On the pace

Brian Thompson talks Andy Rice through his epic Mini Transat race

On average, Thompson was grabbing two to three hours of sleep a day, mostly in 20 minute catnaps. It became easier to sleep once he had got past the Doldrums and the race moved into what he described as "classic Mini Transat conditions". Thompson led the fleet down three days of hard but exhilarating running in 20 to 25 knots of trade winds, what these 21-foot flyers do best.

He left the autohelm to do most of the work in these conditions, and Thompson said he was mightily impressed by its performance. "I would guess they can drive the boat at about 90 to 95 per cent of the speed of the helmsman. A helmsman can heat up the boat a bit more and get that little bit more speed out of her in the waves, but most of the time it does a pretty good job."

Thompson said this part of the trip would have been much more enjoyable on a bigger boat. "I was wet on the Mini for about three days non-stop. I had my foul weather gear on all the time even though it was warm. I don't know if it was a good idea though, because I got gunnel bum through wearing wet clothes for too long, and had to put myself on antibiotics."

When Thompson reached the Brazilian coast, the race moved into a different, more tactical phase. Commanders Weather had suggested holding offshore for at least 10 miles, but he decided to play it safer by going to more like 30 miles offshore. This is where he started to lose ground on the fleet, although again Thompson was having to guess what his opponents were up to just by looking at the relative distances to finish. "I was still averating 6 or 7 knots where I was, and I was convinced that everyone else was further offshore."

Just as Thompson dived further offshore to pick what was forecast as more breeze further out to sea, Yannick Bestaven took a more inshore route. But he didn't lose his lead until the dying moments of the race. Sailing towards the lights of Salvador, Thompson was nearly there. "It wasn't until I was three miles from the finish line that Yannick radioed in to say he was just a mile from the finish." There was just 26 minutes between them. Gutting.

Overall, however, he was well satisfied with his first stab at this epic singlehanded race. When he spoke to madforsailing from his hotel room in Salvador, he was clearly pleased to be able to stretch out his body to its full 6 feet and 5 inches after the cramped interior of his 6.5 metre ocean going vessel. "I'm still at the 'never again' stage," he admitted, but then added soon after: "Then again, never say never," hinting at a possible return to race that Mini sailors seem to love and hate in almost equal proportions.

For many, the romantic appeal of the Mini Transat is that it harks back to the days of adventure, when long distance sailors were out of contact with the outside world. By comparison with the hi-tech communications available to competitors in events like the Vendee Globe, BT Global Challenge or Volvo Ocean Race, the Mini is uniquely low-tech, with competitors allowed VHF and not much else.

Thompson says it makes you draw on your most basic skills of seamanship, watching the clouds more closely than normal and checking any pressure changes on the barometer. But he is no fan of the race rules. "You are sailing blind, with little idea of where the fleet is. It would be more interesting tactically if you could watch the movements of the fleet around you."

Whilst he does not want full-blown communications access, he believes a phone link with the race committee would help enormously with the safety of the race. "As soon as the committee was concerned about a boat's position, as in the first leg, they could call up to get a response from the skipper to see if everything was OK. Also, if you had a medical emergency you could call up for expert assistance."

Thompson said the committee were very safety conscious, with three chase boats tracking the fleet across the Atlantic, but once the fleet is spread out it is hard for them to respond to emergency situations. "Times have moved on, the equipment is readily available, so why not use it?"

What was Brian's greatest regret? Turn to page 3 to find out...