This is the parade in front of Puerto Calero. Effective One the other, the istic tumble along the coast of Lanzarote before Making Their final choice of route in the Canary Islands. Win in the south as soon as Giancarlo Pedote ( Prysmian ) and Aymeric Belloir ( All Sing World against Cancer ) or procrastinate as Benedict Marie (benoitmarie.com ) or Justine Mettraux ( TeamWork ). If the two leaders, as proto series are installed securely behind ’em, it’s a real battle rag.

As he Passed Lanzarote, Aymeric Belloir Had the opportunity to enter into conversations with friends VHF call on the island. The leader of the fleet HAS confirmed what we foresaw: the guy is on the attack, was on a boat That apparently it was totally unaffected by bad weather. Aymeric purpose he knows Has Two sacred customers at His heels and gold Neither Justine Mettraux Simon Koster ( Go 4 it ) Will give up. In the prototype, the road Emerges more for Giancarlo Pedote with the pit stop Bertrand Delesne ( TeamWork Proto ) forced to stop as the victim of a malfunction of fuel cell icts since the departure of Sada. Bertrand Had to save the pilot and Time of the Old HAS MOST Spent time at the helm, All which makes it even more outstanding performance as he was second in passing the door Lanzarote. Delesne Stop Bertrand La Palma as well as some favorites in Lanzarote is in any event the business of some sailors Have you see opening up new perspectives’ em before. Benedict Mary Is Now installed in the second position. Two other sailors collect Will Dividends from the first hand of well-run race, Remi Fermin ( Boreal ) on the prototype he built and designed and Catalan Bruno Garcia ( Sampaquita ) All which was built prototype for Lionel Lemonchois 1999 is doing an amazing race.

Series, the threesome

Aymeric Belloir Justine Mettraux and Simon Koster: thesis three now Have a relatively comfortable lead over Their immediate Pursuers Jean-Baptiste Lemaire ( The work of Marin Breton ), the veteran Robert Rosen Jacobson race (Postillion Hotels ) always Equally Good Eye, Tanguy Le Turquais ( Terreal Childhood Dreams ), Eric Cochet ( Abers & Co) and Alberto Bona ( Onelinesim.it .) The party leader is he Seems to win in the south Quickly When the two rivals have-nots yet positively skewed Their Way. A Relatively short- term, it can yield very significant lateral deviations. In any case, monitoring of Competitors Almost is not on the Mini Transat since the positions of the boats are not Revealed to the only Competitors and Their Classification According to the distance to the goal They Are Provided falling on the official vacation.

