Le Blevec breaks away

As leaders contend with the Doldrums in the Mini Transat

Monday October 15th 2007, Author: James Boyd, Location: Transoceanic

Images courtesy of Expedition Navigation Systems

Positions at 0600GMT

Pos	Sail	Skipper	Boat	Cls	Lat	Long	Spd	Crs	DTF	DTL
1	624	le Blevec Yves	Actual	proto	7.5455 N	-27.7939 W	6.4	188	1410.97	0
2	198	Hardy Adrien	Brossard	proto	8.6109 N	-27.0291 W	5.3	216	1487.46	76.49
3	348	Sineau David	Bretagne lapins	proto	8.8176 N	-27.1943 W	4.8	197	1495.14	84.17
4	424	Deshayes Ronan	Pco technologies	proto	8.9382 N	-27.2224 W	5.9	214	1501.23	90.26
5	509	Hajnsek Kristian	Adria mobil	proto	9.153 N	-27.5197 W	5.9	219	1506.89	95.92
6	419	Brennan Nicholas	Rafiki	proto	8.9787 N	-26.8532 W	5.3	187	1511.88	100.91
7	617	Despres Fabien	Soitec	proto	9.3002 N	-27.5043 W	4.3	203	1515.5	104.53
8	347	Riou Yann	Cameleon	proto	9.0982 N	-26.9565 W	4.8	218	1516.09	105.12
9	618	Laureyssens Peter	Ecover	proto	9.2988 N	-26.6612 W	4.3	237	1534.03	123.06
10	454	Salabert François	Areas assurances	proto	9.5431 N	-27.1719 W	5.3	208	1536.11	125.14
11	260	Cusin Olivier	Energies autour du monde	proto	9.7233 N	-27.0341 W	5.9	199	1549.15	138.18
12	417	Duguet François	Credit agricole skipper challenge	proto	9.8175 N	-26.9716 W	6.4	201	1555.77	144.8
13	575	Burkhalter Clayton	Acadia	proto	10.2111 N	-27.6752 W	5.9	202	1563.75	152.78
14	539	le Diraison Stéphane	Cultisol - institut curie	serie	10.0019 N	-27.0199 W	6.4	213	1565.05	154.08
15	630	Cassanas Matthieu	Ville de balaruc les bains	proto	9.8689 N	-26.646 W	5.9	208	1565.89	154.92
16	518	Piveteau Hervé	Jules - imprimerie cartoffset	serie	10.0066 N	-26.9805 W	5.9	195	1566.15	155.18
17	321	Vadeleau Yoann	Lune de miel pour bahia	proto	10.1112 N	-27.1693 W	6.4	209	1568.05	157.08
18	567	Koch Jérome	SPH	proto	10.1998 N	-26.7217 W	5.9	180	1582.57	171.6
19	510	Mihelin Andraz	Adria mobil too	proto	10.5082 N	-27.1711 W	6.4	215	1590.39	179.42
20	247	Ruyant Thomas	Region nord pas de calais - faber france	proto	10.5891 N	-26.5966 W	5.9	187	1607.01	196.04
21	303	Favre Hervé	Team work management	proto	10.5941 N	-26.5578 W	4.8	203	1608.15	197.18
22	607	Lobato Francisco	Bpi	serie	10.5437 N	-26.3433 W	5.3	229	1610.17	199.2
23	508	Kaczorowski Jaroslaw	Allianz pl	proto	10.8386 N	-26.9608 W	5.9	192	1613.28	202.31
24	472	Barnaud Vincent	Masoco bay	serie	10.7548 N	-26.5679 W	5.9	199	1616.88	205.91
25	232	Stipanicev Sime	Marina tribunj	proto	10.826 N	-26.6938 W	5.3	171	1618.14	207.17
26	626	Marin Julia Gérard	C.n. llanca	serie	11.1973 N	-27.4872 W	6.4	219	1623.48	212.51
27	473	Guillonneau Jean-Claude	Zerline	serie	11.2097 N	-27.1215 W	4.3	215	1631.06	220.09
28	516	Krizek David	Atlantik ft	serie	11.4931 N	-27.2521 W	5.9	200	1644.68	233.71
29	258	Gascons Marc	Tip-top	proto	11.6479 N	-27.343 W	6.4	209	1651.83	240.86
30	487	Sannie Matthieu	Orange mini	serie	10.9138 N	-25.4125 W	5.9	201	1652.84	241.87
31	485	Bonnier Thomas	Architecture(s) elementaire(s)	serie	11.5105 N	-26.5286 W	5.9	191	1660	249.03
32	612	Quelen Jean-François	Galanz	serie	11.6435 N	-26.6598 W	3.7	171	1664.76	253.79
33	589	Van Esch Koen	k.l.m. flying dutchman	serie	11.4859 N	-26.0099 W	4.8	196	1669.94	258.97
34	500	Wood Andrew	Domosofa.com	proto	11.7909 N	-26.3799 W	4.8	199	1678.85	267.88
35	444	Rawlinson David	www.oceanchallenge.com	proto	12.1026 N	-26.016 W	3.7	199	1704.09	293.12
36	633	Schroder Lucas	T-mobile one	serie	12.1291 N	-25.8689 W	4.8	196	1708.8	297.83
37	527	Dubucq Bertrand	Toiles de mayenne	serie	12.5392 N	-26.5744 W	5.9	190	1717.03	306.06
38	613	Masekowitz Henrik	Beija mar	serie	11.8493 N	-24.8486 W	4.3	215	1717.84	306.87
39	517	Marsset Sébastien	Maree haute	serie	12.4607 N	-25.6117 W	6.4	194	1732.97	322
40	250	Castelnerac Bertrand	As de coeur	serie	12.5666 N	-25.496 W	5.3	201	1741.46	330.49
41	569	Delesne Bertrand	Le gal - josset menguy	serie	12.8714 N	-26.0245 W	5.3	187	1746.9	335.93
42	286	Girolet Matthieu	Le roi du matelas	serie	13.2613 N	-26.0764 W	6.4	191	1767.74	356.77
