Ireland's Thomas Dolan arrived into Lanzarote this morning taking a top twenty position in his 44–boat fleet, a very credible finish for the County Meath solo sailor in the first leg of his first Mini–Transat.
The pontoon reserved for the Mini Transat iles de Guadeloupe in Lanzarote is gradually filling up. The prototypes have taken up most of the spaces, with only two series boats arriving into port so far.
ARRIVAL: the Irish skipper Tom Dolan has crossed the finish line at 4h12'00" TU+2 !! Bravo Tom! Well done! #MiniTransat2015
— Mini Transat (@MiniTransat2015) September 28, 2015
Although quarter of the fleet had arrived in Lanzarote, the battle was still fierce amongst those in the series boats for the best finishing positions (and this was the majority of sailors still at sea)
For all the competitors, these are the last hours at sea, the blessed hours, according to the conversations that some have been able to have with the National marine patrol boat, the PSP Flamant. When he was barely in sight of the coast of the Canaries, Armand de Jacquelot said that he couldn't wait to take off again on the second stage on 31st October.
First five to finish:
Prototypes ( Eurovia Cegelec class):
1. Davy Beaudart - Flexirub
2. Axel Trehin - Aleph Racing
3. Frederic Denis - Nautipark
4. Luke Berry, Association Reves
5. Ludovic Mechin, Microvitae
Series (Ocean Bio-Actif class)
1. Ian Lipinski, Entreprise Innovantes
2. Tanguy Le Turquais, Terreal
3. Charly Fernbach, Henaff le Fauffiffon
4. Julien Pulve, Novintiss
5. Patrick Girod, Nescens