us almost immediately.”

The descent along the coast of Portugal
“It was really an equipment breaking sea. The first night, I really reduced sail and applied myself to stay at an average speed of twelve knots, it was more than enough. I elected to sail in a seamanlike manner to avoid having to stop in Lanzarote for repairs. That didn’t not stop me having my worries about equipment: my mainsail blew out several times at the third reef. I had to sew it. I also had rudder damage. I was forced to fix it with retaining lashings regularly … ”

His match with Giancarlo Pedote
“For three days I had no positions, my BLU was inaudible. I knew I was well placed, my boat was fast these in these conditions. I especially tried to sail the cleanest trajectory, not to ease off … I did not know my position, but he should have nothing to regret. ”

The overall picture of this Mini Transat
“Of the 3,700 miles of the Mini Transat, I think I had was close hauled for just 3 miles out of the Bay of Sada. Everything else I did downwind … and that is truly magical. ”

To follow the arrivals
– Live on the social networks Facebook and Twitter
– On the map, updating every 10 minutes in a 10 mile radius of arrival
– Flash reports live from the course
– Online reactions from the winner in mp3
– Finish +2 hours: On line on Dailymotion – a video of the arrival and on the website of a photo album of the arrival.
– H+3 : A selection of rushes of the arrival (crossing the line and arriving ahores) will be avilable on the TV server (http://www.minitransat2013.tv)
– For all interview requests please contact the press office

Initial images from the finish will be available in the online press area shortly

Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre

FLASH – ARRIVAL

Benoît Marie wins the Mini Transat

The skipper of benoitamarie.com crossed the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre line at 17h 46m 05s local time (21h 46mn 05s GMT). His total racing time was 18d 13h 01m 05s. His average speed over the course was 8.25 knots.

This is Benoît Marie’s first victory in a major single handed ocean race. In two years, his development has been linear. Considered a definite outsider at the start from Douarnenez, Benoît Marie has shown that he deserves his place in the major leagues.

To follow the arrivals
– Live on the social networks Facebook and Twitter
– On the map, updating every 10 minutes in a 10 mile radius of arrival
– Finish +2 hours: On line on Dailymotion – a video of the arrival and on the website of a photo album of the arrival.

Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre

The battle of the Atlantic

• The winner is expected to arrive around 18.30 local time (00.30 GMT)
• A little more than ten miles separate Benoît Marie and Giancarlo Pedote
• Conflicting emotions

As the finish looms for Benoît Marie (benoitmarie.com) and Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian), Guadeloupe dons her charming finery to create a welcome worthy of the two men who have been racing the battle of the Atlantic. Behind them we will have to wait twenty hours to see who steps into the final podium position.

Every morning at 9am GMT, the Race Director uses the BLU system to transmit a complete weather report followed the daily ranking to the fleet. No position data is given for each vessel, only the distance still to go to the finish. In yesterday’s ranking, Saturday 30 November, Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) knew he possessed a thirty mile buffer on his immediate opponent Benoît Marie (benoitmarie.com). In this morning’s ranking he could hear the voice of Denis Hughes, the Race Director, telling him he had dropped to second, ten miles behind his opponent. We can only presume that the Italian navigator suffered a technical problem and knew that the gap would be reduced. But no doubt he hoped to keep a small leeway. The announcement of the ranking had to be psychologically hard to take for Giancarlo after leading the fleet almost continuously since the departure from Sada. Being overtaken on the final straight is without doubt one of the worst things for a competitor. However, one can easily imagine the divine surprise for Benoît Marie. Always on the attack since the start of the race, Benoît little expected such a feast and has, no doubt, an extra spring in his step following the announcement of the ranking. Now he needs to harness this new motivation to the finish line.

Rémi Fermin is resisting
Still the battle for third place is fierce, the skipper of Boreal refuses to seed to the attacks of Bertrand Delesne (TeamWork Proto) and Bruno Garcia (Sampaquita). The Mediterranean skipper wanted to take revenge on the Mini Transat after a dismasting ruined his hopes of placing in the last edition.
In the series boats, Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde Chante contre le Cancer) continues to lead Justine Mettraux (TeamWork) and Simon Koster (Go 4 It). The third ranked prototype should cross the line tomorrow afternoon (local time).