View online version Mini Transat 2013 Press Release Douarnenez, 17 Novembre 2013 Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre Time to decide at Puerto Calero Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) heads south after Lanzarote Bertrand Delesne (TeamWork Proto) and Benoit Marie (benoitmarie.com) will leave Tenerife to the south First pit stops in Puerto Calero One after the other the competitors in the Mini Transat are approaching Lanzarote and Puerto Calero, the aborted stopover point of this edition. Despite the lack of an official stopover, our Calero family and the staff of the marina remain on standby waiting for any pit stops, the first of which came this morning with Nicolas Boidevezi (Nature Addicts). Accepting the loss of 12 hours in order to be able to gain later is just one of the dilemmas that face the competitors before the big crossing. While passing through the gate at Puerto Calero represents only a quarter of the total distance of the Mini Transat, it none the less has huge symbolic significance. This is the beginning of the trade winds, and one of the last opportunities to make a pit stop before setting off for nearly two weeks at sea with no escape. This is also the first time the competitors are faced with a significant choice of route. Is it better to head south and go in search of the more established, stronger trade winds. Alternatively, will it be more profitable to sail the most direct route. The only information the competitors have access to is the weather reports provided by the organisation that allow them to position the major weather systems, and from which they must determine their strategy for the coming days. Investing in one route For the Ministes this course is an initiation test, as for the last ten years the path across the Atlantic led them to Brazil. Even for repeat offenders, this is a new challenge to be faced. Only the racing experience of the annual Atlantic crossings with events such as the Figaro circuit can give them some clues. If they rely on simple statistics, going south seems to be the more sensible choice. However, those crossings take place in the spring and not on the edge of winter. So they have to choose sides and know how to be opportunistic. Taking a loss to make a gain? The second element of choice is whether to stop at Puerto Calero or continue directly on the journey. The Regulations require that any call should last a minimum of 12 hours and a maximum of 72. At the level of an Atlantic crossing a twelve hours stop can be recovered. So which one is better? Stop and then come out with the boat at full potential, but lose half a day, or decide that minor damage can be managed at sea and a call isn’t necessary? Added to this, the psychological factor may be decisive. After four days of racing where the soloists have taken a good thrashing, the temptation to stop can be dangerous. The risk of loosing your racing rythme is real and the desire to restart can quickly wane. The determination to cross must be deeply ingrained and they must be sure they have the ability to bounce back before deciding on a pit stop. Nicolas Boidevezi is already in port and others have announced their intention to stop for repairs including David Genest (Bingo), Rafaëla Le Gouvello (respectocean.com), Yoann Tricault (Schlüter Systems), Erwan Pellen (Mordilou) and Julien Pulvé (MEXT – ICA). In contrast, others have made ​​the choice not to break their rhythum and to stay with the competition. These include Simon Koster (Go 4 it), who will climb the mast to work on his aerial, and Rémi Fermin (Boreal). Clinging on to a great fifth place in the prototypes, Remi is also the architect and builder of his boat and has decided, despite the failure of his fuel cell, to continue on his journey, trusting to his solar panels for power. It took uncommon tenacity for him to make it to the start, and he will not be stopped in his quest by this type of equipment issue. Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (prototypes) at 16.00 (GMT +1) 1. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prysmian) with 2673.6 nm to the finish 2. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 17.9 nm 3. Benoit Marie (667 – benoitmarie.com) + 25.3 nm 4. Nicolas Boidevezi (719 – Nature Addicts) + 65.2 nm 5. Rémi Fermin (741 – Boréal) + 71.5 nm Yslab Ranking (series boats) at 16.00 (GMT +1) 1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) with 2726.2 nm to the finish 2. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 7.5 nm 3. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 23.5 nm 4. Renaud Mary (535 – http://www.runo.fr) + 47.4 nm 5. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – Œuvre du Marin Breton) + 61.2 nm The full ranking lists are available here.

One after the other competitors in the Mini Transat approaching Lanzarote Puerto Calero, failed to stop this issue. Nevertheless, the Calero family, marina staff remains on the alert watching for any pit stops, inaugurated this morning by Nicolas Boidevezi ( Nature Addicts ). Accept losing noon to better regain thereafter, this is one of the dilemmas that arise competitors before the big crossing.

That is, they are … While passing the door of Puerto Calero represents only a quarter of the total distance of the Mini Transat, its symbolic dimension is high. This is the beginning of the highway winds, one of the last opportunities to stop before hitting nearly two weeks at sea with no escape.

This is also the time for decisions: choice of route first. Is it better to put in its way south to go in search of a stronger trade winds, better established. On the other hand, is not it more profitable to try to win closest to the direct route. For information only, competitors have only weather reports provided by the organization that allow them to position the major centers of action and determine their strategy for the coming days.

Investing on a road

Istic for this route is a kind of initiation test: the last ten years, the paths crossing the Atlantic led to Brazil. Even for repeat offenders, so this is a new deal that should be faced. Only the shopping experience as the annual Atlantic crossings of the Figaro circuit riders can give them some clues. If we rely on simple statistics, winning in the south seems to be more reasonable. But these crossings take place in the spring and not on the edge of winter. So we have to choose sides and know how to be opportunistic.

Losing to win more?

