East or west?

After two days at sea already there is more than 200 miles across the race course for the Mini Transat competitors

Positions at 1000GMT

Pos	Sail	Skipper	Boat	Cls	Lat	Long	Spd	Crs	DTF	DTL
1	346	Bourgues Laurent	Adrenaline	Proto	28.7634 N	-17.1445 W	8.6	216	2821.22	0
2	431	Caracci Andrea	Speedy bonsai	Proto	28.995 N	-17.6275 W	9.7	192	2821.38	0.16
3	624	le Blevec Yves	Actual	Proto	29.2689 N	-18.2706 W	11.8	257	2821.98	0.76
4	667	Joschke Isabelle	Degremont - synergie	Proto	29.0529 N	-17.628 W	10.2	166	2824.5	3.28
5	679	Manuard Samuel	Sitting bull	Proto	29.4197 N	-18.2738 W	11.8	196	2830.16	8.94
6	260	Cusin Olivier	Energies autour du monde	Proto	29.1756 N	-17.6396 W	12.9	191	2830.89	9.67
7	348	Sineau David	Bretagne lapins	Proto	29.1774 N	-17.6212 W	10.7	176	2831.4	10.18
8	575	Burkhalter Clayton	Acadia	Proto	29.3694 N	-18.0801 W	8.6	195	2831.62	10.4
9	265	Claquin Aloys	Vecteur plus	Proto	29.407 N	-18.0866 W	12.4	202	2833.53	12.31
10	347	Riou Yann	Cameleon	Proto	28.3738 N	-15.9584 W	9.7	182	2833.73	12.51
11	419	Brennan Nicholas	Rafiki	Proto	29.1405 N	-17.4271 W	8	204	2833.82	12.6
12	427	Gladu Sébastien	Clichy sous bois - clichy sur l’eau	Proto	29.5378 N	-18.3861 W	8	210	2834.2	12.98
13	617	Despres Fabien	Soitec	Proto	29.5184 N	-18.2559 W	8	207	2835.94	14.72
14	607	Lobato Francisco	Bpi	Series	29.0263 N	-17.0593 W	9.7	211	2836.2	14.98
15	312	Allain Yannick	Centifolia - chaveta	Proto	29.2886 N	-17.6733 W	8.6	202	2836.25	15.03
16	444	Rawlinson David	www.oceanchallenge.com	Proto	29.0816 N	-17.164 W	7	212	2836.73	15.51
17	198	Hardy Adrien	Brossard	Proto	28.4983 N	-15.9948 W	10.7	189	2838.9	17.68
18	247	Ruyant Thomas	Region nord pas de calais - faber france	Proto	29.3323 N	-17.654 W	7.5	179	2839.06	17.84
19	303	Favre Hervé	Team work management	Proto	29.1689 N	-17.2394 W	10.2	228	2839.67	18.45
20	500	Wood Andrew	Domosofa.com	Proto	29.4583 N	-17.8384 W	11.3	191	2841.78	20.56
21	417	Duguet François	Credit agricole skipper challenge	Proto	29.2838 N	-17.3796 W	8.6	196	2842.65	21.43
22	432	Haize Xavier	Fidelia assistance	Proto	29.6723 N	-18.3278 W	8.6	205	2842.82	21.6
23	424	Deshayes Ronan	Pco technologies	Proto	28.5957 N	-16.0016 W	12.4	175	2843.6	22.38
24	630	Cassanas Matthieu	Ville de balaruc les bains	Proto	29.3407 N	-17.434 W	8	180	2844.49	23.27
25	321	Vadeleau Yoann	Lune de miel pour bahia	Proto	29.3323 N	-17.3225 W	9.1	210	2846.58	25.36
26	518	Piveteau Hervé	Jules - imprimerie cartoffset	Series	28.6924 N	-16.0622 W	8	172	2846.74	25.52
27	454	Salabert François	Areas assurances	Proto	29.7317 N	-18.2874 W	11.3	197	2846.94	25.72
28	628	Monegier Quentin	Tabon	Proto	29.7454 N	-18.3061 W	8.6	202	2847.29	26.07
