1999 Mini Transat - Start

EMOTIONS...PASSION...STRESS. 70 SOLO MINI'S TAKE THE PLUNGE INTO HOSTILE BAY OF BISCAY - WHAT A START!

1. BUILD UP: 70 BOAT START FROM 13 COUNTRIES, CONDITIONS AT START WERE GOOD - SW15-20KN
2. START: NICK MALONEY CROSSED THE START LINE FIRST, BUT A COLLISION FORCES HIM INTO PORT FOR A PIT STOP REPAIR TO DAMAGED BOW
3. AFTERMATH: ALEX BENNETT, ANDREW CAPE, CHRIS SAYER ALL IN TOP 15 AFTER FIRST 12HRS; 20 BOATS ALREADY BACK IN PORT WITH PROBLEMS - TECHNICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL?

1. BUILD UP
   

   There can be few sporting events with such emotion and stress before the start... 70 solo sailors,for most a culmination of a year of preparation, on the one hand, happy to make the start line (an achievement in itself), on the other, uneasy with the prospect of heading into the infamous Bay of Biscay as a big depression approaches France.

   There were emotional scenes on the dockside as friends, family & supporters bade farewell and the solo skippers slipped out of the town of Concarneau - a beautiful Brittany fishing port, whose people fully embrace this classic race. Tension heightened by impending weather conditions and a dockside rumour that the start would be delayed for a few days...the prospect of beating into 40 knot headwinds in a Mini for 3 days was not appealing and no-one could be criticised for bailing out. Unless you have experienced the washing machine, gyroscopic motion of these tiny but powerful 21 footers, you cannot imagine the discomfort levels in such conditions.

   For the 1st time in 16 yrs, the British creator of this classic event, Bob Salmon managed to get to the start line to see the beast that he created over 22 years ago in Penzance (UK) "I am very proud to see how it has developed over the years whilst the French have been managing it. I do believe that the special spirit of the Mini is still there, despite the advance in technology, the increase in the budget, and the general improvement in the level of the skippers. It is fantastic to see the large number of non French entries and it is time for one of them to win - but equally I must thank the French for what they have done for this race over the past 16 years.

2. START

   The first start was given just after 1500 and it was Australian, Nick Moloney, (Wild Colonial Boy), which crossed the line first, sailing Ellen MacArthur's previous Mini (Financial Dynamics). Unfortunately, a restart was ordered before the first boat had made it to the windward mark, as the mark itself had started to drift in the strong local tides. Ironic for Nick, his worst nightmare had come true just before the starting sequence sailing on starboard tack (others have to keep clear), working on the foredeck, when another boat sailed straight across him, resulting in a terrible collision that could be heard for quite a distance, and which severely damaged the bow of Wild Colonial Boy. The foam core of the bow was totally exposed to the sea and with the forecast of stormy conditions for at least a week, he was forced to stop for repairs. As soon as he had taken the new start, Nick returned to Port where Ellen had prepared laminating materials thanks to a local yard, CDK. Nick's team pulled together and had him back out alone on the race course by 2030 with the bow fixed, all be it temporary and aesthetically displeasing. Heading out into the dark night with winds now gusting to 30 knots, the mental test was enormous. There were moments when returning to sea hours behind the leaders seemed to hard for him to bear "This is the hardest moment in my sailing career", the America's Cup and Whitbread veteran said, but this is the Mini-Transat, a series of challenging mental and physical tests and ultimately he wasn't going to quit after what he had been through to get this far.

3. AFTERMATH

   Moloney was not alone on his return in to port, by sunrise Monday there were 20 boats including Britain Peter Heppel, who returned at midnight after experiencing autopilot problems and concerns about the impending weather conditions. The forecast is the for the wind to build steadily from 30 to 35 knots with stronger gusts by Tuesday and very rough seas in the shallow waters of the Bay of Biscay.

   Leading the fleet at the final mark of the race around the bay which kicked off this 1st leg of the Mini-Transat, was the favourite Lionel Lemonchois but it wasn't to last very long as he lost his dagger board (essential on his swing keel boat to stop the boat going over sideways), and had to return to port to refit it (a rib had picked it up but in the rules, he could only receive assistance once back in port). He returned at 1730 just as other boats started to file back in with various problems, rigging, a couple of collisions, one damaged keel from a grounding on the rocks and a few personal decisions. Its hard not to think of your family when you are being pounded by the seas on these boats, no one could criticise a decision in backing down.

   Top non French boat at the last mark of the coastal course before heading south west to Cape Finistere and ultimately Lanzarote, 1400 miles away was Kiwi Chris Sayer (NavMan). Chris' story is very special in having spent 5 years in trying to get to the start line from 20,000 miles away in New Zealand. He was chasing the new leader, Figaro sailor Sebastian Josse with 1997 winner Seb Magnen not far behind.

   Alex Bennett in "English Braids", Mark Turner's previous Carphone Warehouse mini, was working his way up the fleet after a conservative start and was looking good in 12th place - his boat is well suited to hard upwind racing. Close behind was Andrew Cape's brand new "Aberdeen Asset Management" making great progress up the fleet and reportedly (via Peter Heppel as he returned back to port) was in 6th place at midnight. The first POGO (the one design fleet within the race) was being driven superbly by half Scot, half Breton, Yann Jameson. Leading the 4 women in the fleet as the fleet headed out towards the Atlantic, was Valerie Tisseraud in "Josephine", supported by Offshore Challenges.

RACE POSITIONS

The first satellite position report will be at 1600 today and will reveal just who has managed to cope with the first tough night alone. Race positions will be posted up onto the Offshore Challenges website at the same hour each day.

For further information contact:
Mark Turner/Mary Ambler
Email: mary@offshorechallenges.com

Website - Offshore Challenges will put up daily news, photography, commentary from previous entrants Mark Turner and Ellen MacArthur, positions and direct links to other english speaking sites on their website: www.offshorechallenges.com

For more information in Nick Moloney visit the Offshore Challenges Mini-Transat website page for a link to www.planetocean.com.au