43	165	Lucat Fabrice	Hakuna matata	proto	13.2133 N	-25.8224 W	4.8	185	1770.3	359.33
44	281	Barthel Dominique	Conseil general de l’isere	serie	13.4526 N	-26.0059 W	5.9	213	1779.94	368.97
45	435	Chateau Laurence	Okofen	serie	13.3461 N	-25.7133 W	7	191	1780.04	369.07
46	432	Haize Xavier	Fidelia assistance	proto	13.5424 N	-26.2019 W	6.4	186	1781.09	370.12
47	426	Bouw Jelmer	Van uden - sailcenter.nl	serie	13.5062 N	-25.78 W	6.4	210	1787.6	376.63
48	480	Loisel Véronique	De l’espace pour la mer	serie	13.6468 N	-26.1052 W	3.7	203	1788.9	377.93
49	482	Graulle Bénédicte	Barreau de paris	serie	13.5271 N	-25.5447 W	4.3	184	1793.76	382.79
50	159	Gedouin Pierre	Micromegas	proto	13.6083 N	-25.6333 W	4.8	187	1796.41	385.44
51	322	Brasseur Pierre	Peintures ripolin	serie	14.0374 N	-26.0604 W	5.3	272	1811.86	400.89
52	405	Retif Gael	Okoume	serie	14.2825 N	-26.0221 W	5.9	179	1826.47	415.5
53	328	Guillon-verne Matthieu	Dcns-lino	serie	14.2788 N	-25.9967 W	5.9	201	1826.75	415.78
54	483	Longeau Sigrid	2b consulting	serie	14.2645 N	-25.9071 W	5.9	202	1827.7	416.73
55	287	Gueroult Sophie	Felibre	serie	14.3047 N	-26.0232 W	5.9	186	1827.71	416.74
56	184	Coubes Thomas	Petit citron vert	proto	14.5403 N	-26.442 W	3.7	251	1833.29	422.32
57	194	Huusela Ari	Dorade	proto	14.7948 N	-26.7287 W	6.4	206	1842.85	431.88
58	498	le Carrou David	Le treport	serie	15.2639 N	-25.8891 W	6.4	182	1884.66	473.69
59	507	Monsempes Adrien	Golden apple	serie	15.2883 N	-25.3016 W	7	227	1897.53	486.56
60	245	Zurrer Dominik	Ubik 245	serie	14.8413 N	-23.8693 W	2.6	188	1904.74	493.77
61	317	Daudin Rémi	Deolen	proto	15.5545 N	-25.2167 W	4.3	201	1914.22	503.25
62	332	Mevay Alex	Genasun	serie	15.3343 N	-24.203 W	6.4	169	1923.88	512.91
63	339	Laine Pierrick	Elima	proto	15.4684 N	-23.7802 W	5.3	272	1941.14	530.17
64	667	Joschke Isabelle	Degremont - synergie	proto	16.2423 N	-25.7927 W	13.4	235	1942.11	531.14
65	457	Bordiec Sébastien	Garcimore	serie	15.7472 N	-24.2327 W	5.9	218	1946.01	535.04
66	573	Picault Sébastien	Groupe royer	proto	16.4922 N	-25.5658 W	7	218	1960.49	549.52
67	353	Orti Nacho	Medi-valencia	proto	16.225 N	-24.1184 W	7.5	201	1975.01	564.04
68	355	Pendibene Andrea	Perle de sueur-wanted sponsor	serie	16.3161 N	-23.7785 W	4.8	204	1987.72	576.75
69	313	de Pontual Bertrand	Colibri	serie	16.886 N	-24.9917 W	0	357	1993.73	582.76
70	491	Bonvin Stephan	Marcel for ever	proto	16.886 N	-24.9917 W	0	8	1993.74	582.77
71	623	Vettorato Maurizzio	Spazio libero	serie	16.8861 N	-24.9917 W	0	3	1993.74	582.77
72	312	Allain Yannick	Centifolia - chaveta	proto	16.8862 N	-24.9915 W	0	320	1993.75	582.78
73	679	Manuard Samuel	Sitting bull	proto	16.8863 N	-24.9914 W	0	30	1993.76	582.79
74	265	Claquin Aloys	Vecteur plus	proto	16.8866 N	-24.9913 W	0	342	1993.78	582.81
75	642	Donot Frédéric	Surfrider foundation europe	serie	16.8867 N	-24.9913 W	0	0	1993.79	582.82
76	346	Bourgues Laurent	Adrenaline	proto	17.0454 N	-24.428 W	4.8	211	2014.05	603.08
77	551	Cospen Raoul	Dalet digital media systems	proto	17.0687 N	-24.4531 W	4.3	223	2014.84	603.87
78	576	Reinhart Thibault	Les blouses roses - colas	serie	17.3154 N	-24.8296 W	5.9	196	2021.15	610.18
79	431	Caracci Andrea	Speedy bonsai	proto	17.3695 N	-24.6272 W	3.7	231	2028.19	617.22
80	384	Magne Grégory	Upian.com	serie	17.3515 N	-24.4863 W	4.8	214	2030.02	619.05
81	574	Braidwood Tom	Wombat	proto	17.4163 N	-23.4925 W	7.5	201	2054.9	643.93
82	364	Seyrig Jacques-Arnaud	A chacun son cap	serie	18.0354 N	-23.5294 W	4.3	201	2088.36	677.39
83	427	Gladu Sébastien	Clichy sous bois - clichy sur l’eau	proto	23.7428 N	-20.8865 W	4.3	194	2461.71	1050.74
84	450	Ramon Hugo	Volkswagen sailing experience	serie	25.5383 N	-18.786 W	3.2	203	2607.62	1196.65
AB	628	Monegier Quentin	Tabon	proto			0		0
AB	429	Pella Alex	Generalitat valenciana	proto			0		0
AB	36	Gerckens Jonas	P’tite lola a donf	proto			0		0
AB	389	Laurent Emmanuel	Totem - domaine des thomeaux	serie			0		0
AB	520	Valente Jacques	Telekurs twing	serie			0		0

