Strategies vary widely in Mini Transat

(November 2, 2021; Day 5) – There has been little or no change in the general scenario between the Canaries and Cape Verde over the past two days for the 23rd edition of the Mini Transat EuroChef. A stationary low-pressure system is continuing to sprawl lazily across the Atlantic and to its south lies a band of calm conditions, whose influence is stretching out for over 100 miles.

Within this context, the 84 competitors still out on the racetrack are continuing to zigzag their way along in a bid to gain southing, where there is more pressure, and also westing, which will take them closer to the goal. The descent southwards has built a lateral separation of over 300 miles.

While strategies vary widely, the speeds of each of the groups remain relatively similar since they’re all tending to fluctuate between 7 and 9 knots. However, over the past 24 hours, some have pulled off better moves than others.

Such is the case among the prototypes for example, where the option chosen yesterday by Irina Gracheva (800 – Path) and Arno Biston (551 – Bahia Express) to plunge due south has really paid dividends. As a result, today they’re back in the Top 10, tickling the mustache foils of Tanguy Bouroullec (969 – Tollec MP/Pogo), Sébastien Pebelier (787- Décosail), and Fabio Muzzolini (945 – Tartine sans Beurre) at the latest position report which sees François Champion (950 – Porsche Taycan) still at the head of the ranking thanks largely to his position closer to the direct route.

Among the production boats, where the north-south gapping is even greater today, those sailors making headway closer to the direct course also have the edge. Such is the scenario for the whole of the little group made up of Brieuc Lebec (914 – Velotrade), Cécile Andrieu (Groupe Adré), Lennart Burke (943 – Vorpommern), Melwin Fink (920 – SignForCom), Jean-Marie Jézéquel (951 – FondApro), Thomas De Dinechin (909 – Pierrite – Adameo), Federico Waksman (Like Crazy Uruguay), Léo Debiesse (966 – Les Alphas), and Hugo Dhallenne (979 – YC Saint Lunaire).

In short, a group comprising a significant number of the class’ big guns and/or leaders of the ranking at the end of the first leg. Indeed, it would seem that all of the latter are gambling on the westerly option today in a bid to enjoy a better angle of descent in relation to the ESE’ly breeze, whilst their adversaries further west will have to contend with a NE’ly breeze.

On paper, the option has its merits, but each of them will have to be very careful not to follow through too far with this course or they may end up being becalmed in two or three days’ time. Once again, it’ll be all about finding a compromise in the knowledge that the windless zone in question is sprawling out lazily as far as 20° North.

As explained yesterday, to avoid this area, the solo sailors will have no other choice than to continue dropping down below this point, which equates to around 150 miles north-west of the Cape Verde archipelago, before bending their courses around towards the Antilles Arc. What this means is that they won’t really be able to hang a right before Wednesday or Thursday evening.

It’s also worth noting that Cyril Oms (591 – Fantomas) is planning to scale his mast to try to resolve an issue with a spreader, but all’s well aboard.

Race details – Entry list – Tracker

After a one day postponement due to storms, the 23rd edition of the Mini Transat, reserved for the Mini 6.50, the smallest offshore racing class at 21-feet, saw the first stage get underway on September 27, 2021.

A notable proving ground for sailors with shorthanded aspirations, it is also test platform for new boat types, with 65 competitors entering in the production division for manufactured boats while the prototype division has 25 entrants with custom designs.

Held biennially, with limited participation for safety that includes strict qualification guidelines, the 4,050 nm course is divided in two parts: Les Sables d’Olonne (France) to Santa Cruz de La Palma in the Canaries (Spain), restarting on October 29 for the finish at Saint-François in Guadeloupe.

Source: Mini Transat