Bowsprit bursts and Pedote narrowly loses the Mini

Pedote with his Prysmian finished second, after remaining in the lead for almost the entire course, from the Spanish port of Sada to the Caribbean Point-a-Pitre in Martinique.

It is difficult, if not impossible, for Giancarlo Pedote to conceal his disappointment at seeing a victory that would have been thoroughly deserved slip away in the home stretch. The lone Italian, who nonetheless must be credited with the accomplishment of a majestic feat completed at an average of 8.20 knots, explains, “Of course I did not expect an ending like that. With 300 miles to go, the bowsprit burst: I immediately focused on the repair, determined to fight to the last. After three hours I had completed the lamination and after five I was already sailing under gennaker, but I still lost ground and performance suffered. In addition, while carrying out the repair I became intoxicated with resin fumes and suffered some burns on my hands as they came in contact with the chemicals. However, the fact remains that sailing is a mechanical sport and these things can happen.” It should be remembered that the Italian navigator was in the lead during the first leg of the Mini Transat, which was later canceled due to prohibitive weather conditions. All the more reason for regret for Pedote, who nonetheless achieved a great feat-never had an Italian finished second in the Mini Transat.

An elated Benoit Marie said as he uncorked the champagne, “The Mini Transat is very tiring, but also incredible. Freud claims that happiness is a child’s dream brought to adulthood. Well, I think I have become an adult.”

Prototype ranking at 8 a.m. Italian time on Dec. 2
1. Benoit Marie (667 – Benoitmarie.com) 18g 13h 01m 05s
2. Giancarlo Pedote (747 – Prismyan) 18g 15h 56m 30s
3. Rémi Fermin (741 – Boréal) at 132.8 mn from the finish.
4. Bertrand Delesne (754 – TeamWork Proto) + 41.7 mn
5. Bruno Garcia (240 – Sampaquita) + 56 mn

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Mini Series ranking as of 8 a.m. Italian time on Dec. 2
1. Aymeric Belloir (810 – Tout le Monde Chante Contre le Cancer) 359 mn from the finish.
2. Justine Mettraux (824 – TeamWork) + 250 mn
3. Simon Koster (819 – Go 4 It) + 316 mn
4. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire (607 – ?uvre du Marin Breton) + 620 mn

5. Renaud Mary (535 – www.runo.fr) + 629 mn

THE CHRONICLE.

Benoit Marie won the 2013 Mini Transat among the Protos. A great comeback against Giancarlo Pedote made up 47 miles in 50 hours of sailing. Pedote, second on the finish line in Guadeloupe, collects the best result ever achieved by an Italian at the transatlantic, which has almost always been the preserve of the French. Giancarlo, you are great! Zambelli meanwhile is eighth, Bona seventh among the Series.
Dec. 2 – Benoit Marie is the winner of the 2013 Mini Transat. We say this with some bitterness, because the Frenchman’s victory came at the expense of our own Giancarlo Pedote, who aboard his Prysmian had to “settle” for second place. An incredible achievement, no Italian had done so well. Marie crossed the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre (Gudalupa) at 10:46 p.m. Sunday after 18 days, 13 hours, 1 minute and 5 seconds, while Pedote arrived about three hours later (18 days, 15 hours, 56 minutes and 30 seconds at an average speed of 8.20 knots). Giancarlo was in the lead for 15 out of 18 days of racing: in the last 50 hours of racing, Marie managed to make up an impressive 47 miles.

Nov. 27–Just over 1,000 miles to go in the Mini Transat, and Giancarlo Pedote has regained the lead after Frenchman Benoît Marie overtook him momentarily. Now Prysmian’s Italian leads by 13 miles over Marie, but the challenge is more open than ever. Michele Zambelli on Fontanot also did well, holding on to 10th position. Among the Series, Aymeric Belloir’s dominance continues. Going strong is our own Alberto Bona, who moved up to seventh place on Onlinesim.com. 21st Fornaro, 30th Cuciuc, 33rd Iacopini.

Nov. 26-There has, unfortunately, been a change at the top of the 2013 Mini Transat among the Protos: Benoît Marie, aboard his Benoitmarie.com, is the new leader. Our own Giancarlo Pedote, on Prysmian, slips to second after leading practically from the start (the race started in Sada, Galicia, 13 days ago). Currently tracking gives him behind Marie by only 8.6 miles, so there is plenty of time to “re-establish the ranks” with more than 1,200 miles to go in Guadeloupe. It looked as if the duel might have only the two of them as protagonists, but Rémi Fermin, aboard Boreal, got very close to the outriders and now slyly waits 60 miles away. In short, there will be breath holding until the end. The other Italian, Romagnolo Michele Zambelli on Fontanot, is currently in a more than dignified 10th position. In the Series-only category, the situation at the top seems more delineated, with Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde Chante Contre le Cancer) leading the way with nearly 100 miles ahead of Justine Mettraux (Teamwork), the woman who has done best so far in the Mini Transat. First of the Italians Alberto Bona on Onlinesim.it, in eighth position, while Federico Fornaro (Raw News – Jolly Rouge) sails at step 22. Thirtieth was Federico Cuciuc (Your Sail) and thirty-second was Andrea Iacopini (Oompa Loompa).