29	618	Laureyssens Peter	Ecover	Proto	28.6992 N	-15.982 W	10.2	180	2849.37	28.15
30	551	Cospen Raoul	Dalet digital media systems	Proto	29.3188 N	-17.1613 W	6.4	191	2849.56	28.34
31	573	Picault Sébastien	Groupe royer	Proto	29.6801 N	-18.0203 W	9.1	199	2849.88	28.66
32	633	Schroder Lucas	T-mobile one	Series	29.4009 N	-17.3053 W	5.9	200	2850.67	29.45
33	485	Bonnier Thomas	Architecture(s) elementaire(s)	Series	29.6635 N	-17.9379 W	8.6	190	2850.77	29.55
34	517	Marsset Sébastien	Maree haute	Series	29.3445 N	-17.1673 W	8	201	2850.81	29.59
35	589	Van Esch Koen	k.l.m. flying dutchman	Series	29.3318 N	-16.9843 W	9.7	221	2854.37	33.15
36	626	Marin Julia Gérard	C.n. llanca	Series	29.9056 N	-18.3295 W	9.1	184	2855.57	34.35
37	473	Guillonneau Jean-Claude	Zerline	Series	29.8424 N	-18.1267 W	8	208	2856.44	35.22
38	491	Bonvin Stephan	Marcel for ever	Proto	29.9071 N	-18.2758 W	8.6	193	2856.79	35.57
39	435	Chateau Laurence	Okofen	Series	29.7997 N	-17.9433 W	8.6	199	2858.08	36.86
40	539	le Diraison Stéphane	Cultisol - institut curie	Series	28.8799 N	-15.9909 W	7.5	172	2858.25	37.03
41	516	Krizek David	Atlantik ft	Series	30.0157 N	-18.4479 W	8	199	2859.11	37.89
42	457	Bordiec Sébastien	Garcimore	Series	29.5024 N	-17.1746 W	7.5	203	2859.15	37.93
43	569	Delesne Bertrand	Le gal - josset menguy	Series	29.9427 N	-18.2561 W	8	203	2859.16	37.94
44	250	Castelnerac Bertrand	As de coeur	Series	29.5923 N	-17.3794 W	6.4	189	2859.33	38.11
45	508	Kaczorowski Jaroslaw	Allianz pl	Proto	30.1581 N	-18.7735 W	5.9	191	2860.21	38.99
46	472	Barnaud Vincent	Masoco bay	Series	28.9254 N	-15.9864 W	7.5	177	2860.68	39.46
47	613	Masekowitz Henrik	Beija mar	Series	29.4035 N	-16.8775 W	8.6	212	2860.72	39.5
48	36	Gerckens Jonas	P’tite lola a donf	Proto	28.9713 N	-16.0521 W	5.3	184	2861.17	39.95
49	527	Dubucq Bertrand	Toiles de mayenne	Series	29.6163 N	-17.3011 W	7	198	2862.41	41.19
50	510	Mihelin Andraz	Adria mobil too	Proto	30.0851 N	-18.4653 W	8	198	2862.56	41.34
51	286	Girolet Matthieu	Le roi du matelas	Series	29.0468 N	-16.0583 W	7.5	184	2864.83	43.61
52	567	Koch Jérome	SPH	Proto	29.757 N	-17.5274 W	8	193	2864.93	43.71
53	487	Sannie Matthieu	Orange mini	Series	29.121 N	-16.1739 W	10.2	183	2865.43	44.21
54	509	Hajnsek Kristian	Adria mobil	Proto	30.425 N	-19.2388 W	7	249	2865.66	44.44
55	612	Quelen Jean-François	Galanz	Series	29.923 N	-17.8835 W	9.1	249	2866.11	44.89
56	498	le Carrou David	Le treport	Series	29.9727 N	-18.0079 W	7	164	2866.12	44.9
57	353	Orti Nacho	Medi-valencia	Proto	29.9975 N	-18.0566 W	7.5	202	2866.43	45.21
58	159	Gedouin Pierre	Micromegas	Proto	29.1403 N	-16.1316 W	7	169	2867.58	46.36