Second element of choice: stop at Puerto Calero or continue his journey. The Regulation provides that any call should last a minimum 12 hours and maximum 72. Twelve hours stop at the level of a crossing of the Atlantic are not irreparable. Which one is better? Present with a boat on top of potential left to lose half a day or feel that minor injuries are manageable at sea and do not deserve a call? Added to this, the psychological factor may be decisive. After four days of racing where the lonely have done well shake the temptation to stop can be poisonous. The risk of losing the rhythm is real and want to return can quickly wane. We must have the desire to cross deep in the body and be aware of ability to bounce to decide on a pit stop. If Nicolas Boidevezi is already in port, others have announced their intention to stop to repair such as David Genest ( Bingo ), Raphaela Le Gouvello ( respectocean.com ), Yoann Tricault ( Schlüter Systems ), Erwan Pellen ( Mordilou ) or Julien sprayer ( MEXT – ICA ). In contrast, others have made the opposite choice to stay in pace with the competition as Simon Koster ( Go 4 it ) who will climb the mast to work on the air or Rémi Fermin ( Boreal ). Clinging to a great fifth place in prototype, Remi is also the architect and builder of the boat decided, despite the failure of the fuel cell to continue his journey, trusting to its solar panels. It has taken him a tenacity uncommon to be present at the start, this is not some material contingencies that will stop his quest.

At 5:14 (GMT +1) Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) reached the gate off Puerto Calero. The Italian navigator was able to make contact with the race organisations vessel and said that all was well on board. Behind him, several competitors have already announced that they are considering a stopover.

While the leaders are preparing to leave the Canary Islands in their wake, many competitors have confirmed they would like to pitstop in Puerto Calero. This is the case for Nolwen Carlan (Reality) who snapped his port rudder but has continued to push on after makeshift repairs. Nolwen also has no spinnaker halyard, but his unwavering determination has won the respect and admiration of the the official support boat crews. A broken rudder ripped also explains the current route of Ludovic Méchin Road (Paris Texas) who has declared his on en route to Rabat.

Several other boats have already announced that they will make a technical stop. Rafaëla de Gouvello (Respectocean.com) has no spinnaker halyard, as does David Genest (Bingo). Erwan Pellen (Mordilou) and Yoann Tricault (Schuster Systems) will be reliant on the support of our Calero family to locate everything they will need to repair their damaged rudders.

In the race area, the wind is blowing at around 15 knots with a few scattered squalls.

As of 16.00 (GMT +1) Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) was only 130 miles from Lanzarote, the first mark of the course after the start from Sada. If the wind holds up, he should pass the waypoint overnight from Saturday to Sunday at around three the morning. Achieving this would mean that the front of the fleet will have taken less than 4 days to cover the 950 miles between the start line and the first gate.

It would seem that the Minis have all forgotten where the brake pedal is. It’s time to accurately evaluate performances as the first of the fleet pass through the gate located just off Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, and it looks likely that they will have been achieving around 250 miles a day since the start, at an average speed of a little more than ten knots. At this rate, the material damage is always a consequence and many sailors have had the misfortunate to sustain assorted damage: some are relatively inconsequential, others are more serious and have led many of the soloists to make pitstops for repairs. For most, the stops have been short and the vast majority are straigh back into the race after repairs.

The Swiss threat
Who said that Switzerland was not a country of great sailors? In the Mini Transat, Aymeric Belloir (All Sing World against Cancer) does not need any convincing. Because he has two worthy Swiss representatives snapping hard at his heels, the Swiss/German Simon Koster (Go 4 it) and Justine Mettraux (TeamWork) who is Swiss/French . Between the two, there is no regional rivalry when it comes to stealing a march on the rest of the sailing world. Behind them, Renaud Mary (www.runo.fr) is collecting dividends from its option to stay inshore, while Jean- Baptiste Lemaire (Œuvre du Marin Breton) has opted, meanwhile, for the most western route of the entire fleet. As usual, the truth can sometimes take strongly diverging paths. Others have no such qualms, and Florian Mausy (Foksaglisse), has stayed true to his principles and opted for an almost direct route from Cape Finisterre to Lanzarote. Keeping the boat steady as she goes under reduced sail, he is currently looking at 14th place in the series boats ranking.