Nov. 21 – When there are just under 2,000 miles to go, past the ideal gate in the Canary Islands, it is time to take stock of the situation. A situation that seems to smile on the Italians in the race. Here are the rankings based on the 12 o’clock update. Giancarlo Pedote, who had first chosen “the South option” last Nov. 18 and who at the 8 o’clock bearing appeared to have dropped to third position raising fears of a risky choice, immediately returned to the lead and now sails 26 miles ahead of his pursuer, Benoît Marie. Undoubtedly Prysmian, (formerly David Raison’s Teamwork, the legendary round bow boat) is a blast. Also going very strong is Michele Zambelli from Romagna aboard Fontanot: he is currently in sixth position, playing it off against Annabelle Boudinot (AGRO650.ORG), who is only two miles behind. Alberto Bona’s Onlinesim.it currently occupies seventh place in the rankings, a few hundred meters ahead of Gerinter-Audrain of Frenchman Damien Audrain. Federico Fornaro’s performance was also good, in 20th place on Raw News, while Andrea Iacopini (Oompa Loompa) sails in 29th position. Stopped in Lanzarote due to technical problems Federico Cuciuc, who has not yet announced his intentions.

Nov. 15 – Giancarlo Pedote is literally dominating: his David Raison-designed Prysmian proto is truly unbeatable at carrying gaits, and this morning at 8 a.m. he had a 40-mile lead over his pursuers, Marie Benoit and Nicolas Boidevezi. On the first day of the race he covered an impressive 273.89 miles at an average speed of 11.4 knots; on the second day he grinded 270.66 miles at an average speed of 11.3 knots. There are all the conditions to hope for the first ever victory of an Italian at the Mini Transat, but it is better not to “guff” and touch iron. Also as the breakdowns, failures and retirements that are decimating the fleet continue.

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BREAKDOWNS, RUPTURES, WITHDRAWALS
Now the question is legitimate: is it the Mini 6.50s that were not adequately prepared for the conditions they would face or should the organization have further delayed the start (already a month behind, something that never happened!). The “war bulletin” continues, including technical stopovers and withdrawals. Gwénolé Gahinet in the night broke the bulb, and is now aboard a fishing boat that is taking him to Portugal. Yannick Le Clech (692 Diaoulic, pictured) dismasted. He has set course for Cascais (Portugal); François Lamy (566 Guadeloupe Espace Océan) is also heading for the Lusitanian port to repair problems with the rudder tiller. Diane Reid (655, One Girl ‘s Ocean Challenge) and Pip Hare (743, The Potting Shed) are also headed to Cascais for a technical stopover. Instead, Yann Le Pautremat (483 Prep Nautic Sea Echo 1% for the Planet) and Sébastien Picault (198 Kickers) confirmed their withdrawals. Richard Hewson (816 RG65.ORG) departed after inspecting the condition of his keel in Baiona, Spain. In the Galician port of call, Clement Bouyssou (514, No War) and François Guiffant (159 Scidiam) remain stationary for now. Finally, Joel Miro Garbia (835 Lady Argo) is in Camariñas after his two rudders broke.

THE OTHER ITALIANS IN THE REGATTA
Among the protos, Romagnolo Michele Zambelli aboard Fontanot sails in 17th position, while among the series the best Italian is Alberto Bona, who slipped to 14th place on Onlinesim.it. Nice recovery on the night by Andrea Iacopini, who is now in 23rd position on his Oompa Loompa. The “two Federichi,” Cuciuc and Fornaro, are at rungs 35 and 36 respectively on Your Sail and Raw News

Nov. 14 – On the first night of sailing, trouble came. Four miners who set course for Baiona (Galicia) to repair some more or less serious breakdowns, three reports of rudder breaks, and one dismasting, that of strongman Ian Lipinski, a candidate for victory among the Series. Italians well: Giancarlo Pedote leads among the Protos on Prysmian (13th Zambelli). In the series, good sixth place for Alberto Bona on Onlinesim.com.

It was known that the 2013 Mini Transat would be tough. The departure went smoothly, but this night the first ruptures were not long in coming. The passage to Cape Finisterre went smoothly, but the fleet encountered more difficulties further south.

THE “WAR BULLETIN”
Four competitors took refuge in Baiona (Galicia), victims of more or less serious breakdowns: Sébastien Picault (Kickers) suffered a rudder tiller failure; Yann Pautremat (PrépaNautic Echo), who needs to repair a major hull breach; Maxime Massa (Bongo), also with rudder problems; and Richard Hewson (RG650.com), struggling with an unreliable keel. Three other competitors, Erwan Peller (Mordilou), François Guiffant (Scidiam) and Clement Bouyssou (No War) reported rudder blade problems to the support boats, while Ian Lipinski (Pas de Futur sans Numérique), one of the favorites in the category reserved for production hulls, dismasted. He was able to notify the Race Committee by using Eric Cochet (Abers & Co) as an intermediary who acted as a liaison between Lipinski and a support boat.

