Mini Transat

by Courtesy Scuttlebutt Europe on 15 Oct 2003 Salvador, Brazil: The Transat 6.50m may well be in its closing stages but the race is still very much on with its multitude of mechanical
disciplines. The misfortunes of Jonathan McKee (247 – Team Mc Lube) and Sébastien Roubinet (346 – Adrénaline), now unofficially retired, are
evidence of this.

The history of sport is marked out by champions who ‘couldn’t lose’ but have lost all the same. Such thoughts must be passing through the mind of
the current leader of the fleet and winner of the first leg, Samuel Manuard (431 – Tip Top Too – Le Grau du Roi Port Camargue).

He left the Canaries with a 5hr 36minute lead on Armel Tripon (151 – Moulin Rôty), the only person today who is capable of contesting his supremacy.

However, Tripon was 47 miles behind him at the 1500 UT ranking this Monday.

Added to Tipon's plight is the fact that Manuard has gone into overdrive since he gybed past the island of Fernando and was positioned with an
instantaneous speed of 9.5 knots. The room for manœuvre is considerably reduced for Armel in these conditions… unless we take into account the
uncertainties intrinsically linked with this discipline, that centre around the reliability of each mast, each bowsprit and each rudder blade,
as far as the Marina in Salvador de Bahia.

Though Manuard seems to be holding the trump cards amongst the Protos, indecision reigns in the Series fleet. Manuel Castilla (167 – Vision
Originale) may well be at the controls but the 26 hours he lost on the first leg to Erwan Tymen (426 – Pogo 2 Navy Lest), seem set to prevent
ultimate victory.

The last days of regatta racing are lining up to be particularly feisty with the frontrunners expected in Bahia on Thursday night or Friday
morning. Ian Munslow has motored up to 15th place while Cian McCarthy has dropped to 19th. James Bird is currently in 48th. -- translation by Kate
Jennings

Top ten positions at latest poll (13 October 1500 UT)

1. Samuel Manuard, Tip Top Too - Le Grau Du Roi Port Camargue, Proto, 504.4 nm to finish

2. Armel Tripon, Moulin Roty, Proto, 551.7

3. Alex Pella, Aquatec - Santiveri - Texknit, Proto, 612.6

4. Pierre Rolland, Extrado, Proto, 624.6

5. Richard Mérigeaux, Bon Pied Bon Oeil, Proto, 693.1

6. Bruno Garcia, Saladino, Proto, 737.9

7. Willy Garcia, Ceylan Diamantes Proto, 738.0

8. Jonathan McKee, Team McLube, Proto, 741.5

9. Pascal Doin, ASNQ, Proto,747.2

10. Enrico Podesta, Diabolo-Slam, 761.8

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