The Italian Force
"Slow and steady wins the race." In the prototypes, Giancarlo Pedote has firmly scratched this famous maxim out of his dictionary. With a cushion of some 40 miles on a group of three consisting of Bertrand Delesne (TeamWork Proto), Benoît Marie (benoitmarie.com) and Nicolas Boidevezi (Nature Addicts), he has clearly demonstrated that he knows how to get the very best out of his Raison design. He is still in the first quarter of the race, but the Italian navigator has yet to put a foot wrong. After the disappointment of the first stage cancellation, cinquantaine has been able to get back into the game. It is also the mark of the best to know how to bounce back.

Limiting the damage
But you also need to have a little bit of luck with you. Gilles Avril (Evolution Marine) took the option to purchase the hull of a prototype and complete the construction with his own hands. He could be rightly proud of the result. Unfortunately, a drifting log was right in the path of his dreams when the boats bow came out of a surf and hit the log square on with force. Gilles decided not trigger the emergency beacon : instead he set of a request for assistance from his Argos, and then waited patiently for the escort boat while his boat was filling with water. As the support boat arrived Gilles conducted his transfer with composure and professionalism and his transfer to the Class40 of Benoît Parnaudeau went off without a hitch. The skipper had first inflated his life raft, then climed aboard it and allowed it to drift back so the Class40 could come alongside and secure it. Gilles was then able to safely board the support boat. It was a piece of very fine and well controlled seamanship, which highlights the important role of safety training where this type of rescue procedure is dissected and taught by the rescue professionals and marine security services.

Aboard Paris Texas, Ludovic Méchin appears to be sailing towards the coast of Morocco at low speed. The skipper has keyed the presence on board button to incidate that all is well on board and he does not require assistance. This is also the situation of Nolwen Carlan (Reality) who is also making slow speed progress. As in other cases, the browsers they try to resolve their equpment issues under their own steam. The Mini Transat is an exceptional sea school.

