Mini-Transat 2013 prologue - A dress rehearsal for the big day

by Mini-Transat on 7 Oct 2013 Mini-Transat 2013 prologue got underway today on October 6, 2013 and then continues from Douarnenez October 13, 2013 at 13h. The prologue was a sort of dress rehearsal for the big day, Sunday, October 13, at 13h. But the machinery has been slow to implement the fault wind who chose to desert the water a few minutes after the starting signal. However, the breeze that eventually rise has validated the race was played mainly in upwind.

Meet a 84 minis starting line is already in itself a challenge. But when the line stretches from the harbor wall Rosmeur to the bottom of the bay, forcing riders from the downwind, it is even more daring. Finally, everything went well and the entire fleet was able to cross the line in time. It was Jean-Marie Oger ( Acebi ) who took the best start, stalled as the wind fleet. Some other browsers put in evidence, including Stan Maslard ( Sefico Group ) or even Carlos Lizanco ( Reyno de Navarra ). But no wind that would settle on the water quickly handed over the counters.

In evanescent airs, three boats emerged gradually lot. As head of the fleet, once again Gwénolé Gahinet (there were Logways Watever ), accompanied for the occasion by Marc Guillemot. But he was caught by two other prototypes, François Guiffant ( Scidiam ) on a proto Finot 1993 and Bruno Garcia ( Sampaquita ), a Lombard 1999 plan. In series boats, Justine Mettraux ( TeamWork ) had to fight hard to keep away Ian Lipinski ( No future without digital ), Jean-Marie Oger and Damien Cloarec ( Lomig ). But the Swiss sailor still wrapped in head first course mark.

The wind rises
The start of the race asthmatic gradually saw the return of the wind with the installation of a light breeze. The two leaders had flown, but with the wind income, this is a new hierarchy that decided in the fleet. Solitary with the latest boats or even with the most miles under the keel returned by chance at the forefront, demonstrating the value of training hours.

Proto, we take the same
In prototype could venture to paraphrase the sentence awarded to the German football team: the Mini Tour offers racing boats 6.50m and in the end, it is Gwénolé Gahinet wins. But others may be solitary happy with their performance. Stan Maslard a time behind in no wind, took advantage of the breeze that had risen to make a comeback at the forefront, styling on the pole and Thomas François Guiffant Guilbaud ( Sham i). Despite a race run entirely by, Mary Benedict ( benoitmarie.com ) has demonstrated once again its pugnacity ... Other browsers, like Giancarlo Pedote ( Prysmian ) or Bertrand Delesne ( TeamWork ) played the card of caution, but showed great speed when the wind came back. In short! Favorites are the appointments and the fight promises to be beautiful.

Series: Women in the spotlight
In Series, Justine Mettraux ( TeamWork ) demonstrated again how it was fast in these conditions. But she was not the only woman to stand. Elise Bakhoum ( Quéramix ) has also delivered a very good race and finished in 4 th position. Behind the Swiss sailor, accompanied for the occasion of his sister Elodie, we find Damien Cloarec confirming the beautiful display at the races provisions pre-season and the Italian Federico Cuciuc ( Your Sail ) delighted to be in such a feast for his first confrontation with the riders of the Atlantic, as far Federico attended exclusively to the Mediterranean circuit. It is true that the Bay of Douarnenez today showed some similarities with the Big Blue: no wind, bright sun. Moral: whatever the weather or classification, that is taken is not to take.

Ranking prologue 'Everything starts in Finistère'
Prototypes
1 Logways Watever (Gwénolé Gahinet)
2 Sefico Group (Stan Maslard)
3 Scidiam (François Guiffant)
4 Shami (Thomas Guilbaud)
5 Benoitmarie.com (Mary Benedict)

Series
1 TeamWork (Justine Mettraux)
2 Lomig (Damien Cloarec)
3 Your Sail (Federico Cuciuc)
4 Qeramix (Elise Bahoum)
5 Childhood Dreams - Terreal (Tanguy Le Turquais)

They said:
Gwénolé Gahinet: 'It went really well. We struggled to get to the first mark in a good position. Then, when the wind picked up, it has become easier to manage. For me, it was an opportunity to test my new spinnaker. Finally, the prologue, it was also an opportunity for me to thank Marc Guillemot, who gave me a big hit this winter hand. And then navigate with a browser of this caliber is always instructive. '

Justine Mettraux: 'It's always fun, but it is not necessarily very significant, because the first part of the course was very tricky. In addition to these are the conditions under which I am quite comfortable. Now, in a prologue, this really is not the conditions of the race, next week we'll see ... '

Stan Maslard: 'I'm the best place I could hope for, because I did not expect to win the prologue. What is especially fun is that I saw how much we had a good speed, this bodes well for the future. A perfect day. '