Armel Tripon has won the second leg and the overall Mini Transat

Twenty-eight year old Armel Tripon sailing Moulin Roty, a 1995 Finot-Conq design with a fixed keel has won the second leg of the Mini Transat, beating Alex Pella by over 60 miles. He crossed the Salvador de Bahai finish line at 15hrs, 40mins, 04secs (French time) this afternoon taking not only the second leg win but has won the overall Mini Transat 2003.

As one of the race favourites, having won the Transgascogne, finished second in the Mini Transat Prologue, fourth on the first leg of the race and taken the initial second leg lead from Lanzarote, it was no great surprise to see this French sailor leading the fleet across the finish line this afternoon. He managed to sail his boat consistently all the way swapping places with Jonathan McKee and Sam Manuard all the way. However, dismastings for McKee last Friday and Manuard yesterday, left Tripon ready to pounce and make the most of his rivals’ misfortunes.