View online version Mini Transat 2013 Press Release Douarnenez, 16 Novembre 2013 Mini Transat – Douarnenez to Pointe-a-Pitre The Canaries are on the wing As of 16.00 (GMT +1) Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) was only 130 miles from Lanzarote, the first mark of the course after the start from Sada. If the wind holds up, he should pass the waypoint overnight from Saturday to Sunday at around three the morning. Achieving this would mean that the front of the fleet will have taken less than 4 days to cover the 950 miles between the start line and the first gate. It would seem that the Minis have all forgotten where the brake pedal is. It’s time to accurately evaluate performances as the first of the fleet pass through the gate located just off Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, and it looks likely that they will have been achieving around 250 miles a day since the start, at an average speed of a little more than ten knots. At this rate, the material damage is always a consequence and many sailors have had the misfortunate to sustain assorted damage: some are relatively inconsequential, others are more serious and have led many of the soloists to make pitstops for repairs. For most, the stops have been short and the vast majority are straigh back into the race after repairs. The Swiss threat Who said that Switzerland was not a country of great sailors? In the Mini Transat, Aymeric Belloir (All Sing World against Cancer) does not need any convincing. Because he has two worthy Swiss representatives snapping hard at his heels, the Swiss/German Simon Koster (Go 4 it) and Justine Mettraux (TeamWork) who is Swiss/French . Between the two, there is no regional rivalry when it comes to stealing a march on the rest of the sailing world. Behind them, Renaud Mary (www.runo.fr) is collecting dividends from its option to stay inshore, while Jean- Baptiste Lemaire (Œuvre du Marin Breton) has opted, meanwhile, for the most western route of the entire fleet. As usual, the truth can sometimes take strongly diverging paths. Others have no such qualms, and Florian Mausy (Foksaglisse), has stayed true to his principles and opted for an almost direct route from Cape Finisterre to Lanzarote. Keeping the boat steady as she goes under reduced sail, he is currently looking at 14th place in the series boats ranking. The Italian Force “Slow and steady wins the race.” In the prototypes, Giancarlo Pedote has firmly scratched this famous maxim out of his dictionary. With a cushion of some 40 miles on a group of three consisting of Bertrand Delesne (TeamWork Proto), Benoît Marie (benoitmarie.com) and Nicolas Boidevezi (Nature Addicts), he has clearly demonstrated that he knows how to get the very best out of his Raison design. He is still in the first quarter of the race, but the Italian navigator has yet to put a foot wrong. After the disappointment of the first stage cancellation, cinquantaine has been able to get back into the game. It is also the mark of the best to know how to bounce back. Limiting the damage But you also need to have a little bit of luck with you. Gilles Avril (Evolution Marine) took the option to purchase the hull of a prototype and complete the construction with his own hands. He could be rightly proud of the result. Unfortunately, a drifting log was right in the path of his dreams when the boats bow came out of a surf and hit the log square on with force. Gilles decided not trigger the emergency beacon : instead he set of a request for assistance from his Argos, and then waited patiently for the escort boat while his boat was filling with water. As the support boat arrived Gilles conducted his transfer with composure and professionalism and his transfer to the Class40 of Benoît Parnaudeau went off without a hitch. The skipper had first inflated his life raft, then climed aboard it and allowed it to drift back so the Class40 could come alongside and secure it. Gilles was then able to safely board the support boat. It was a piece of very fine and well controlled seamanship, which highlights the important role of safety training where this type of rescue procedure is dissected and taught by the rescue professionals and marine security services. Aboard Paris Texas, Ludovic Méchin appears to be sailing towards the coast of Morocco at low speed. The skipper has keyed the presence on board button to incidate that all is well on board and he does not require assistance. This is also the situation of Nolwen Carlan (Reality) who is also making slow speed progress. As in other cases, the browsers they try to resolve their equpment issues under their own steam. The Mini Transat is an exceptional sea school. Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (prototypes) at 16.00 (French time) 1. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prysmian) with 2872.6 nm to finish 2. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 47.2 nm 3. Benoit Marie (667 – benoitmarie.com) + 52.5 nm 4. Nicolas Boidevezi (719 – Nature Addicts) + 58.2 nm 5. Julien Pulvé (802 – MEXT-ICA) + 75.1 nm Yslab Ranking (Series boats) à 16.00 (French time) 1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer) with 2947.9 nm to finish 2. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 9.9 nm 3. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 22.2 nm 4. Renaud Mary (535 – http://www.runo.fr) + 35.5 nm 5. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – Œuvre du Marin Breton) +49.8 nm The full ranking lists are available here.

Rich’s position at 1200 today.
Looks like he is back in the game, with a strong strategy to get up there with the fleet!

Conditions are improving for the fleet . The fleet is now streaming towards Lanzarote, and Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian), who continues to hold a strong lead, could be there at some point tonight. The competitors who have taken pit stops are getting back on the road one after the other having had time to heal their wounds.

Pilar Pasanau (Peter Punk) has left Baiona and is now back at sea. In Cascais, François Lamy (Guadeloupe Espace Océan) and Pip Hare (The Potting Shed), have both returned to the race. However, it’s all over for Carlos Lizancos ( Reyno de Navarra) who has thrown in the towel. Yannick Le Clech (Diaoulic 692) has managed to reach Cascais under jury rig. He will now decide on his next steps in the race. Diane Reid (One Girl ‘s Ocean Challenge) is still under repair.

Finally in Porto, François Guiffant (Scidiam) and Clement Bouyssou (No War) have completed repairs and are preparing to go to sea.

For competitors still at sea, the day will undoubtedly be devoted to a general check-up of the boat. Aboard Schuster System, Yoann Tricault has finished repairing his rudder. He will proceed to the Puerto Calero harbor in Lanzarote which is about to be visited by several boats. Pit stops are more than likely before heading out across the Atlantic.

The skipper of Schulter Systems broke a rudder blade overnight. He is looking for calmer conditions to make repairs. Yoann warned an escort boat and did not ask for assistance. All is well on board.

