Manuard leads charge to Tunisia

An update from the Mini's two handed Odyssey of Ulysses

Having set sail from Antibes on Sunday the leaders of the Mini fleet taking part in the Odyssey of Ulysses race to Hammamet in Tunisia and back were last night having to beat through the Straits of Bonifacio between the southern tip of Corsica and the north of Sardinia.

The highly experience Sam Manuard and Mickael Mergui on Tip Top II were first to round the mark late yesterday afternoon, having already pulled out a lead of more than two hours over Armel Tripon and Erwan Leroux on Moulin Roty . Britain Nick Bubb sailing his new Seb Magnen design Northern Computers is currently a close third.

Yesterday the boats were sailing in a moderate northeasterly following a blustery first night that saw several boat seek refuge in Ajaccio, northern Corsica. These included: Voiles et Voiliers (433) / Okoumé (405) / Goudurix3 (135) / Mac Ben Music (320) / Mitsubishi (328) / Fifrelin (345) / Bagdad Madness (109) / Atomic (56) / Passagers du vent (6) / Berlingo 223 / Abidjan Babylone Dip (238). Atomic (56) is sailed by James Bird and Charles Hardy.

On the first night at sea Arnaud Bernier, on the Pogo Remi Beauvais on fell overboard. He was recovered by the coastguard and was recovering in hospital and has managed to rejoin his boat.

Meanwhile Ludovic Mariotti on Beep Beep (392) has retired to Calvi and Delilalos has returned to Antibes.

As the boats sail down the east side of Sardinia today the wind looks set to veer to the southeast and intensify. Tommorrow the leaders look set to be beating in 25 knots headwinds - not much fun on a 21footer.

Rounding Bonifacio:

1 Tip Top Too 17h30
2 Moulin Roty 19h45
3 Northern Computers 19h48
4 Seafari 20h10
5 Spasmos 20h11

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