Trade winds “light”
For the bulk of the fleet, this should be the final few hours of hassle. The stormy depression which seriously disrupted the Minis parade to Guadeloupe is gradually draining away to the north-east, giving way to a regime of winds which are is still light for the trades. But at least it means that, little by little, the fleet will return to downwind sailing, heading for the Caribbean. Whatever comes their way they will grab with both hands.

To follow the arrivals
– Live on the social networks Facebook and Twitter
– On the map, updating every 10 minutes in a 10 mile radius of arrival
– Flash reports live from the course
– Online reactions from the winner in mp3
– Finish +2 hours: On line on Dailymotion – a video of the arrival and on the website of a photo album of the arrival.
– H+3 : A selection of rushes of the arrival (crossing the line and arriving ahores) will be avilable on the TV server (http://www.minitransat2013.tv)
– For all interview requests please contact the press office

Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (proto types) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Benoit Marie (667 – benoitmarie.com) with 71.6 nm to arrival
2. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prysmian) + 14.9 nm
3. Rémi Fermin (741 – Boréal) + 193.5 nm
4. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 237.5 nm
5. Bruno Garcia (240 – Sampaquita) + 244.2 nm

Yslab Ranking (series boats) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) with 459.6 nm to finish
2. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 201.8 nm
3. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 314.4 nm
4. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – Œuvre du Marin Breton) + 573.4 nm
5. Renaud Mary (www.runo.fr) + 629.7 nm

The full rankings can be found online here.

Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre

ERRATUM – Sisyphus of the sea

• The competitors accumulate constraints
• Giancarlo Pedote under threat from Benoît Marie
• Temporary respite for the tail end of the fleet
• How to follow the arrival tomorrow

Caught in an eternal nightmare … Approaching the Canary Islands, the competitors in the Mini Transat, especially those who had to stop in Lanzarote, see the weather conditions blow hot and cold along the route. How many times did they think that “this time, surely the trades are here …”? And how many times did they find themselves disillusioned? They truly deserve to reach the end of this Mini Transat.

There may be cause and effect the fact that Sisyphus is the son of Aeolus, god of wind. By trying to play with the gods, Sisyphus was condemned to constantly roll a stone to the summit of a mountain only to see it roll back down the hill again. He may perhaps have sent a part of his punishment to the sailors of the Mini Transat, since they have been involved in crossing the Atlantic, alone and waiting endlessly for the trade winds and the promise of reward after a chaotic start to the race. But nay! This year, the anticyclones of first the Azores and then Bermuda decided to play with the nerves of the competitors by emigrating to northern latitudes on the one hand, and then disappearing from the face of the map on the other. Instead, a low pressure area has generated a complex storm flow, at times leaving room for the anticipated easterly winds, before generating new areas of calm or westerly winds.

The leaders arrive at Pointe-à- Pitre tomorrow
Even for Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian), life is not so simple. The skipper of the Magnum has three times managed to widen the gap on his direct opponent Benoît Marie (benoitmarie.com). And three times, Benoît has returned to less than twenty miles from the race leader, just to just to spice things up at the end of this great struggle for victory. The winner of the 2013 edition should cross the line tomorrow during the day around mid morning, French time. But before that the two leaders will face easing winds as they approach the the finish line, winds that seem to have already found Giancarlo : the conditions ensure we will be in suspense right until the end. Behind them the struggle continues for the last spot on the podium with Rémi Fermin (Boreal), Bertrand Delesne (TeamWork Proto) and Bruno Garcia (Sampaquita) at loggerheads.

In the series boats, the hierarchy seems clearly established and the podium is unlikely to change before the finish of Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde Chante contre le Cancer), Justine Mettraux (TeamWork ) and Simon Koster (Go 4 It).

Anticipating the tilt of the seesaw

The middle of the fleet seems to have rediscovered the wind. Everyone is now on starboard anticipating a wind shift that should gradually turn right. In these conditions, one is tempted to give the advantage to the competitors placed furthest north in the fleet.

In the prototypes, Nicolas Boidevezi (Nature Addicts) has got the better of his immediate competitors. Louis Segre (Roll my Chicken) and Annabelle Boudinot (Agro 650) may also be under threat from Michele Zambelli (Fontanot) and Alan Roura (Navman). Both navigators have older boats, but have played a remarkable stroke of intelligence and lucidity so far.