Over the weekend the Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia leg two leader Yves le Blevec and his Mini Actual have managed to extend their lead to a comfortable 76 mile margin over second placed Adrien Hardy on Brossard.

Up until Saturday night le Blevec and Hardy were pretty much neck and neck, except that the former had the advantage of being just 80 miles to the west. However the track for Hardy shows that he slowed greatly over Saturday night, gybed to the southwest and has only just picked up speed again. While le Blevec has streaked away Hardy is now part of the 'chasing pack' with David Sineau's unfortunately named 2001 Magnen design Bretagne Lapins (Bretagne rabbit - anything with furry ears is considered unlucky in Breton sailing folk lore) now holding third, narrowly ahead of Ronan Dehayes on Tanguy de la Motte's former boat, PCO Technologies. The west is finally also paying for Slovenian skipper Kristian Hajnsek on Adria Mobil who has resolutely suck to this side of the race track since the race left Madeira and is now up to fifth. Impressively le Blevec has managed to hang on to his pace, while the door seems to have shut on those behind.

It is probable that on his track to the east, Hardy simply ran into an area of light winds.

At the boats approach the Doldrums (below 10°N) so the race track has narrowed down to about 130 miles east to west, with those to the east trying to get some westing in.

However the leaders are now firmly into the Doldrums and the wind radar images are showing a band of extremely nasty looking easterlies to the east of where the front runners are passing through (remember they have no weather information to warn them of where the bes crossing is).

While le Blevec doesn't seemed to have slowed up greatly in the conditions, the present indicators are that he's going to be stuck in the Doldrums at least until he gets to 4°N.

Among the Anglo-Saxons, Aussie Nicholas Brennan is down to sixth, having lost this third place slot, however he remains very much in contention. American Clay Burkhalter has done well over the weekend, pulling up from 19th on Friday to 13th this morning by taking a westerly track (in fact his is the only boat in the top 30 at present to be west of the great circle). Brits Andrew Wood and David Rawlinson are currently 34th and 35th respectively.

In terms of casualties, the race now has five boats retired of 89 starters. These include Spanish Mini sailor Alex Pella, who's mast issues have got worse. Meanwhile Sam Manuard, second placed on the first place, has had to stop in the Cape Verdes to fix his boat and so far hasn't left. However Manuard is not alone. Seven boats are currently in Tarrafal on the island of Mindelo including Aloys Claquin's Vecteur plus which has rudder problems, Stephan Bonvin and his 2004 Manuard Marcel for ever, Yannick Allain's Centifolia-chaveta, and in the series class Bertrand de Pontual's Pogo 1 Colibri, Italian Maurizzio Vettorato's Tip Top Spazio liberoand Frédéric Donot's Tip Top, Surfrider foundation europe.

Leg one winner Isabelle Joschke also stopped in Mindelo yesterday for a 12 hour pitstop, leaving at 2200 last night, with the swivel mechanism for her bowsprit repaired.

On Friday night, Quentin Monegier had to be airlifted off his boat when while sailing under full main and spinnaker she struck an unidentified object in the water and was holed. With his boat swamped with water he was rescued by a Panther helicopter from the French frigate Le Germinal.