Windy Select

British Mini sailor Oliver Bond reports on this year's Pornichet Select

Once again the Select proved to be a tough race; of the 55 starters, 27 retired. Being so early in the season it is often windy and this year was no exception. After a light winds start, I eventually managed to lead the Series fleet around Goue Vas Du Four. The wind then completely shut down and the entire fleet came together to drift through the night.

We had to wait for the next day before the breeze finally arrived for a run down to Les Sables-d’Olonne. Sailing past Les Sables with the breeze now at 20 knots I managed to broach out twice - the first time after collecting a load of weed around the rudder and the second after catching a lobster pot which luckily freed itself.

After the mark came the long upwind leg to Ile de Groix. With an increasing and very gusty breeze there was plenty of reefing and unreefing before ending up with a reefed solent and a double reefed main. The seas were building and it was a relief to round Groix and bear away towards the finish.

I eventually crossed the finish third in the Series fleet and in seventh overall. Even after finishing there was some drama: Sébastien Rogues who finished second, broached after crossing the line and fell out of his boat. He managed to swim to a buoy and was picked up by a RIB after about half an hour. Luckily he was okay but his boat ended up on an island off Pornichet. It was salvaged a couple of days later.

The Proto fleet was won by Stephan Lediraison, who finished second in the Series class in the last Transat, sailing his new Sam Manuard design Cultisol.

Of my fellow English speakers, Australian Geoff Duniam had his best result finishing in 14th in the Series fleet. South African Matt Trautmann onboard Nicko Brennan's old boat Raffiki managed to finish despite dismasting when a runner block exploded in the last ten miles. Nick Affleck also did well to finish in the worsening conditions.

Read more about Oliver Bond's campaign here