In the series boats, Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (L’œuvre du Marin Breton) should be able to breathe a little easier. Tanguy Le Turquais (Terréal Rêve d’enfance) and Jerome d’Aboville (Bel) now find themselves in his wake and in the south. The main threat could now come from Renaud Mary (www.runo.fr), but he is still 80 miles adrift. But its hard to see what’s coming, as the Mini Transat demonstrates every day. Today’s gain can be overhauled tomorrow.

Pointe à Pitre at work
At the Marina Bas du Fort, the Mini Transat village is ready to welcome the first competitors, as well as the public. Everything is in place to make sure that the hassle and tensions of the crossing are quickly forgotten in the declious aroma of Ti-punch and the beguiling rhythms and warm welcome of Guadeloupe. Confidentially Yours.

To follow the arrivals
– Live on the social networks Facebook and Twitter
– On the map, updating every 10 minutes in a 10 mile radius of arrival
– Flash reports live from the course
– Online reactions from the winner in mp3
– Finish +2 hours: On line on Dailymotion – a video of the arrival and on the website of a photo album of arrival.
Yslab Ranking (series boats) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) with 641.3 nm to finish
2. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 183.2 nm
3. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 288.4 nm
4. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – Œuvre du Marin Breton) + 496.1 nm
5. Tanguy Le Turquais (599 – Terréal Rêve d’enfance) + 549.1 nm

Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (prototypes) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prysmian) with 285.3 nm to finish
2. Benoit Marie (667 – benoitmarie.com) + 18.6 nm
3. Rémi Fermin (741 – Boréal) + 194.8 nm
4. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 233.2 nm
5. Bruno Garcia (240 – Sampaquita) + 234 nm

The full rankings can be found online here.

Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre

The Northerners

• Giancarlo Pedoti and Benoît Marie, off like a shot
• The wind comes from the north
• A ray of hope for the southerly tail of the fleet

A nasty headache! The stormy depression that is plaguing the race area is expected to give those soloists without a good strategy a major migrain. While Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) and Benoît Marie (benoitmarie.com) seem to have escaped at more than 10 knots in the 20.00 rankings, it is much harder for their pursuers. The gap is widening, with the exception of the competitors to the north. In contrast, at the back of the pack some are pinning their hopes on a southerly route.

Without doubt, this stormy depression is creating the mess. In the leading series boats, from Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) to Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (L’œuvre du Marin Breton) have been slowdown once again. Only those who chose the northern option are doing well. In the prototypes Julien Pulvé (MEXT – ICA) is making more than 11 knots, while Louis Segre (Roll my Chicken) is three 3 knots slower. The could be the big opportunity for Nicolas Boidevezi (Nature Addicts), Michele Zambelli (Fontanot) and Alan Roura (Navman) who are 50 miles farther north, but holding their speed. There may be places to gained.

In the series boats, Renaud Mary (ww.runo.fr) reported more than 8 knots boat speed and could find that his choice of a northern route pays dividends, since he is just 40 miles from sixth place, currently held by Eric Cochet (Abers & Co). Other soloists could also pull the chestnuts out of the fire, for example François Lamy (Guadeloupe Espace Océan) and Pip Hare (The Potting Shed).

But what pays for one does not necessarily pay for the others. In the next group are committed supporters of a southern route who are currently making fast progress, including Thomas Guichard (Carrefour Bretagne), Raphaela Le Gouvello (Respectocean.com) and Jonas Gerkens (Netwerk 2). This is their opportunity to catch up with the leading group. Behind them boats are hitting the buffers. Ludovic Méchin (Paris Texas) and Pilar Pasanau (Peter Punk) are close to the eye of the depression. The stormy sky is beautiful, flamboyant cloudy, but the wind is conspicuously absent. Of the trade winds, we can only pray that the Azores anticyclone and be reborn from its ashes.

