The Mini Pavois 2005 which started last Saturday from La Rochelle was won by Corentin Douguet on E.Leclerc. The yachtsman from Nantes crossed the finishing line on Tuesday evening at 19h 38′ 55” (local time) after 79 hours and 30 minutes, (3 days, 07 hours and 30 minutes, racing).

Corentin covered the 460 miles of the course at an average speed of 5.82 knots while Tanguy de Lamotte took second crossing the finishing line exactly 42 minutes and 10 seconds behind Corentin, at 20h 20′ 45”.

Etienne Bertrand (Air du Large) was third. He finished at 22h 26′ 10” followed several minutes later by Didier Le Vourc’h (Servo Map), and the Slovenian Andraz Mihelin (Adria Mobil – 510) was fifth confirming the great talent that had been promised. The first British skippers finished in sixth and seventh places respectively yesterday: Phil Sharp (Le Gallais – 419) at 00h11 and Nick Bubb (Wittlebury Hall – 500) at 00h18. Andrew Wood (Solochallenges.com – 202) also finished yesterday in 24th place. Corentin covered the final 124 miles at an average speed of almost 8.5 knots. His Manuard design from 2003 was well suited to the breeze and revealed her full potential. Moreover, Corentin managed the situation well, taking in a reef and changing his head spinnaker for a hound spinnaker at the right moment, while Tanguy continued under full spinnaker, which he later acknowledged was a mistake.

Bruno Sottovia (Aprotec-Morzine – 468) finished at 6h33 on Wednesday coming in first in the series boats. His Pogo 2 was more than two hours ahead of the second series boat to complete this Mini Pavois, which was Bruno Croisel’s Pulco. In fact, four series boats came in one after the other grabbing 17th to 20th place.

There were still two boats at sea at 0900 this morning. Julio Esteves (Itaparica – 365) should finish 36 hours after the first prototype arrivals (before 7h38 tomorrow morning), while Philippe Bouillard (Mondial Assistance) has until 18h33 tomorrow to complete the race in his series boat.

Arrival times

1. Corentin Douguet (E. Leclerc – 433) at 19h38.55

2. Tanguy de Lamotte (Set Environnement pour Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque – 424) at 20h20.45

3. Etienne Bertrand (Air du Large – 434) at 22h26.10

4. Didier Le Vourc’h (Servo Map – 151) at 22h29.30

5. Andraz Mihelin (Adria Mobil – 510) at 23h21

6. Phil Sharp (Le Gallais – 419) at 00h11

7. Nick Bubb ( Wittlebury Hall – 500) at 00h18

8. Nicolas Bunoust (Loire Atlantique – 231) at 00h31

9. Kristian Hajnsek (Adria Mobil – 509) at 00h38

10. David Lancry (Areas Assurances – 454) at 01h12

11. Isabelle Joschke (Parole – 276) at 01h14

12. Sébastien Gladu (Birvidik – 427) at 02h22

13. Adam Currier (Sabita – 176) at 02h36

14. Stanislas Maslard (Crédit Agricole Skipper Challenge – 417) at 03h38

15. Cian Mac Carthy (The Tom Crean – 393) at 03h52

16. Erwann Sudrie (Gwenn Ha Du – 93) at 06h03

17. Bruno Sottovia (Aprotec-Morzine – 468) at 06h33 / 1st series boat

18. Bruno Croisel (Pulco – 488) at 09h08

19. Ronan Deshayes (PCO Technologies – 368) at 09h28

20. Eric Bourrié (Taquet Max – 340) at 09h40

21. Lucas Montagne (Adoc Solutions – 339) at 09h44

22. Bertrand Dubucq (Airlinair – 527) at 09h49

23. Marine Chombard de Lauwe (DCF – 481) at 11h39

24. Andrew Wood (Solochallenges.com – 202) at 11h40

25. Quentin Monegier ( Mariole – 219) at 11h52

26. David Le Carrou (Le Tréport-Tirard & Burgaud – 498) at 11h57

27. Patrice Fisseux (Bellot Mullenbach & Associés) at 12h01

28. Xavier Bluy (Smets – 78) at 12h04

29. Frédéric Roux (Pepito – 80) at 17h27

Still at sea at 0900 this morning

Philippe Bouillard (Mondial Assistance – 475)

Julio Esteves (Itaparica – 365)

Retired

Stephen Simpson (Blue One – 241)

Yann Chevalier (Imagine – 12)

Erwan Abalain (www.dijs.com – 422)

Aloys Claquin (Vecteur Plus – 265)

Barnabé Chivot (FTH Thirard/Metostock – 335)

Christophe Bérard (Chet – 441)

Sébastien Mesure (Cutisol/Marins sans frontières – 483)

Erwan Lohézic (Casoar – 291)