Second - again

Oliver Bond reports on his and Nick Brennan's fine performance in the recent Mini Fastnet

The Mini Fastnet is one of the most completive races in the Mini calendar and this year the Series class looked particularly tough with many returning skippers. Pre-start favourites included my old training partner Lucas Schroder who had teamed with Herve Piveteau - last year's Transat winner in the Series Class.

For this years' race I was lucky enough to be joined by Australian Nicko Brennen. The last time we sailed together we finished second in the Open Sail. Nicko then went on to finish 5th in the 2007 Mini Transat.

The Prologue race started in near perfect sailing conditions with 12 knots of breeze. We had a great start which turned out to be essential as there were no passing lanes and we finished in second the same position as we rounded the first mark. Which is the perfect result as it is bad luck to win the prologue race!


Oliver Bond

Following last year's cancellation of the Fastnet race due to a gale in the Irish Sea, there were two other alternative courses set this year: a 400 mile race south, or a sprint across the Channel around Wolf Rock and back. In the end the race was delayed by a day in the hope of still going to the Fastnet. But with the wind forecast to be over 40 knots in the Irish Sea the committee decided to send the fleet on the southern course.

After a really bad start we eventually rounded the first mark closer to the back of the fleet than the front. Things were not going well for our target of a podium finish.

Approaching the Raz de Sien there was what looked like a wall of water: quick time to get the oilskins on! Through the Raz and it was time to put up the spinnaker and make up some places. A nice strategic call by Nicko saw us sailing up to 20 degrees below the course for most of the night in the breezy conditions. In the morning approaching Ile d’Yeu the wind shifted aft and we were able to sail a hotter angle than the rest of the fleet to take the lead.

We managed to hang onto the lead at the southern turning mark - a Racon buoy off Boudeaux. Trying to cover the fleet behind proved impossible on the upwind course. We found an area of light winds and dropped to fifth, the wind eventually shifted and with good boat speed in the extremely wet power reaching conditions, we managed to retake a small lead.

On the final morning of the race we were cross tacking with Pierre Yves Lautrou, a very experienced Mini sailor within a couple of boat lengths rounding the turning mark. Lautrou managed to just stay ahead all the way to the finish. Initial we where pretty disappointed not to win after such a close race but were very happy to finish second in the 40 strong Series fleet.

My next Mini race is the 2,600 mile single handed Les Sables d’Olonne to Azores and back race in a month’s time.

Read our start of season interview with Oliver Bond