Yslab Ranking (series boats) at 20.00 (GMT +1)
1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) with 942.4 nm to finish
2. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 124.2 nm
3. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 207.2 nm
4. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – Œuvre du Marin Breton) + 343.7 nm
5. Tanguy Le Turquais (599 – Terréal Rêve d’enfance) + 388.9 nm

Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (prototypes) at 20.00 (GMT +1)
1. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prysmian) with 685.6 nm to finish
2. Benoit Marie (667 – benoitmarie.com) + 27.8 nm
3. Rémi Fermin (741 – Boréal) + 152.2 nm
4. Bruno Garcia (240 – Sampaquita) + 176.7 nm
5. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 201.5 nm

The full rankings can be found online here.

Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre

The nerves are raw

• The fleet is progressing at slow speed towards the fleet
• Low speed disrupts the fleet
• Heading for a fracture in the fleet

The next few hours are likely to be decisive. An axis of low pressure sits slightly to the north of the fleet, not content with causing a rupture in the trade winds, it could cause a real divide between the leading boats and their pursuers. Their routing strategies are looking very different depending on whether they are in one camp or the other.

Attention, trough! There’s a recalcitrant donkey backed into the pressure field of the trade winds that’s now creating mayhem on the road to Guadeloupe. It was he who generated the erratic light winds affecting the fleet, preventing the normal development of the trade winds that are usually powered by two anticyclones, over the Azores and Bermuda, to the north of the route. Those who might be tempted to head further south to escape his influence may find themselves having to pay a price. So that today, the safest route, the most obvious route, would be the closest to the great circle. For the former, the rule is simple: you have to win in the west. Beyond 44°W, the trade winds seems to be recovering and are expected to finally provide a few days of averages worthy of a Mini downwind, ie into double digits. But for others its about as clear as mud : in this famous trough, a small depression should form before heading to the north. This means, to its immediate south, light westerly or northwesterly winds, areas of flat calm, and sudden short storms! Bascially everything you need to try the patience of the most seasoned singlehander. For those that fail to make it to the the right side of this low pressure area in time, ie in the west, the solution could then be plunging southward. North or south, the puzzle is huge.

A few miles closer
To give an idea of the instability of the conditions, we just have to consider the positions and speeds of the competitors around Thomas Guichard (Carrefour Bretagne). While he is sailing at more than 7 knots, Raphaela Le Gouvello (Respectocean.com), Yoann Tricault (Schlüter Systems) and Jonas Gerkens (Netwerk 2) are less than 15 miles to the north and are barely exceeding a painful three knots. And in the south, Jean-Loup Chenard (Istuardo) and Raphael Marchant (Soréal Ilou) are making around two knots. At the front of the race, the best planning could be credited to Justine Mettraux (TeamWork), who is now more than 50 miles ahead of Simon Koster (Go 4 It) and 120 head of Jean -Baptiste Lemaire (L’œuvre du Marin Breton). In the prototypes Rémi Fermin (Boreal) and the duo of Bruno Garcia ( Sampaquita ) and Bertrand Delesne (Proto TeamWork) are separated laterally by more than 200 miles. It will be interesting to see if Rémi will be able to escape the clutches of the low pressures : if successful, he could benefit from a better wind angle and contain the northerners. At the other end of the spectrum … While Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) continues alone, he is positioned level with Bruno Garcia in terms of distance to the goal, and it is still clamped between Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) and Benoît Marie (benoitmarie.com) who still manages to keep his opponent at a distance.. However, if these two hold out to the end of the road, we will be guaranteed to have a new double prototype Mini Transat winner in the foot steps of Karen Liquid, which won in 1997 and 1999. 667 crossed the line as the winner in 2009, while 747 claimed victory in 2011. But from Rémi Fermin to Bertrand Delesne, there are three who will do anything for a new number to be inscribed on the roll call of Mini victors.

Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (prototypes) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Benoit Marie (667 – benoitmarie.com) with 1178 nm to finish
2. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prysmian) + 17.1 nm
3. Rémi Fermin (741 – Boréal) + 64.7 nm
4. Bruno Garcia (240 – Sampaquita) + 98.7 nm
5. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 114.6 nm

Yslab Ranking (series boats) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) with 1278 nm to finish
2. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 98.8 nm
3. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 151 nm
4. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – Œuvre du Marin Breton) + 220.8 nm
5. Tanguy Le Turquais (599 – Terréal Rêve d’enfance) + 309.1 nm

The full rankings can be found online here.

Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre

The obscure, the unranked

• No change at the head of the fleet
• There are still 54 en route to Guadeloupe
• More than a week separates the first and last in each category

There are now two races within the race. Those who still hope to achieve victory or a place of honor continue to fight for every tenth of a mile gained or lost, gybing at the right moment and changing sails at the right time. For those who wander in the soft underbelly of the rankings or have been delayed by technical problems and abdicated any hope of victory, the adventure and the desire to complete a journey are taking over.

The tussle continues at the head of fleet between Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) and Benoît Marie (benoitmarie.com). It’s the same in the series boats, behind the immovable Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde Chante contre le Cancer), Justine Mettraux (TeamWork) and Simon Koster (Go 4 It) continue to cross paths and tensely battle it out for the second step on the podium. The trade winds appear to be building in the southern part of the race area, but for the soloists it is very difficult, with a wind that seems to be turning more openly to the northeast, to go directly downwind in order to gain in the south. The comparative trajectories clearly reflect that this desire is being regularly thwarted by the immediate need for efficiency, which requires you to choose the best possible route for winning in Guadeloupe. There is a small group that has managed to work their way south who are already beginning to display speeds worthy of a Mini in the trades. In the prototypes Louis Segre (Roll my Chicken Roll), seventh, Annabelle Boudinot (Agro 650), eighth and Nicolas Boidevezi (Nature Addicts) are approaching speeds of 10 knots. In the series boats Alberto Bona (Onelinesim.it) and Jerome d’Aboville (Bel ) could reap the rewards of their choice.

Soft underbelly , brave heart
The passage via Lanzarote upset rankings for this single leg between Galicia and Guadeloupe. Those who stopped are now more than 500 miles from the head of the fleet at best. Suffice it to say that for them, performance targets, if any, have not be achieved. This means that when crossing the Atlantic, they have to find the necessary reserves to handle ten to twelve days alone, without further contact other than with those who are randomly placed on the track of each competitor. This may be a bulk carrier en route from Africa to Canada (“Cargo ship, cargo ship, can you read me, over?”) and the opportunity to utter a few words of English with the watchman on the bridge… Luckier are those who are close by another competitor, such as Florian Blanchard (MC Technologies) and Pierre- François Dargnies (We- van.com). By chance or necessity, these two are what you might call “country” neighbors on the pontoon. Nothing prevents them sail together and this is a great way to keep a certain lucidity. In Lanzarote, one imagines that before returning to sea a number of competitors exchanged their race strategy to cross the Atlantic. Who knows if the group of four, who headed rapidly south, Jean-Loup Chenard (Istuardo), Yoann Tricault (Schlüter Systems), Thomas Guichard (Carrefour Bretagne) and Raphael Marchand (Soréal Ilou ) did not agree a joint strategy in the hope that at times they would be able to chat to each other on the VHF? For these sailors, all set in life, the Mini Transat is mostly an adventure to be devoured hungrily. To surpass oneself, to experience those moments when you are able to overcome your doubts, discovering a part of yourself that you did not know, this is also the Mini Transat. And this is also why just crossing the finish line in Guadeloupe is a victory.

Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (prototypes) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prysmian) with 1466.4 nm to finish
2. Benoit Marie (667 – benoitmarie.com) +12.6 nm
3. Rémi Fermin (741 – Boréal) + 106.4 nm
4. Bruno Garcia (240 – Sampaquita) + 133.3 nm
5. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 170.3 nm

Yslab Ranking (series boats) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) with 1604.1 nm to finish
2. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 85.3 nm
3. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 100.4 nm
4. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – Œuvre du Marin Breton) + 147.1 nm
5. Eric Cochet (832 – Abers&co) + 296.9

The full rankings can be found online here.

Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre

Scattered, and trying to solve the puzzle

• The trade winds continue to be unstable
• Benoît Marie stalks Giancarlo Pedote in the prototypes
• A position for Arnaud Gentien

The soloists of the Mini Transat are still not finished with the unstable trade winds. Between windy squalls and areas without a breath, all must be prepared to face some tough times. If salvation seems to come from the southwest, they must also find the right balance between heading south to find more consistent trade winds and wining in the west on the Antilles route.

