Mini Fastnet 2014 underway

Mini Fastnet Race start in Douarnenez © Gildas Hemon / www.kerys.com

Mini Fastnet Race start in Douarnenez © Gildas Hemon / www.kerys.com

Mini Fastnet Race start in Douarnenez © Gildas Hemon / www.kerys.com

At 4.19pm on Sunday, after a final gathering, the fleet of 33 Mini Fastnet sailing pairs set off to a fine start in Douarnenez Bay, in a light wind with a hint of a storm. The competitors were at maximum concentration, making fine adjustments, as the first few hours of the race will be a hunt for the slightest ripple or wave. The 66 sailors have set off for 4 to 5 days of battling it out towards the legendary Fastnet lighthouse.

A light, northerly breeze should allow the Mini Fastnet competitors to cross the Channel quite easily over the next 36 hours. By Wednesday, the wind should be blowing nicely in the Celtic Sea before Thursday brings a low front and a steady wind.

This means that the leg up to Ireland is going to be tactical and very technical. The competitors will need to hold their nerve. Technically, it'll be a case of fine-tuning and adjusting constantly. If the weather forecasts prove correct, the leg back down to Douarnenez will be a lot more fun, as it should be a broad reach in 15- to 25-knot winds!

These fine, varied conditions should ensure a great competition in both the Prototype and Production categories.

Glimpse of the competitors at sea: on Sunday evening, in the Chenal du Four between 9pm and 10pm, the Mini fleet crossed those competing in the Solitaire du Figaro.

Quotes from the pontoon

Luke Berry (Wild Side – Prototype 753) paired with Pierre Denjean: 'We're going to make sure we don't fall asleep in the calm spots! There's going to be a lot of strategic work. In calm zones, I think it'll be best to choose the shortest options, and to be all-out on the adjustments to get ahead as fast as possible. For transitions, we'll be watching the clouds to help us anticipate different weather systems. And of course, we'll be keeping an eye on the others!'

Jean-Baptiste Daramy (Chocolat Paries Sygespro – Prototype 814) paired with Pierre-François Dargnies: 'It's going to be slow-going in the Irish Sea... I prefer it with a bit of wind: anything under 6 knots and our boat doesn't perform well, she prefers the breeze. In any case, I'm very happy to be taking part in this Fastnet because in the last three Mini Fastnets that I've sailed, we had to take the southerly route. As for strategy, the main thing is to avoid getting stuck in the calm spots...

'I've managed to get on the podium three times in three races, so I'm hoping for a fourth! Still, the fleet seems pretty consistent, especially in this double-handed situation, so it's going to be more difficult and even more motivating!'

Arnaud Machado (Velasco II du Leman à l'océan.com – Production 832) paired with Jimmy Pahun: 'These are fantastic conditions for a first race! On the strategy, we've prepared the route well, but we're not going to attempt anything complicated. In the Prologue, it went well, Jimmy at the helm and me on the manoeuvres. We'll quickly sort out our watches and we'll be in the race from the first night. I think we can finish in the top ten, but if it's the top five that'd be great.

'In fact, I haven't really realised it yet, but heading off with Jimmy is going to be amazing! I used to listen to him, as a kid, commentating on the America Cup. I'm going to learn loads!'

Jean-Christophe Allo (Reality – Prototype 196) paired with Diane Dhome: 'This is the first Fastnet for both of us. We're just here for the fun of it, to enjoy ourselves and discover what it's all about. We're happy to be heading off to the Fastnet. There's no sporting goal as such and no apprehension either. I've already done the Québec-St Malo in Multi 50, also just for the fun of it.'

Edouard Golbery (Oui au Gripen! – Production 514) paired with Yann Claverie: 'It's perfect weather, it'll allow us time to think and to make use of different options, even if the route is pretty well-structured, we're not going off anywhere extreme. Each passage is going to be interesting to negotiate: the Four, Wolf Rock, the Fastnet – we've done a lot of preparation.

'This is my first season, my first Fastnet, I also think we're going to have fun. In my last race I finished 35th so this time, if I could win, that'd be perfect! (laughs)'

Pierre Loulier (Colibri les Chevaux du Beal – Production 746) paired with Mathieu Claveau: 'We rarely come to the Atlantic but it's always interesting, there's a good standard, some play in the currents, the rocks. We'll try to give the Bretons a hard time! Each stage is going to be a challenge to negotiate well.'

Weather conditions expected

A light north-easterly of 5 to 8 knots for the start of the race, growing to 10 to 13 knots in the evening then 13 to 15 knots during the night for the Four passage. This will be an unusual passage as the Mini competitors will cross those competing in the Solitaire du Figaro.

This 13- to 15-knot wind is expected to hold for the Channel crossing. As they approach the Scilly Isles, it'll slow and turn north-north-westerly.

From Monday night into Tuesday, a ridge will cause the wind to drop to around 6 to 8 knots in the northern sector.

The transition they'll have to catch will be Tuesday night to Wednesday morning with the arrival of a cold front: the wind will start back westerly. On Wednesday the sky will start to cover over. The front will pass on Wednesday night into Thursday, and the competitors should round Fastnet Rock in grey and rainy conditions! The wind will pick up at 13 to 15 knots north-westerly.

On Thursday the wind turns west-south-westerly at 15 to 20 knots.

On Friday the showery wind turns north-westerly at 17 to 23 knots then 23 to 27 knots in the passage around the Scilly Isles on Friday afternoon.

For Saturday, the wind stabilises at 20 to 25 knots north-westerly then 15 knots in the afternoon in rough seas.

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