PEDOTE DOMINATES IN PROTO, BONA SIXTH AMONG SERIES
He said he would not be demoralized after his “stolen” stage victory a few miles from Sada: Giancarlo Pedote is back in the lead aboard Prysmian. Michele Zambelli, 13th on Fontanot, also did well. Among the series, Alberto Bona’s excellent sixth place on Onlinesim.it should be noted. Other Italians in the race: 27th Andrea Jacopini (Umpa Lumpa); 37th Federico Fornaro (Raw News / Jolly Rouge); 41st Federico Cuciuc (Your Sails).

Nov. 12 – It was supposed to start last Oct. 13, but instead the 2013 edition of the Mini Transat turned out to be one of the “lamest” ever. The 84 miners were stationary for 16 days in Douarnenez waiting for accessible weather conditions, then once they left, they had their leg cancelled and headed some to Sada (near La Coruna, Galicia) and others to Gijon. And on Spanish shores, all waiting. One more little postponement, just because it was missed, and the 2013 edition of the Mini Transat will be able to start: the cannon shot is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. The start was supposed to take place this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. but Mini’s meteorologist says the fleet would encounter winds gusting up to 40 knots at Cape Finisterre. In addition, a front is expected to pass tonight with rain and very low visibility. Quite a problem in a very busy stretch of sea where fishing boats without AIS beacons are popping up like mushrooms. It’s going to be a really tough challenge, because the Race Committee has decided to eliminate the Lanzarote stopover in favor of a non-stop route to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe: 3,600 miles (about 25-30 race days).

THE PREPARATION
Once they arrived in Sada, a race against time began for the ministries to reorganize logistics by virtue of the one-stop: there were so many things to think about, from reviewing the quantities of food and water to take on board to updating charts and studying the new situation by taking advantage of fresher GRIB files. The wind fields will be useful mainly for the first few days of racing (which promises to be pretty tough), then racers will have to rely on the dispatches issued via SSB by the organization.

THE RETIREMENT OF DAVID LUSSO
Yesterday morning Davide Lusso, aboard Mastep, announced his retirement from the Mini Transat: “The hull continues to make 30 liters of water a day after the crash with federico, I tore the jib in a snag Saturday morning in front of Cape Ortegal and in 24 hours it was not possible to repair everything and prepare for a 3700-mile race ? So yesterday morning I put the bow on Gijon where I arrived in the night.”

THE ITALIANS IN THE REGATTA
Of the 84 starters, for the first time more than 30 percent are not French. There are 14 nations represented and the Italian fleet is the largest among the “foreign” ones, with 2 competitors in the Proto category and 5 in the Serie. Only once, in 1979, did the victory go not to a transalpine navigator, but to the American Norton Smith. A dominance that, so they say in France, may be broken again this year. Among the favorites (he himself does not refuse to be referred to as such) is Italian Giancarlo Pedote with Prysmian-747 (winner of the canceled stage), the prototype he won two years ago carried by its designer, David Raison. Also among the Protos is Michele Zambelli, 23 (one of the youngest in the entire fleet), with one of the oldest boats (launched in 2001). Among the Series races are Alberto Bona, Federico Cuciuc, Federico Fornaro, and Andrea Iacopini. Davide Lusso, on the other hand, announced his retirement.

MINI 6.50, A GREAT LITTLE BOAT
Conceived by Englishman Bob Salmon in 1977, precisely to counteract the gigantism (increasingly larger and more expensive boats) that was beginning to characterize ocean racing at the time, the Mini Transat is one of the most extreme solo transatlantic races, because competitors must tackle it on “hulls” just 6.50 meters long; the Mini 6.50 class boats. Small boats, but, especially in the prototype category (the other being production hulls), technologically amazing, so much so that they look like IMOCA 60s (the 18.28-meter-long boats used in the Vendée Globe, the non-stop solo round-the-world race) on a smaller scale. Indeed, many of the solutions adopted by larger boats today were invented and tested on the Mini 6.50 itself. The most striking example is that of 1991, when a young Michel Desjoyeaux (who was then 26 years old and a few years later would win two solo round-the-world regattas) came to the start with an old prototype, but extensively modified and fitted with a lot of “strange stuff” for the time: from the steerable bowsprit to the asymmetric spinnaker, from the carbon mast to the canting keel.

4000 MILES IN

TWO

CAPS

The Mini Transat starts Oct. 13 from Douarnenez (on France’s Atlantic coast) and takes competitors back to the historic route after it ended for a few editions in Brazil (in Salvador de Bahia), with the crossing of the Equator. The route then returns to the Atlantic route from east to west, always divided into two stages. The first fraction will end in Puerto Calero, on the island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands), after 1,200 miles of sailing; two weeks or so of rest and the “minists” will set off again on November 9 for Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe where, after 2,800 miles of the Atlantic, the finish line awaits them.