Andrei Petrov summarizes the results of the transatlantic race Mini Transat 2019, which ended on the island of Martinique.
That left behind a fascinating transatlantic marathon, like a breeze passed by members of the race Mini-Transat 2019. Last Sunday in Martinique was awarded to the winners of the second stage of the competition. The overall results of the regatta is also already announced, but the official ceremony will take place only after a week and a half and will be held on 7 December in Paris.
The last of the sailors on the morning of 24 November, finished the race, the oldest competitor is 64-year-old Frenchman Georges Kik. The results of the transatlantic crossing (with a length of 2700 miles) outweighed the expected order of finish in the race on the route La Rochelle- Gran Canaria. Only eleventh in the first stage was Morten Bogacko (934) from Germany, but in Martinique, he came third and in the end will rise on the third step of the podium in the category proto. The Frenchman Axel Tree (945), though defeated in the first part of the regatta, this time finished second and will receive “only” silver. But his compatriot Francois Gambo (865) with a score of 12 days 02 hours and 27 minutes and the first to cross the finish line in the second part of the competition and rightfully was named the winner of the 22nd Mini-Transat.
In the serial division victory Ambrogio Beccaria (943) in total score and in each of the stages of the regatta it is difficult to challenge: Italian rider both times was the first. Characteristically, all the way across the Atlantic he was not only ahead of the boats of his group, but also compete with the leaders of the proto, which confirms the thesis about high racing potential serial project Pogo3 for the current conditions of the Mini-Transat. In the end, Beccaria finished third in Martinique ahead with Bogacko. His time of 13 days 01 hrs 58 mins Ahead of German athlete and Nicolas Testes (905), which, though behind Jambo nineteen hours, now try the “silver” Mini-Transat, despite the fact that Gran Canaria he did not get on the podium. Also the third in the “series” – Benjamin Ferre (902) – was not only among the leaders in the first stage of the regatta, but finished then do 11-m. But across the ocean went flawless and now has drinking champagne with Beccaria and Distacom.
The Russian participants – Irina Gracheva and Fyodor Druzhinin – though not in the top, represent the country in this famous transatlantic race. Without incident has not done what we have written in detail. Already on the second stage Fedor was forced twice to go to do repairs, which led to a significant gap from the leaders of the race. However, even in this situation he continued the fight for getting into the top ten. Irina and at all remained without the mast and for some time continued to go towards the finish line by installing alarm service. To leave the boat to stop the race she decided after it became clear that it is impossible to repair the unserviceable after the crash the autopilot. Now the boat is in a drift, and the team of Irina keeps trying to preserve it for future races. The expression on the racers, “but it has now become clear, what I will do in the next three years – to prepare for the next Mini-Transat, after all, begun to reach the end!”.
What else to note in connection with ending the race?
Of the 87 participants (including eight women), which started on 5 October in La Rochelle, fortunately, nobody was killed or went missing (it happens in single races, alas, sometimes happens). In this case, before the finish in Le Marin got not all the 9 sailors for various reasons, have stopped the race (i.e. was eliminated about 10% of all participants). Four were forced to go at the first stage (Jonathan Chodkiewicz, Jean-Baptiste Ternon, Jan Blondel and Paul Ruban) and three on the second (Irina Grachev, Thomas Galinier and Matteo Sericano). Hendrik of Wittmann from the United Arab Emirates went across the Atlantic, British Joe Lacey was officially declared non-runner in the race for receiving outside assistance, but the distance to the end.
On the podium in Paris will rise by sailors from several countries – France, Italy and Germany, which is good, because in the race there is an apparent advantage of French riders and the victory of the foreigners add a Mini-Transat international popularity.
The winner of the race in division proto walked the entire distance from La Rochelle to Martinique a total of 20 days, 20 hours, 31 minutes and 57 seconds. The figure of the leader of the serial division is 21 days, 21 hours, 50 minutes and 50 seconds. With some caution we can say that thus at the distance of 4,000 miles the total advantage of prototypes before the production class is one day.
Record a day on the yacht class Mini 6.50 installed 5 Nov Floriana Throw (946, proto) and is 291,47 miles (average speed per day – 12 knots).
23rd transatlantic race Mini Transat will be held in 2021. Its exact route is not yet known.
Andrei Petrov
Part of the Russian jahtsmenov in the Mini-Transat was supported by the companies of NORD consulting, Griffon, Ullman Sails, Fordewind-Regatta, Gill, A. P. I. Marine, Sail Ropes, NAVTEAM, WISTA Russia, “Alfa insurance”, Aquapac, “Mobile century”, Nautix, MX6, Lyophilise & Co.
Sponsorship Irina Gracheva provides Path Yachting Foundation.
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