Bubb second

As Mini-Fastnet doublehanders approach The Rock

Over the course of tonight the flotilla of 82 Minis will be rounding the Fastnet Rock off southern Ireland.

Since a slow day yesterday with little in the way of wind the Minis have today been experiencing 15 knot westerlies and have been reaching north at 10 knots.

At present the leader is Fred Duthil and Francois Lebourdais aboard 265 All Mer. Duthil won the first leg of the Mini class' two handed Demi-Cle race on this same course last year. However Duthil is being chased hard by British skipper Nick Bubb and John Parker, winner of Saturday's prologue race sailing this newly rechistened Magnen design Kenmore/JMST.

Immediately behind them are
Richard Mérigeaux on 260 Bon Pied Bon Œil
Kiwi Whitbread veteran Donald Wright (aka Jawsey) on 227 Russe Noir du Néo-Zélandais
Jean-Marc Lanussé's 349 Kinedo,
420 Man @ Work of Italian Walter Ussai,
Eric Defert on 138 Amiral de Bretagne
329 Ground-and-Faune.org with Swiss skipper Laurent Jaunin.

The leaders were expected to round the Fastnet early this evening and from here it is likely to become a tight reach drag race in 15-25 knots southwesterlies as they make the passage south to the Scillies and then on to back to the start at Douarnanez. If they can hold on to their kites in these conditions it will make of a blistering leg back to the finish.

Today has seen the second retirement, that of Olivier Servettaz on 291 Demi-Clé Shipchandler. At present his reasons are unclear, but he is returning to Douarnenez