While Rich is having a hard time….lets see what his peer Ian has been up to….This is probably not a blog for a mother to read….Ian Lipinski was dismasted on the first night of the Mini Transat. After activating his emergency beacon, he was recovered by the Mazouri, a cargo bound for Sfax, Tunisia, via Gibraltar. Ian is doing well and is safely on board but had to abandon his boat Pas de Futur sans Numérique, No. 539. Two days after the incident, here is his story:

It all over for 539, which I have had to abandon… I had three reefs in the main and a reefed solent overnight. The sea was rough but nothing more. I had a first warning last night hurtling down a steeper than usual wave. Result, I broached violently. All the gear was swept down the back, I found myself against the crash box! The boat dropped vertically and fell to the side. I release the tiller and drop into the water to leeward against the lifelines … I’m OK again.

But late that night, after a ten-minute nap, I went to open the door to go outside, I felt the boat take off on a very fast surf. I just had time to stand firmly at the opening of the door, a second no more, when the boat was on its roof. The water instantly flooded the entire interior. I had perhaps 50 centimeters of air space left. Everything inside is floating and slopping around. It is all black … and the boat is upside down, like an inverted umbrella! I did not really panick, but told myself very quickly that the situation was not terrible. No VHF, no reasonable opportunity to escape, no power inside the boat … and still its not coming upright. I think that the water is cold and I will not be able to last in it very long. I soon realise that I cannot get out of this on my own and in five minutes I’ve decided to activate the EPIRB. I need a little time to find it because after this rodeo ride and in the dark I’ve lost my bearings a bit in the boat! Then I put on the TPS suit and that warms me up. I think I have been upside down for about 45 minutes to an hour.

Finally, the boat rights itself. I can get to the portable VHF in the safety box and manage to call "Cocoche" (Eric Cochet), 832. I hear that he re transmits my status to the escort boat, which offers to turn around and sail upwind to come to my aid. I say its not realistic and asked him to continue his journey because he can do nothing for me. I then trigger the the race tracker into distress mode. I set off a flare and send out a mayday on channel 16. It’s still dark and I do not feel able to go out on the deck to release the rig, because I do not feel that assured on the boat in the TPS. The rig hull hits a bit but its OK more or less. The sun rises and I see a cargo ship passing because I’m not far from the axis of the DST. I set off a new flare … No reaction from the cargo boat.

I can not seem to reach anyone on the portable VHF. I am looking for my passport stored in a workbook with a little money. I find it and slip it into my dry suit along with Panda, my soft toy I had taken on board for the first time! Coco, my second mascot, can not be found, but I keep myself busy looking for him… I try to empty the boat using a bucket. It’s a mess and although I manage to lower the level a little, it quickly comes back in. I don’t really feel in danger and I know that help is now triggered. Anyway, I don’t feel I can go on on my own. The boat is destroyed and full of water, the electronics are all out, the steering broken …

Then a ship arrives. I help them to locate me with a flare. He begins his maneuver but he’s a little slow. His transom is towards me. I think I’ll pass under the stern, which rises and falls with the waves 4 meters. Finally a huge crash at it comes down on poor 539, but thankfully I’m not crushed. The hull of Kalonig slides to leeward of the cargo ship and the crew throw me down mooring ropes which I secure on the winches. I’ll have to climb the rope ladder that the crew lower against the hull of the ship. It goes up; it goes down: you have find the precise moment to jump on the rope at the top of the wave. Please do not fall into the water. At the third attempt I managed to climb the rope ladder and 5 seconds later I’m on the deck of the ship. Time to watch my mini drift away in the wake …

The captain is wonderful and very caring with me. I have a deluxe cabin and I’ll pass the Strait of Gibraltar for the first time in my life! I haven’t yet had much time to think, I slept and ate. I will get my revenge next time. I do not really think I made a mistake, other than to have not taken shelter in the lee of the coast … But then, I would not have been racing …

We are off to Sfax, Tunisia. We should arrive Tuesda

Source www.minitransat.fr