There was good news for Arnaud Gentien (http://www.diffuselec.com) when CLS, the company that manufacturers the positioning beacons, was able this morning to give a first approximate position of his vessel. The positioning units are in fact equipped with both a GPS and an iridium transmitter. After investigation, it was discovered that the iridium transmitter was continuing to broadcast, while in contrast the GPS was not working. With repeated cross checks, it was possible to determine a position for Arnaud at 14:30 GMT of 22°05’N and 22°23′ W, about thirty miles to the immediate west of Pierre-François Dargnies (We-van.com).

Protos : Marie Benoit, the threat

At the 16.00 (GMT +1) ranking just 5.2 miles separated Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) and Benoît Marie (www.benoitmarie.com), who is determined to ferociously push his opponent. Both men are on the same route and there is a good chance that they are sailing within sight of each other. For the Italian navigator, who had looked to be gradually writing the chronicle of a comfortable victory, it is a rude awakening. It remains to be seen whether the speed differential observed recently is due to the highly uncertain weather, or a technical problem that is preventing Giancarlo from exploiting the full potential of his boat. Regardless, Benoît Marie has hitherto enjoyed a remarkable race, and demonstrated that on the original route of the Mini Transat, the Finot designs can still have their say. The winning boat of the 2009 Transat 650 has found a new lease of life. Astern, Bruno Garcia (Sampaquita) in fourth and, to a lesser extent, Rémi Fermin (Boreal), are increasingly feeling the pressure from Bertrand Delesne (Proto TeamWork). Also note the rise of Julien Pulvé (MEXT – ICA) who, despite his stopover in Puerto Calero, is gradually getting back in the game. Similarly Annabelle Boudinot (Agro 650) is on track to achieve her goal: to demonstrate that a prototype partially constructed from flax fibers can be competitive.

Series: Aymeric Belloir out on his own

Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde Chante contre le Cancer) meanwhile displays an iron will. The competition does not oblige him to go to bed with the sun and rise with the cock’s crow, but the sailor from Etel gives the impression that he truly has the measure of the race and sets the pace for his opponents, who can only wait for him to make a false step. Particularly since Justine Mettraux (TeamWork) and Simon Koster (Go 4 It) are fully preoccupied with their fight for second place. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (L’œuvre du Marin Breton) is in a situation that, in terms of pure racing, is more comfortable. Stalled in fourth place, he is 150 miles ahead of the duo of Tanguy Le Turquais (Terréal Rêve d’enfance) and Eric Cochet (Abers & Co). They need to keep their wits about them though … as both may need to be wary of a possible attack by the trio of Alberto Bona (Onelinesim.it), Jerome d’Aboville (Bel) and Damien Audrain (Gerinter) who have taken a more southerly route. Craig Horsfield (Naked Retreats) has sought medical assistance. Suffering from a sprained hand, he was able to consult and take the appropriate drugs. Craig has been able to continue safely after the consultation was relayed by an escort boat. As they slide deeper into the Atlantic Ocean, the single-hander’s AIS signals, which were relayed by VHF antennas ashore, disappear from the screens. In Lanzarote, Ludovic Méchin (Paris Texas) is on an express twelve-hour stop, to verify that the temporary repairs made ​​at Rabat are holding well and to refresh his supplies. The navigator had found an incredible level of support from friends and locals who stepped in and helped him in his struggle to find the right materials. So happy was he to see that his adventure could continue, that he set sail again as soon as possible from Rabat, before realizing that his food stocks had dwindled during his big detour.

Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (prototypes) at 16.00 (GMT +1)

1. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prysmian) with 1608.2 nm to finish

2. Benoit Marie (667 – benoitmarie.com) + 5.2 nm

3. Rémi Fermin (741 – Boréal) + 128.6 nm

4. Bruno Garcia (240 – Sampaquita) + 137.6 nm

5. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 157.1 nm

Yslab Ranking (series boats) at 16.00 (GMT +1)

1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) with 1747.5 nm to finish

2. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 86.6 nm

3. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 93.5 nm

4. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – Œuvre du Marin Breton) + 113.4 nm

5. Tanguy Le Turquais (599 – Terréal Rêve d’enfance) + 250.7 nm

The full rankings can be found online here.

Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre

South if you can!