59	480	Loisel Véronique	De l’espace pour la mer	Series	29.7345 N	-17.3363 W	7	192	2868	46.78
60	405	Retif Gael	Okoume	Series	29.9754 N	-17.8423 W	8.6	179	2869.86	48.64
61	483	Longeau Sigrid	2b consulting	Series	29.7986 N	-17.395 W	7.5	201	2870.15	48.93
62	507	Monsempes Adrien	Golden apple	Series	29.6399 N	-17.0031 W	8.6	199	2870.51	49.29
63	287	Gueroult Sophie	Felibre	Series	30.0052 N	-17.8582 W	8	196	2871.14	49.92
64	165	Lucat Fabrice	Hakuna matata	Proto	30.0077 N	-17.857 W	9.1	190	2871.3	50.08
65	482	Graulle Bénédicte	Barreau de paris	Series	29.1981 N	-16.0989 W	9.1	167	2871.44	50.22
66	258	Gascons Marc	Tip-top	Proto	29.9958 N	-17.7907 W	6.4	245	2872.1	50.88
67	426	Bouw Jelmer	Van uden - sailcenter.nl	Series	29.9658 N	-17.63 W	8	198	2873.99	52.77
68	623	Vettorato Maurizzio	Spazio libero	Series	29.9767 N	-17.6359 W	10.7	180	2874.45	53.23
69	328	Guillon-verne Matthieu	Dcns-lino	Series	29.6367 N	-16.8241 W	7	215	2874.49	53.27
70	232	Stipanicev Sime	Marina tribunj	Proto	30.593 N	-19.1911 W	7	242	2875.93	54.71
71	194	Huusela Ari	Dorade	Proto	29.6711 N	-16.7786 W	5.9	211	2877.4	56.18
72	245	Zurrer Dominik	Ubik 245	Series	30.0769 N	-17.6924 W	7.5	205	2878.66	57.44
73	317	Daudin Rémi	Deolen	Proto	30.3094 N	-18.2683 W	9.1	190	2879.01	57.79
74	332	Mevay Alex	Genasun	Series	29.9613 N	-17.39 W	8.6	193	2879.08	57.86
75	642	Donot Frédéric	Surfrider foundation europe	Series	30.0121 N	-17.4897 W	8.6	170	2879.61	58.39
76	313	de Pontual Bertrand	Colibri	Series	29.9761 N	-17.3661 W	7.5	186	2880.41	59.19
77	576	Reinhart Thibault	Les blouses roses - colas	Series	29.4155 N	-16.1718 W	8	189	2880.62	59.4
78	450	Ramon Hugo	Volkswagen sailing experience	Series	29.637 N	-16.603 W	3.7	144	2880.86	59.64
79	322	Brasseur Pierre	Peintures ripolin	Series	30.2048 N	-17.9005 W	6.4	178	2881.12	59.9
80	281	Barthel Dominique	Conseil general de l’isere	Series	30.3082 N	-18.143 W	7.5	195	2881.59	60.37
81	389	Laurent Emmanuel	Totem - domaine des thomeaux	Series	30.1433 N	-17.6812 W	9.7	179	2882.53	61.31
82	429	Pella Alex	Generalitat valenciana	Proto	30.0018 N	-17.3338 W	5.9	206	2882.53	61.31
83	355	Pendibene Andrea	Perle de sueur-wanted sponsor	Series	30.0783 N	-17.4161 W	5.9	199	2884.84	63.62
84	184	Coubes Thomas	Petit citron vert	Proto	30.6829 N	-18.8652 W	5.3	231	2887.37	66.15
85	339	Laine Pierrick	Elima	Proto	30.6643 N	-18.7642 W	6.4	244	2888.36	67.14
86	384	Magne Grégory	Upian.com	Series	30.4112 N	-17.9053 W	6.4	215	2892.29	71.07
87	364	Seyrig Jacques-Arnaud	A chacun son cap	Series	30.1226 N	-16.7451 W	4.8	262	2902.44	81.22
88	574	Braidwood Tom	Wombat	Proto	32.6454 N	-16.9102 W	0	294	3035.47	214.25
AB	520	Valente Jacques	Telekurs twing	Series			0		0

