En route to the Rock

An update on the Mini Fastnet

Light air is set to dominate the Mini Fastnet for the remaining 300 miles. With the fleet halfway across the Irish Sea heading towards Fastnet Rock, Nick Bubb and John Parker on Whittlebury Hall are fighting for a top 10 position (in an 80 boat fleet).

The leaders have extended to a 10 mile lead in the light air reaching and there are few passing opportunities for the chasing pack before the rounding at Fastnet. Wednesday and Thursday will see the wind remain light with a shift to the South - more light air beating after the rounding! Thursday and Friday should see a shift to the South West/West (still only Force 2/3) allowing the pack to reach toward the finish at Douarnenez.

Completion of the race will secure a place for Nick Bubb in the Mini Transat 2005 starting in September.

Mini Fastnet Positions 2000 Tuesday
(N.B. some positions were taken at a later time: it is likely that John and Nick are in 11th position. Some boats are not being reported.)

1 417 P Crédit-Agricole MASLARD/MERIGEAUX-Richard 325,086 M
2 433 P E.-Leclerc-Bouygues DOUGUET/MANUARD 325,848 M
3 427 P Birvidik GLADU/COLIN-Hervé 326,510 M
4 276 P Parole JOSCHKE/RIOU-Yann 327,149 M
5 151 P Servomap LE-VOURCH/E-BLEVEC 328,968 M
6 348 P Bretagne-Lapin SINEAU/TYMEN 329,665 M
7 198 P Karen-Liquid HARDY/HARDY21/06/05 331,808 M
8 438 S Basecamp LAUREYSSENS/DE-SMEDT 337,787 M
9 391 P Appart-City NOBLET/CASTILLA 338,130 M
10 487 S LPO SANNIE/SANNIE 338,384 M
11 509 P Adria-Mobil HAJNSEK/COUTANT 338,440 M
12 500 P Whittlebury-Hall BUBB/PARKER 338,793 M
13 321 P Vendez-pas-le-Globe GINDRE /PARNAUDEAU 338,855 M
14 312 P Night-Fever CASSANAS/DOIN 339,196 M
15 304 P Satanas BOTIN/SAUTUOLA-Alfonso 339,802 M