Mini Transat – Waiting for Justine Mettraux

(December 5, 2013) – It’s a day of respite in the Mini Transat village. Today, everyone is waiting for the arrival of Justine Mettraux (TeamWork) who is still more than a hundred miles from the finish in the 16.00 (GMT +1) ranking report. On land, families and friends of the skippers try to suppress their impatience …

Its not easy when you have a loved one on the water, to ignore the bursts of anxiety that sometimes arise, not to show your irritation as their speed of approach slows, not to yield to the temptation to ask four times day for an estimated time of arrival of a competitor who has been pointed for five days at the finish line. For the pleasure of being at sea and the adventure of solitary living can only be shared once one returns ashore. Single handed racing remains a selfish passion that relatives can live only by proxy. So to kill time, you tour the butterfly island, you live as expediently as possible … But no rest.

Next arrivals during the night of Thursday to Friday

On the water, Justine Mettraux should finish tonight around 5 am local time (10.00 GMT +1). She should be followed during the day by Simon Koster (Go 4 It) before the bulk of the troops are led in by Nicolas Boidevezi (Nature Addicts ) whose arrival in Pointe -a-Pitre will open the flood gates to clear the traffic jam over the weekend. From Renaud Mary (www.runo.fr) in fourth, to Eric Cochet ( Abers & Co ) in thirteenth among the series boats, there is only 150 miles of separation or twenty hours of sailing. When we include the prototypes of Michele Zambelli (Fontanot), Annabelle Boudinot (Agro 650) and Alan Roura (Navman), twelve boats should cross the finish line from Saturday evening. Others are still far off. Eric Jezegou (Déphémérides Am2I ) is currently more than 1000 miles from the finish and still has 6-7 days at sea. On a very southerly route, he surely hopes that the trade winds, theoretically stronger in the southern latitudes, will enable him to make up some time. The Mini Transat is a school of patience for both those who are at sea and those who are waiting.

Ranking (prototypes) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
7. Nicolas Boidevezi (719 – Nature Addicts) with 343 nm to finish
8. Louis Segré (679 – Roll my Chicken) + 76.4 nm
9. Michele Zambelli (342 – Fontanot) + 133.9 nm
10. Annabelle Boudinot (791 – Agro650) + 138.9 nm
11. Alan Roura (284 – Navman) + 166.8 nm

Ranking (series boats) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
2. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) with 116.3 nm to finish
3. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 it) + 82.5 nm
4. Renaud Mary (www.runo.fr) + 349.3 nm
5. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (L’Ouvre du Marin Breton) + 381.3 nm
5. Alberto Bona (Onelinesim.it) + 388.3 nm

The full ranking list is available here

Background: The biennial Mini Transat is a transatlantic race for solo Mini 6.5m competitors. The race has two legs: 1257 miles from France to Canary Islands, and 2764 miles from Canary Islands to Guadeloupe. Demand is high to compete. The race is limited to 84 racers, and each entrant must fulfill qualifying requirements. The race has a production division and a prototype division.

The start from Douarnenez was originally planned for October 13, but was postponed due to severe weather conditions on the race course. A weather window allowed for the start of the first leg of the Mini Transat 2013 on October 29, but worsening weather conditions forced the cancellation of this leg and the Mini Transat fleet found shelter in the ports on the north coast of Spain.

Seventy-three competitors restarted in Sada, Spain on November 13, with the race reduced to one 3700 mile leg direct to Pointe-à-Pitre, with a gate at the Canary Islands for safety.

Race website: http://www.minitransat.fr/