• The anticyclone covers the Canaries
• The fleet lies at the mercy of the light and shifty breeze
• Escape lies to the south

The anticyclone currently located immediately north-west of the Canaries it taking its toll. At the same time, the high pressure is causing the trade windes to move south. To find good breeze you have to go almost to the latitude of the Cape Verde Islands. But is the risk worth it?

Changing gears : After the Dantesque scenes of the early days, where it was almost impossible to slow the boats in agressive seas, the sailors were finally able to enjoy some beautiful surfing conditions, accelerating effortlessly over a delightful background swell as they left Lanzarote in their wakel. But twenty- four hours on and the scene changes again. The trade winds are suffering from anemia and the new rule of the game is to hunt down the gusts on the water, trying to determine the best strategy for the coming days. For the leaders, the tension is growing as they find themselves reliving the fable of the tortoise and the hare. But the tortoises are struggle to hang on their advantage. Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian), who is more than twenty miles ahead of Benoît Marie (benoitmarie.com) is still in an interesting strategic position because his nearest opponent has not created much offset. However Rémi Fermin (Boreal), who is further south, could pose a real threat to the two leaders. In the Series boats, Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) still has a comfortable lead over Jean-Baptiste Le Maire (L’œuvre du Marin Breton). Behind this pair, the battle between Simon Koster (Go 4 it) and Justine Mettraux (TeamWork) could work to their advantage as they have managed to position themselves to the south. Meanwhile, others take advantage of what remains of the wind, like Florian Blanchard (MC Technologies) holder of the best performance of the day by a series boat, who is neck and neck with Pierre-François Dargnies (We-van.com). Both sailors sould profit from their proximity to get the best from their individual performances.

First think hard
The race has now been underway for more than eight days. The elders of the Mini know only too well that this is often an important threshold to cross. Up until this point, the race has been in high spirits, but now that the Atlantic opens wide on the bow and the Canaries begin to be just a distant memory comes the time for existential questions. “Am I really cut out for this? How will I endure another ten to twelve days at sea alone? Why does nobody respond to the VHF?” Some have the good fortune to sail in close company, but others, including the leaders are far enough from each other to be out of VHF range. In this situation, they must learn to focus on the race, being able to appreciate the simple pleasures in life … In this game, the elders of the Mini Transat are one step ahead of the freshmen. Bertrand Delesne (TeamWork Proto) is immune to this type of mishap. He knows why he is there and keeps the faith with his declared plan. He wants to sail as close to the great circle route as possible. His trajectory already shows the constancy of his strategy.

Tearing themselves away
Perhaps that the prospect of nearly two weeks in solitude explains why some of the survivors in Puerto Calero are struggling to cast off. For them, the race is now enclosed in parenthesis. The goal is to complete a story that, for some, began more than two years earlier. So naturally, you want to minimise all the risks: go over the rig just one more time, check all the little details we could underestimate at sea and, if possible, leave in unison. The remaining five should finally leave Lanzarote tonight, Nolwen de Carlan (Reality), François Guiffant (Scidiam), Eric Jézégou (Déphémérides – AM2I), Marc Dubos (CEPAT) and Louis Mauffret (Solidaires). On the south coast of Gran Canaria, Andrea Iacopini (Umpalumpa) intends to repair his spreader and put to sea as soon as possible . Tonight Giancarlo Pedote expects to pass the halfway point. It would be a pity not to be at the party in Guadeloupe. But for this you have to take the plunge and cross …

The situation for the four soloists still docked in Lanzarote

• Richard Hewson (RG650.com) mast problems
• Hugues Cholet (Pour le Bel Espoir) had planned to stop at the outset
• Charles Boulanger (Foksamouille) has not clarified its intentions
• Federico Cuciuc (Your Sail) has not clarified its intentions

Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (prototype) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prysmian) with 1884.7 nm to finish
2. Benoit Marie (667 – benoitmarie.com) + 20.1 nm
3. Rémi Fermin (741 – Boréal) + 104.9 nm
4. Bruno Garcia (240 – Sampaquita) + 138.3 nm
5. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 179.5 nm

Yslab Ranking (series boats) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) with 2014.4 nm to finish
2. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – Œuvre du Marin Breton) + 79.3 nm
3. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 81.8 nm
4. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 88.8 nm
5. Eric Cochet (Abers & Co) + 180 nm

The full rankings can be found online here.