Leg two of the Mini Transat (Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia) got away on Saturday from Funchal, Madeira at 1217 local time after one general recall in a 5-7 knot southwesterly breeze.

At the first turning mark it was Italian Andrea Carracci ( Speedy Bonsai) who led, followed by Adrien Hardy ( Brossard), Yves Le Blevec ( Actual), Fabien Desprès ( Soitec), Sime Stipanicev ( Marina Tribunj), Hervé Favre ( TeamWork) and François Duguet ( Crédit Agricole Skipper Challenge).

Unfortunately once again Slovenian skipper Andraž Mihelin of Team Adria Mobil came acropper at the start (at the start of leg one a press boat had collided with Mihelin's boat, but he had continued). On this occasion his Adria Mobil 510 was hit by David le Carrou's Le Treport, leaving a 25cm hole at the hull to deck join on the port side. With this damage he was forced to return to the marina . Adria Mobile meteorologist Jure Jerman witnessed the incident: "After a few very shocking moments Andraž gave us the instructions - he wanted to be towed back. A few hours of laminating later Andraž was eager to start again with the epoxy still not completely dry!"


Not what you need with a 3000+ mile leg ahead of you....

The collision will no doubt result in another protest and the Slovenian skipper, competing in his second Mini Transat, will get his time compensated. To see video of this click here.

At the end of play on Saturday, Carracci was still leading, with Yves le Blevec third, Aloys Claquin on Vecteur Plus fourth with Sam Manuard (second on leg one) sixth and leg one winner Isabelle Joschke tenth. The Anglo-Saxons were doing well with American Clay Burkhalter up to seventh and Britain's Andrew Wood, aboard domosofa.com in ninth place in the 89 boat fleet.

Impressively on Sunday morning Burkhalter had taken over the lead, his boat Acadia, a design by Rod Johnstone of J Boat fame, clearly enjoying the very light conditions (at this point only one boat in the top 10 was making more than 4 knots...) compared to the powerful fatter and flatter bottomed French reaching machines. The end of the afternoon on Sunday saw Yves le Blevec move into first place with Burkhalter down to third, but, impressively with the British competitors David Rawlinson and Andrew Wood on domosofa.com holding eighth and ninth places respectively. Apart from le Blevec, most of the new boats seemed to be suffering with Joschke down to a lowly 19th and Sam Manuard a lacklustre 32nd.

Since the start there have been very differing tactics in the fleet. The pre-start forecast indicated that the wind on the great circle route would be very light as it has proved thanks to the transition zone between the northeasterly trades to the east and the southwesterlies to the west, associated with a major depression out into the North Atlantic, lying to the west of the great circle that has since moved away to be replaced by a reformed high. Thus there was substantially more wind to be find to the east (left) of the course and for this reason a lot of competitors have been attempting to make the most of this option over the weekend, heading generally towards the Canary Islands rather than sticking to the shortest route.

So the fleet have fanned out with already some 215 miles across the race track. Furthest west and to the west of the great circle is a small group being led by Slovenian skipper Kristan Hajnsek, while Poland's Kaczorowski Jaroslaw on allianz.pl is just inside them. Meanwhile furthest east is Yann Riou on Cameleon who is currently passing down the channel between Gran Canaria and Tenerife, in the middle of the Canary Islands. The group following Riou includes Adrien Hardy on Brossard and Ecover skipper Peter Laureyessens.

By taking an equally eastward track and then gybing back on to starboard, Laurent Bourges on Adrenaline has pulled out a lead among another group to the west and is currently leading overall in terms of distance to finish. He is currently in the middle of the channel between Tenerife and Las Palma (the furthest west of the Canary Islands). Britain's David Rawlinson, currently in 16th place, is among the group following Bourges. However another group is just about to creep around the east side of Las Palma, led by Andrea Caracci, who is being closely followed by leg one winner Isabelle Joschke. Between these last two group is Australian skipper Nicholas Brennan, currently lying 11th.

Another group led by Yves le Blevec (leading at 0600 this morning) is just to the east of the great circle, and to the northwest of Las Palma. This group includes Sam Manuard (second on leg one) and American Clay Burkhalter, now in 8th place and British skipper Andrew Wood.

So which tactic will pay off? While the east was definitely paying, this is no longer the case with the centre of the high pressure system moving northwards towards the Bay of Biscay, allowing the trade winds to fill in to around 20 knots more of less equally across the race course. Conditions look set to come good for the group to the west as the forecast indicates wind direction to go more ENE than NE for them allowing them a sail on one gybe as they head south. If they continue west relative to the rest of the fleet the westerly boats may also find in the days to come that they have a shorter passage across the Doldrums.

The group passing through the Canaries are playing a dangerous game as although typically there are acceleration zones in the wind as they pass between the islands there is also the possibility of falling into holes to the lee of the islands - these can occur to around 100 miles southwest of the Canaries. Hopefully the wind strength is high enough to minimise this. Generally the great circle cuts through the middle of the next island group - the Cape Verdes off West Africa - and the forecast shows this as being pretty much dead downwind.