Yesterday at midday, the race management of the 24th edition of La Boulangère Mini Transat decided. The start of the first leg, originally scheduled for September 24th at 2 PM but postponed due to very bad weather conditions expected on Wednesday off Cape Finisterre, will now take place on Monday at 1:30 PM. 1 hour before the kickoff, the 90 competing sailors clearly show a strong desire to get into action. After two years of intense preparation, they are all eagerly looking forward to finally getting into the thick of things.
Excitement is palpable on the Vendée Globe pontoon. Pre-race stress is also evident. It's now more than ever time to dissect weather files to refine strategies. This includes the strategies for the first 48 hours of the race, which are expected to be in light winds, as well as the strategy for rounding Cape Finisterre, which promises to be challenging despite the change in the schedule.
THEY SAID:
Hugo Mahieu (1002 – EMB-I-PACK): "It's a pleasure to start tomorrow. Friday night, I was looking forward to it, and on Saturday morning, we received news of the postponement. It was the start of an emotional rollercoaster, and then, after the briefing, the race management suggested the possibility of starting on Monday. I continued to monitor the weather. I wasn't certain about the organization's decision, but there was a safety window that was indeed forming. I'm glad we can finally go sailing, especially since it will be a smooth start. We'll likely stay closer together at the beginning because there will be fewer options. We know that the race management always does its best to ensure we start under good conditions, and we'll work with what we have. I really want to start and get going because during the waiting times, you tend to go around in circles. My boat is ready, and I haven't had anything to do on it for three weeks. I'm eager to get into the race. There's some excitement but not too much stress. In the end, the first leg is relatively short. We're talking about 1,400 miles, and if we have a problem, we're quite close to the coast. The goal is to try and do well and, above all, have a good battle with friends."
Damien Fleury (947 – Utopik Recherche Partenaires): "Postponing the start was a good decision. It will change quite a few things because we'll have slightly less wind. At the beginning, we'll stay closer together because there will be fewer options. We know that the race management always does its best to ensure we start under good conditions, and we'll work with what we have. I really want to start and get going because during the waiting times, you tend to go around in circles. My boat is ready, and I haven't had anything to do on it for three weeks. I'm eager to get into the race. There's some excitement but not too much stress. In the end, the first leg is relatively short. We're talking about 1,400 miles, and if we have a problem, we're quite close to the coast. The goal is to try and do well and, above all, have a good battle with friends."
Fréderic Bach (895 – Team Pokou): "Now we can plan and work on the weather since we know we're starting this Monday. We need to get moving with the final preparations. For me, I'm looking forward to it. I haven't looked closely at the latest weather files. For now, it's maintenance, resupplying... We'll look at the weather after Christian Dumard's briefing at 5 PM. I don't feel much different about the start of this edition compared to 2019. I don't have too many objectives for the first leg. I just want to do well and reach the Canaries. For me, the real transat is the second leg. The passage of Cape Finisterre is always tricky, and there's a front announced this time. I hope it goes well. In any case, I can't wait to get into the thick of it!"
Miguel Angel Rondon Gonzalez (1006 – Kristina II): "I think it's a good decision to start tomorrow. Of course, we're very eager to head out to sea. I'm fairly confident about the weather. I've seen that the forecasts are good. We'll have to get close to the Spanish coast, which is reassuring. There's still Cape Finisterre, which is a complicated place, but I'm ready, and the boat is too. This is my third solo transatlantic, so I have a good idea of how it will go. I'm confident."
Edouard Blanchier (423 – La Maison des plus petits): "We're finally getting into it after three years of preparation for me. I can't wait! Yesterday, we were a bit disappointed that it didn't start, but in fact, it's a good thing. I'm very happy that we can go sailing, especially since it will be a smooth start. There will probably be less damage that way. We'll start slowly, and then it will gradually pick up. We're expecting somewhat challenging conditions, and we know it won't be easy, but we also know we can handle it. In any case, as long as the race management says it's okay, it means the boats can handle it, and we know what we're doing. My goal for this first leg is to finish it and enjoy the company of my friends. I don't have a boat that can win, but there are plenty of boats like mine, older generation ones. I'm all set to go. I just need to get dressed, get on the boat, and go!"