The 72 Mini Transat sailors have spent their first night at sea in big winds that have tested them to the limit. The Irish sailor Cian McCarthy dismasted at 0245 this morning. According to the race committee McCarthy is safe and well and has not asked for immediate assistance, announcing that he was heading for the nearest French port by his own means.
The other news this morning is that Spanish sailor Alex Pella sailing his Lombard Prototype is leading the race. He managed to overhaul race favourite Corentin Douguet overnight and has established a two-mile lead. In third place is Bernard Gallay (FRA) in his super-fast Manuard 2005 design.
Phil Sharp is currently leading the British contingent in fifth place overall sailing a Magnen design - Le Gallais. Nick Bubb, who led off the startline yesterday, has dropped down the rankings to 25th, while Tobias Hochreutener, fellow Britsh/Swiss sailor is currently in the middle of the fleet in 39th.
In the Series fleet (one-designs) Peter Laureyssens sailing Wellments is at the head of the fleet lying a very respectable seventh overall - just under 10 miles behind the overall leader, Pella.
Sue Pelling/Yachting World, 18 September 2005
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